Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, February 13 at Lethbridge
February 13, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (28-20-4-1, 61 pts.) at LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (27-16-5-5, 64 pts.)
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - ENMAX Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen, 7-1-1-0 in their last nine games, are on the road tonight to visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the first of three straight against Central Division rivals. Calgary is coming off Sunday's a 6-2 home-ice win over Moose Jaw. Carson Focht led the way with three assists while goals came from six different players in Mark Kastelic, Tye Carriere, James Malm, Kaden Elder, Riley Stotts and Cael Zimmerman. Calgary outshot Moose Jaw 39-22 with goaltender Carl Stankowski making 20 saves to pick up the victory. The Warriors, who dropped all four games in the season series, received markers from Keenan Taphorn and Josh Brook.
BROADCAST INFORMATION Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Riley Stotts (3g) is riding a three-game goal scoring streak and has points (3g, 6a) in seven straight games.
- James Malm (3g, 4a) is on a four-game point streak.
- Kaden Elder (6g, 9a) has points in seven of his last eight games while Mark Kastelic (8g, 5a) has points in six of his last seven outings.
NOTEWORTHY VS. LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the fifth of six regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Hurricanes. Lethbridge leads the series 3-1 with the two teams combining for 40 goals in four games. Mark Kastelic (5g, 3a) is Calgary's top scorer with eight points against the "Canes while Kaden Elder (4g, 2a) and Jake Kryski (1g, 5a) both have six. Logan Barlage (4g, 3a) and Jordy Bellerive (3g, 4a) lead all Hurricanes' performers with seven points each. The season series comes to a close on Saturday, Mar. 9 in Lethbridge.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP Oct. 12/18 at CGY: CGY 6 LET 5...Mark Kastelic led Calgary with two goals and an assist. Oct. 26/18 at CGY: LET 7 CGY 6... Zach Cox scored with 6:34 remaining to snap a 6-6 tie. Nov. 9/18 at LET: LET 4 CGY 2...The Hitmen lost despite holding Lethbridge to 19 shots. Dec. 16/18 at CGY: LET 6 CGY 4...Jordy Bellerive led the "Canes with three points (2g, 1a).
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 133 LET 114 Power Plays: CGY 2-13 (15.4%) LET 4-13 (30.8%)
PLAYOFF CHASE: With 15 games to go in the regular season, the Hitmen are eight points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings for the final Eastern Conference Wildcard spot and tied with Red Deer for the first Wildcard berth. Looking up, Calgary is three points behind Lethbridge for third in the Central Division trailing Medicine Hat by six points for second place.
JERSEY AUCTION: During "The Corral Series" the Hitmen honoured teams from the past by wearing three different sets of jerseys. They were all put up for bid with net proceeds supporting the Hitmen Education Fund. The Calgary Centennials auction has closed but two others continue. The Calgary Cowboys auction is happening at https://elevateauctions.com/CorralSeriesCowboysJerseys2019 and closes on Sunday Feb. 17 at 8:00 p.m. while the Calgary Wranglers auction doesn't close until Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 8:00 p.m. It can be found at https://elevateauctions.com/CorralSeriesCentennialsJerseys2019
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 12-11-1-1 on the road this season, riding a three-game winning streak, while Lethbridge is 15-8-1-4 at home. The "Canes are winless in their last three at the ENMAX Centre going 0-1-1-1.
FAST FACTS: The Hitmen have outshot their opponents in eight of the last nine games...Of Calgary's remaining schedule including tonight, nine games are on the road with six at home...Mark Kastelic has 13 multi-goal games this season...Defenceman Jackson van de Leest was +5 in Sunday's win over Moose Jaw, the best plus/minus showing in a single game by any Hitmen player this season.
ROSTER MOVES: On Monday the Hitmen reassigned 15-year-old prospects Tyson Galloway and Sean Tschigerl to their midget teams ahead of the Canada Winter Games. Galloway returns to the BCMML's Thompson Blazers and Tschigerl to OHA Edmonton in the CSSHL. Also on Monday, Calgary recalled a pair of 18-year-old affiliate players in defenceman Andrew Viggars and forward Orca Wiesblatt. Viggars has spent this season in the BCHL with the West Kelowna Warriors. In 41 games he has 10 points (1g, 9a). Viggars appeared in 39 games with the Hitmen last season registering five assists. Wiesblatt returns to Calgary from the MJHL's Portage Terriers. It's his second recall this season after appearing in four games in late January.
