Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, February 6 vs. Regina
February 6, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY COWBOYS (26-19-4-1, 57 pts.) vs. REGINA PATS (14-35-1-2, 31 pts.)
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Stampede Corral
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen host the Regina Pats tonight in Game 2 of The Corral Series, presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports. It's a 7:00 p.m. start at the Stampede Corral. As a tribute to the city's hockey history, the Hitmen are dedicating each night of the three-game set to former local teams who once called the Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Cowboys and Wranglers. Tonight is Cowboys night as a salute to the former World Hockey Association franchise. The Cowboys played two seasons in the WHA from 1975-77. The club advanced to the semifinals in their first year after beating the Quebec Nordiques but missed the playoffs in year two. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the evening begins with a special pre-game ceremony featuring three Cowboys alumni in Jim "Bearcat" Murray, Darrel Janz and Russ Peake. Peake will host the on-ice ceremony and introduce the starting line-ups for both teams while Murray and Janz will drop the puck in a ceremonial face-off. Bearcat was the former Cowboys trainer with Janz and Peake both working as public address announcers. Great seats are still available including a family four pack for $80 plus GST which includes tickets for two adults and two kids 12 and under.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
________________________________
STREAKS
- Kaden Elder (3g, 8a) is riding a five-game point streak.
- Mark Kastelic (6g, 4a), Carson Focht (3g, 2a), and Riley Stotts (5a) all have points in four straight games.
- Layne Toder (1g, 2a) is on a three-game point streak while Vladislav Yeryomenko (2a) has points in back-to-back games.
- Jack McNaughton is 4-0-1-0 in his last five starts with a 2.20 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.
- James Malm (5g, 5a) has points in seven of his last eight games.
- Cael Zimmerman (2g, 3a) saw his career-high five game point streak end Saturday in Red Deer while a three-game run for Luke Coleman (3g, 2a) ended the same night.
NOTEWORTHY
JERSEY AUCTION: Calgary will wear limited edition Cowboys jerseys and socks tonight that will be sold in an online auction at https://elevateauctions.com/CorralSeriesCowboysJerseys2019 which opens at 7:00 p.m. and closes on Feb. 17 at 8:00 p.m. Net proceeds to benefit the Hitmen Education Fund. The Corral series began on Feb. 1 with the Hitmen wearing Centennials jerseys. Those game worn and game issued threads are also available via auction at https://elevateauctions.com/CorralSeriesCentennialsJerseys2019. Bidding closes on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 8:00 p.m.
GET YOUR PROGRAM: Fans will be able to purchase a special collectable program for tonight's game at a cost of $2. Each program will contain a lineup and feature stories along with a number for prize draws.
VS. REGINA: Tonight is the third of four regular season meetings between the Cowboys and Pats. The road team is 2-0. Mark Kastelic (2g, 3a) and Kaden Elder (1g, 4a) lead the Cowboys in the season series with five points each. Calgary is 1-2-4 in their last four home games against the Pats. The two teams will meet for the final time on Friday, Feb. 22 in Regina.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 14/18 at CGY: REG 4 CGY 3 OT...Nick Henry scored the winner just 14 seconds into the extra session.
Jan. 29/18 at REG: CGY 5 REG 2...Mark Kastelic and Kaden Elder both tallied three points each.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 70 REG 45 Power Plays: CGY 4-12 (33.3%) REG 4-9 (44.4%)
PLAYOFF CHASE: With 18 games to go in the regular season, the Calgary Cowboys are six points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings for the final Eastern Conference Wildcard spot. Looking up, the Cowboys trail Red Deer by two points for the first Wildcard spot and Medicine Hat by three points for third place in the Central Division.
FIT FOR A KING: The Western Hockey League has named longtime Calgary Hitmen Governor and current Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation Vice Chairman and CEO Ken King as this year's recipient of the WHL Governors Award. The award is the highest honour the WHL bestows on an individual who has been associated with the league. It is presented annually to an individual who, through their outstanding hockey and overall contributions to the game, has impacted on the growth and development of the WHL. King joined the WHL Board of Governors in 2003 where he served through the 2017-18 season.
ROSTER MOVES: On Monday, the Cowboys recalled affiliate player Tyson Galloway and reassigned Brayden Peters. The 15-year-old Galloway has been playing in the BCMML this season with the Thompson Midget AAA Blazers. In 32 games, he has 12 assists. It's his first appearance with the Cowboys since appearing in two pre-season games. Galloway was Calgary's second round pick, 25th overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. Peters returns to the AMHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes making room for Cal Stankowski who has been activated from injured reserve.
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Calgary Cowboys have gone 26-14-3-1.
