Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, February 28 at Red Deer
February 28, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (19-34-5-2, 45 pts.) at RED DEER REBELS (22-28-10-3, 57 pts.)
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - ENMAX Centrium
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open a two-game road trip tonight in Red Deer against the Rebels. Calgary is coming off yesterday's TELUS BE BRAVE Anti-Bullying Game where over 14,000 Calgary and area students were in attendance to learn about the importance of acceptance and bullying prevention. The Broncos snapped a 4-4 third period tie with a pair of goals in the final six minutes to defeat the Hitmen 6-4. Aleksi Heponiemi led Swift Current with four assists while six different players provided goals in MacKenzie Wight, Jacson Alexander, Tyler Steenbergen, Glenn Gawdin, Giorgio Estephan and Beck Malenstyn. On the Hitmen, side Dakota Krebs and Jake Kryski each tallied a pair of assists with Jakob Stukel, Riley Stotts, Vladislav Yeryomenko and Carson Focht finding the back of the net. The Hitmen, at 45 points, are 12 points behind Red Deer for the final Central Division playoff spot but with two games in hand on the Rebels. Red Deer last played on Saturday, beating the Broncos 5-3.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Jakob Stukel (5g, 5a) is riding a career high five-game goal scoring streak.
- Jake Kryski (4g, 6a) and Vladislav Yeryomenko (2g, 3a) both have points in four consecutive contests.
- Mark Kastelic (2a) is on a two-game point streak.
- Riley Stotts (2g, 3a) has points in three of his last four games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. RED DEER: Tonight is the sixth of seven regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Rebels. Calgary is 3-1-1-0 against their Central Division rivals outscoring their opponents by a combined 16-15. Jake Kryski (3g, 2a) leads the Hitmen with five points against Red Deer while Jakob Stukel (1g, 3a) and the departed Jake Bean (1g, 3a) are next with four. Goaltender Nick Schneider also has an impressive .909 save percentage. Mason McCarty (4g, 2a) is the top-performing Rebel with six points. Grayson Pawlenchuk (1g, 4a) is next with five points. Ethan Anders has been the best Rebels goalie with a .910 save percentage in over 213 minutes work against the Hitmen. Calgary is 5-6-0-2 in their last 13 visits to Red Deer. The two teams will meet one last time this season four days from now on Sunday, Mar. 4 in Calgary. It's a 4:00 p.m. start at the "Dome.
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 30 seconds into sudden death.
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.
Feb. 21/18 at CGY: CGY 6 RD 4...The Hitmen erased a 4-3 third period deficit.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 140 RD 155 Power Plays: CGY 2-13 (13.3%) RD 2-15 (12.5%)
GO TIME: Today is the second of five games in six days for Calgary. The Hitmen will then play their next five games in span of eight days.
DID YOU KNOW?: The Hitmen have outshot their opponents in five of their last six games...Luke Coleman is the only Hitmen skater to play all 61 games this season...Jakob Stukel has reached the 30 goal mark for the second time in his career. With 31 goals, he is three shy of his career high of 34 scored during the 2015-16 season...Calgary has been to overtime 14 times this season including twice in their last 10 outings...The Hitmen power play has scored once in each of the last three games.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Jakob Stukel (5g, 5a) and Jake Kryski (4g, 6a) led all Hitmen on their just completed season-high seven-game home stand with 10 points. Luke Coleman (2g, 4a) was next with six points.
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.
THE OLYMPIC FIVE: Two former Calgary Hitmen forwards won medals in men's hockey at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Brooks Macek struck silver for Germany and Brandon Kozun bronze with Team Canada. Three other Hitmen alumni were also in the tournament: Bostjan Golicic with Slovenia, Freddie Petterson with Sweden and Alex Plante with Korea.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: Voting is now in the homestretch for the Calgary Hitmen Foundation Community Restoration Program $50,000 grant. Fans can cast a ballot for one of three finalists: Eugene Coste School Playground Redevelopment in Haysboro, Indus Accessible Playground and Parkdale Community Outdoor Rink. The online vote continues until Saturday, Mar. 2 on HitmenHockey.com. The community project receiving the most votes will be awarded the grant.
ALUMNI WATCH: Dylan Yeo is playing pro hockey in Germany with the Straubing Tigers. The 31-year-old defenceman has 19 points (9g, 10a) in 48 games. Yeo spent parts of three seasons with the Hitmen from 2004-07 recording 53 points (17g, 36a) in 140 games. He is also the only player in Hitmen history to sing the national anthem.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Game Sponsor - Ashley HomeStore vs. REG on Mar. 3
- Multicultural Day presented by Cornerstone on Mar. 4 vs. RD
- Fan Appreciation Day and Player Awards presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONES
- Nick Schneider is 21 saves shy of 5,000.
- Jakob Stukel needs three goals for 100 while Mark Kastelic is two assists away from 50.
- Jake Kryski eclipsed 100 career assists yesterday against Swift Current after reaching 150 points Feb. 21 against Red Deer.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2018
- Winterhawks Among Top Teams in CHL Rankings - Portland Winterhawks
- The WHL Suits up with Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation Presented by RE/MAX - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos Saddle up to Third in CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- Hometown Olympian Emily Clark Attending Friday's Game - Saskatoon Blades
- Jordon Cooke Named Canada West's Top Goaltender - Kelowna Rockets
- Butenschon Named Canada West Coach of the Year - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Former Rockets Face-Off in Canada West Finals - Kelowna Rockets
- WHL Alumni Philp, Cooke Headline Canada West Major Award Winners - WHL
- Raiders Announce Roger Mayert as Wall of Honour Inductee - Prince Albert Raiders
- Edmonton Oil Kings Launch Inaugural WHL Suits up with Don Cherry Night - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Raiders Dump Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day | Ice Host Warriors for Second Time this Season - Kootenay Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, February 28 at Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- A Return Home, A Return To The Win Column - Prince George Cougars
- Andrusiak Hat Trick Leads T-Birds to Comback Overtime Win - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Giants Earn a Single Point in a 5-4 Overtime Loss in Seattle - Vancouver Giants
- Hawks Explode for 9-0 Win over Americans - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Stopped by Prince George - Kelowna Rockets
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