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is third in the WHL in goals with 38 and tied for 15th in scoring with 61 points. His 19 power play markers lead the league. Egor Zamula is tied for eighth in defencemen scoring with 41 points. Dakota Krebs is eighth in plus/minus among defenceman at +25.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (0-3-1-0), October (4-6-1-0), November (6-5-0-1), December (6-2-1-0), January (9-3-0-0), February (3-1-1-0).
CANADA WINTER GAMES: Three Hitmen prospects have been named to play in the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Forward Sean Tschigerl will suit up for Team Alberta with defenceman Tyson Galloway on Team British Columbia and defenceman Rory Neill on Manitoba. The tournament begins Saturday, Feb. 16 in Red Deer.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Jake Kryski (indefinite, upper body). Hunter Campbell (indefinite, lower body), Egor Zamula (day-to-day, upper body), Dakota Krebs (day-to-day, upper body) and Jack McNaughton (day-to-day, upper body).
HITMEN VS: (BDN 1-0-1-0), (EDM 1-3-1-0), (EVT 0-1), (KAM 1-0), (KEL 1-0), (KTN 3-1), (LET 1-3), (MH 2-1), (MJ 4-0), (POR 1-0), (PA 0-4), (PG 1-0), (RD 2-5-1-0), (REG 2-0-1-0), (SAS 2-2), (SEA 1-0), (SPO 1-0), (SC 2-0), (TC 0-0-0-1), (VAN 1-0), (VIC 1-0).
ALUMNUS REPORT: Brooks Macek, who played parts of three seasons with the Hitmen from 2010-13, is in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. The 26-year-old forward from Winnipeg, MB has 47 points (20g, 27a) in 48 games. Macek signed a one-year two-way deal with the Vegas Golden Knights in June of 2018. During his time in Calgary he tallied 135 points (51g, 84a) in 149 games to sit 30th on the clubs' all-time regular season points list.
PROSPECT REPORT: Zac Funk, Calgary's second-round pick, 43rd overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft is in the BC Major Midget League with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds. The 15-year-old forward has 48 points (29g, 19a) in 32 games.
UPCOMING GAMES All times in MT. Schedule subject to change. DATE
OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Feb. 15 vs. Medicine Hat 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 16 at Medicine Hat 7:30 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 20 at Brandon 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Feb. 22 at Regina 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Feb. 23 At Swift Current 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include: - Lunar Celebration including fortune cookie prizes and post-game fireworks on Feb. 15 vs. MH - TELUS BE BRAVE Anti-Bullying Game on Feb. 27 vs. SC - Multicultural Night on Mar. 1 vs. BDN - WHL Suits up with Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation - Presented by RE/MAX and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Mar. 3 vs. KTN - One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM - Fan Appreciation and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Jackson van de Leest is five games shy of 100.
- Mark Kastelic played game 250 on Sunday against Moose Jaw. Carson Focht also reached 50 assists that same day.
- Three Hitmen reached significant milestones Feb. 6 against Regina with Kaden Elder playing game 300, Riley Stotts hitting 100 points and Kastelic reaching 150 points.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2019
- Kelly Nets Two In Win Over Broncos - Prince Albert Raiders
- Rebels vs. Everett Silvertips Rescheduled for Thursday - Red Deer Rebels
- Raiders Remain Second in Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- Four ICE Prospects to Compete in 2019 Canada Winter Games - Kootenay Ice
- Silvertips Home Game vs. Red Deer Tonight Postponed Until Thursday, February 14 at 7:05 p.m. - Everett Silvertips
- Mahovlich Returns Home - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- WHL Announces Postponement of Red Deer at Everett - WHL
- Royals' Prospects to Participate in 2019 Canada Winter Games - Victoria Royals
- Chiefs Fans Come up Big in Fight against Hunger - Spokane Chiefs
- Five Rockets Prospects in 2019 Canada Winter Games - Kelowna Rockets
- Oil Kings Unveil Second Annual Star Wars Themed Jerseys - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Preview: Blades Open Roadie in the Hat - Saskatoon Blades
- Game 55 vs Saskatoon - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, February 13 at Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Rebels Surrender Overtime Goal in Loss to Chiefs - Red Deer Rebels
- Three Unanswered Goals Push Ams to 4-3 Win over T-Birds - Tri-City Americans
- Smith's OT Winner Pushes Chiefs to Fourth-Straight Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Sneak Past T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
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