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is third in the WHL in goals with 36 while his 19 power play markers lead the league. Egor Zamula is seventh in defencemen scoring with 41 points. Dakota Krebs is seventh in plus/minus among defenceman at +25.
CAREER YEARS: With still 26.5 percent of the regular seasons schedule remaining, eight Cowboys have set new career highs in point totals. Their previous best is in brackets: Mark Kastelic 58pts (45), Kaden Elder 45pts (32), Egor Zamula 41pts (18), Carson Focht 37pts (33), Cael Zimmerman 22pts (18), Dakota Krebs 18pts (16), Jackson van de Leest 16pts (5) and Hunter Campbell 13pts (11).
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 14-8-3-0 at home this season while Regina is 7-16-1-2 on the road.
COWBOYS 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 (1-0-1-0).
NHL ATTENTION: NHL Central Scouting has named two Cowboys players and one prospect among the top skaters available for the 2019 NHL Draft. Defenceman Jackson van de Leest along with forwards Mark Kastelic and Quinn Olson are all ranked among North American skaters. The 17-year-old van de Leest is among the ice time leaders on the Cowboys blueline. He makes the list at 145. Olson is ranked 154 with his rights acquired by the Cowboys in a Jan. 10, 2019 trade from the Prince Albert Raiders. The 17-year-old forward is currently playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Okotoks Oilers where he is second in team scoring with 59 points (20g, 39a) in 46 games. Kastelic, the 19-year-old Cowboys captain, is ranked at 196.
CANADA WINTER GAMES: Three Cowboys 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 will be held in Red Deer from Feb. 16-22.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Jake Kryski (indefinite, upper body). Hunter Campbell (indefinite, lower body), Josh Prokop (day-to-day, lower body), Egor Zamula (day-to-day, upper body), Dakota Krebs (day-to-day, upper body).
COWBOYS 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 3-0), (POR 1-0), (PA 0-3), (PG 1-0), (RD 2-5-1-0), (REG 1-0-1-0), (SAS 2-2), (SEA 1-0), (SPO 1-0), (SC 2-0), (TC 0-0-0-1), (VAN 1-0), (VIC 1-0).
ALUMNI WATCH: Jakob Stukel, who played three seasons with the Cowboys from 2015-18, is in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder. In 42 games this season, the 21-year-old forward has 27 points (11g, 16a). Stukel played 186 career games in Calgary and is 17th on the club's all-time scoring list with 173 points.
PROSPECT WATCH: Tristan Zandee, Calgary's second-round pick, 36th overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft is playing AAA Midget with the Airdrie CFR Chemicals Bisons. In 30 games the 15-year-old has 31 points (19g, 12a) to sit second in team scoring.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Feb. 8 vs. Prince Albert 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 10 vs. Moose Jaw 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 13 at Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
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
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include:
- The Corral Series - Presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports on Feb. 6 vs. REG and Feb. 8 vs. PA.
- Family Game and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Feb. 10 vs. MJ
- Lunar Celebration including post-game fireworks on Feb. 15 vs. MH
- TELUS BE BRAVE 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
- Kaden Elder is one game shy of 300. Riley Stotts is one point away from 100 while Mark Kastelic is two points shy of 150 and three games short of 250.
- Egor Zamula needs two assists for 50 while Carson Focht is three assists away from 50.
- Jack McNaughton passed 2,000 minutes played on Saturday in Red Deer.
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2019
- Americans and CHMA Team up to Raise Awareness About Mental Health During Home Game - Tri-City Americans
- Blades & Giants Earn Honourable Mention in Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- ICE Launch Hall of Fame, Jarret Stoll to be the First Inductee, Ceremony to Take Place on March 2 - Kootenay Ice
- Preview: Blades and Warriors Clash in Midweek Melee - Saskatoon Blades
- News: Raiders Announce 2019 WHL Playoff Ticket Packages - Prince Albert Raiders
- Game 51 at Kootenay - Medicine Hat Tigers
- ICE Host Tigers in Wednesday Night Match-Up - Kootenay Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, February 6 vs. Regina - Calgary Hitmen
- Blades Dump Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Continue Road Trip in Calgary Wednesday - Regina Pats
- Five Third Period Goals Lift Americans to Victory over Winterhawks - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Kick off Road Trip with a 4-2 Win over Prince George - Vancouver Giants
- Pair of Quick Goals Thwart Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- Royals Thwarted by Thunderbirds - Victoria Royals
- Ross Robs Royals for T-Birds Victory - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Blades Combined Effort Takes Care of Wheaties - Saskatoon Blades
- Americans Charge Back Late to Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Paddock Saves Pats in Shootout - Regina Pats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
