Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, February 21 vs. Red Deer
February 21, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (17-33-5-2, 41 pts.) vs. RED DEER REBELS (21-26-10-3, 55 pts.)
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen welcome the Red Deer Rebels to the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight. It's a 7:00 p.m. start and the final RE/MAX Chuck-A-Puck of the season where four lucky participants will win a hot air balloon ride courtesy of RE/MAX. Calgary is coming off Sunday's 5-1 loss to Saskatoon. Braylon Shmyr led the visitors with a hat-trick. The Blades, who built period leads of 1-0 and 2-1, broke the game open with three goals in the final six minutes of the third period. Rookie goaltender Nolan Maier played a key role making 32 saves to record the win. Max Gerlach (1g, 1a) and Brad Goethals also scored for Saskatoon. Jakob Stukel, with his team-leading 27th, connected for Calgary's lone marker. The Hitmen, at 41 points, are 14 points behind Red Deer for the final Central Division playoff spot but with three games in hand on the Rebels. Red Deer hasn't played since Sunday's 4-2 win in Langley over the Vancouver Giants.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Nick Schneider has made five straight starts in goal.
- Five Hitmen saw their two-game point streaks halted on Sunday against Saskatoon; Luke Coleman (1g, 3a), Carson Focht (2g, 1a), Conner Chaulk (2g, 1a), Dakota Krebs (2g) and Tristen Nielsen (1g, 1a).
NOTEWORTHY
VS. RED DEER: Tonight is the fifth of seven regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Rebels. Calgary is 2-1-1-0 against their Central Division rivals. The departed Jake Bean (1g, 3a) leads the Hitmen with four points against Red Deer in the season series while Jake Kryski (2g), Conner Chaulk (2g) and Tristen Nielsen (2g) all have two points each. Mason McCarty (2g, 1a) and Grayson Pawlenchuk are the top-performing Rebels with three points. Brandon Hagel (1g, 1a), Chris Dougals (1g, 1a) and Alexander Alexeyev (2a) all have two points each. Calgary is 7-4-0-1 in their last 12 home games against the Rebels. The two teams will meet again one week from today on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Red Deer.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 20/17 at RD: RD 4 CGY 2...The Rebels built a 4-0 lead.
Nov. 25/17 at CGY: CGY 2 RD 1 OT...Mark Kastelic scored the winner.
Dec. 2/17 at RD: CGY 4 RD 3 SO...The Hitmen erased a 3-1 second period deficit.
Feb. 7/18 at RD: RD 3 CGY 2 SO...Kristian Reichel scored the lone goal of the shootout
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 110 RD 132 Power Plays: CGY 2-13 (15.4%) RD 2-15 (13.3%)
INSIDE THE HOME STAND: Luke Coleman (1g, 3a) leads all Hitmen on this season-high seven-game home stand with four points in three games. Conner Chaulk (2g, 1a) and Carson Focht (2g, 1a) are next with three points each while Tristen Nielsen (1g, 1a) and Dakota Krebs (2g) both have two. Six other Hitmen have recorded a single point: Mark Kastelic (1a), Layne Toder (1a), Dom Schmiemann (1a), Nick Schneider (1a), Jakob Stukel (1g) and Cael Zimmerman (1a).
GO TIME: Tonight begins a stretch of 11 games in 18 days for the Hitmen.
WHAT'S LEFT: Including tonight, of Calgary's 15 remaining regular season games eight are at home with seven on the road.
NHL WATCH: NHL Central Scouting has named four Hitmen among the top players available for the 2018 NHL Draft. Vladislav Yeryomenko, Riley Stotts, Egor Zamula and Carson Focht are all on the midterm rankings among North American skaters. Yeryomenko is number 79, Stotts 88, Zamula 100 and Focht 200. The 2018 NHL Draft is June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
NICK'S NOTEBOOK: Nick Schneider leads all WHL goalies in scoring with four assists. He ranks second in the league in minutes played with 2,889 while his 1,389 saves sit fourth. Schneider has also started 51 of Calgary's 57 games.
INJURY REPORT: Heading into today, the Hitmen have lost a combined 147 man games to injury this season. Counting the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (Jackson van de Leest) and 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship (Jake Bean and Vladislav Yeryomenko), the number of man games lost grows to 170.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Following today's game fans can meet third-year centre Mark Kastelic at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212 on the concourse.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: The Calgary Hitmen Foundation Community Restoration Program has announced the three finalists for its $50,000 grant. Eugene Coste School Playground Redevelopment in Haysboro, Indus Accessible Playground and Parkdale Community Outdoor Rink have been selected to create a video showing why fans should cast a ballot for their project. The online voting period is now underway and continues until March 2 on HitmenHockey.com. The community project receiving the most votes will be awarded the grant. The heart of the Calgary Hitmen Foundation is the scholarship program which funds the post-secondary education of Hitmen players and alumni. To date, the Foundation has supported Calgary and area agencies with over $2.8 million.
ALUMNI WATCH: Kenton Helgesen is playing in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals. The 23-year-old has five points (3g, 2a) in 18 games. Helgesen spent four seasons with the Hitmen from 2011-15 collecting 130 points (34g, 96a) in 266 games.
PROSPECT REPORT: Forward Sheldon Kwiatkowski is playing minor midget with the Grand Prairie Storm. In 26 games the Calgary Hitmen 2017 third-round bantam pick has 34 points (19g, 15a). The 16-year-old has also appeared in four games in the AMHL this season.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- TODAY vs. RD - RE/MAX Chuck-A-Puck
- Lunar Celebration, including post-game fireworks, presented by A1 Chesney Service Experts on Feb. 23 vs. EDM
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Feb. 25 vs. BDN
- TELUS BE BRAVE Anti-Bullying Game on Feb. 27 vs. SC
- Multicultural Day presented by Cornerstone on Mar. 4 vs. RD
- Fan Appreciation Day presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18
CAREER MILESTONES
- Jake Kryski needs two points for 150 and five assists for 100.
- Nick Schneider is 82 saves shy of 5000.
- Jakob Stukel played career game 250 on Sunday against Saskatoon.
- Luke Coleman reached 50 career assists Feb. 14 against Tri-City.
- Matthew Armitage passed 500 minutes played on Feb. 3 in Kamloops and recorded his first career win that same night while Riley Stotts reached career game 100 on Feb. 2 against the Giants.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2018
- Hitmen Pot Three in Third to Rally past Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Former Rockets Jordon Cooke and Jesse Lees Named First Team Can-West All-Stars - Kelowna Rockets
- Blazers to Wear Don Cherry Jerseys in Support of Kidney Foundation - Kamloops Blazers
- Where Are They Now? Part 2 - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos Rise in Latest CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- WHL Announces Red Deer as New Host Site for WHL Awards, WHL Bantam Draft - WHL
- Royals Host Winterhawks this Weekend; Pink in the Rink on Saturday - Victoria Royals
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Kamloops - Portland Winterhawks
- 20th Annual Hockey Challenge Takes Place Saturday - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Former WHL Standouts Highlight Canada West All-Star and All-Rookie Teams - WHL
- The Home Depot Backyard Rink Winners Announced - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, February 21 vs. Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Third Period Comeback Falls Just Short - Prince George Cougars
- Silvertips Wrap up Playoff Slot - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Hold off Rally for Win - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Overpower Ice 3-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Tips Halt Weatherill's Win Streak as Spokane Falls, 4-1 - Spokane Chiefs
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