Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, January 1 vs. Medicine Hat
January 1, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (17-11-4-1, 39 pts.) vs. MEDICINE HAT TIGERS (23-10-1-1, 48 pts.)
Wednesday, January 1, 2019 - 1:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen ring in 2020 with a New Year's Day matinee against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Game time is 1:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome for Airdrie Day presented by Southland Transportation featuring a Rotary Club of Airdrie second intermission puck toss. Prizes include a Hitmen jersey, a signed stick, a suite to a future Hitmen game along with gift cards to Starbucks, The Keg, and Save on Foods. Trading Card Donnie will be in the building to hand out the latest in the Adrenalin Source for Sports 25th Anniversary Hockey Card set. Cards are available on the concourse at the meet up area located behind section 211 when doors open until the end of the first intermission. Today's game ticket also includes admission to the Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament final which starts at 4:30 in the 'Dome. The Hitmen hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 39 points while Medicine Hat is third in the Central Division with 48 points.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Josh Prokop (2g, 4a) and Orca Wiesblatt (2g, 2a) are riding four-game point streaks.
- Riley Stotts (8g, 9a) has points in 10 of his last 12 games.
- Carson Focht (1g, 1a) is on a two-game point streak.
- Jett Woo (2g, 2a) and Jackson van de Leest (3a) both have points in three of their last four games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. MEDICINE HAT: Today is the fourth of six regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Tigers and the first of back-to-back games between the two clubs. The home team has won all three meetings by a combined score of 11-4. Jackson van de Leest (1g, 2a), Carson Focht (1g, 2a) and Orca Wiesblatt (3a) lead the Hitmen against Medicine Hat with three points each. Seven others are next with two points including Mark Kastelic (2g), Adam Kydd (2g) and Riley Stotts (2g). Cole Sillinger (1g, 3a) is the top performing Tiger with four points. Ryan Chyzowski (2g, 1a) and James Hamblin (1g, 2a) are next with three points each. The Hitmen are 7-4 in their last 11 home games against Medicine Hat. The Central Division rivals will meet again in two days, this time at Canalta Centre on Friday, Jan. 3.
2019-20 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 29/19 at CGY: CGY 2 MH 0...Adam Kydd scored both goals. Carl Stankowski made 33 saves for the shutout.
Oct. 20/19 at CGY: CGY 6 MH 3...The Hitmen erased a 3-0 deficit in the final 42 minutes.
Dec. 28/19 at MH: MH 3 CGY 1...Mads Sogaard made 33 saves in a first-star performance.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 110 MH 98 Power Plays: CGY 1-9 (11.1%) MH 3-11 (27.3%)
LAST GAME RECAP: Calgary is coming off Monday's 5-3 home ice victory over Edmonton where Jett Woo set up the game winner then added an insurance marker. Carson Focht, Sean Tschigerl, Evan Toth and Orca Wiesblatt also scored for the home side with Toth's marker his first career goal in the WHL. Teammates Mark Kastelic and Tyson Galloway also recorded milestones with Kastelic picking up an assist for his 200th career point and Galloway a helper for his first career point. Special teams played a large role as Calgary went 2-2 on the powerplay while killing all three Edmonton chances.
DECEMBER DATA: Riley Stotts led all Hitmen last month with 13 points (6g, 7a) in nine games. Orca Wiesblatt (2g, 7a) was next with nine while Mark Kastelic (2g, 6a) tallied eight. James Malm (1g, 5a) and Josh Prokop (2g, 4a) rounded out the top five with six points each. Dakota Krebs, Riley Stotts and Orca Wiesblatt shared the plus/minus lead all at +4.
ALUMNUS OF THE GAME: Marking the 25th anniversary season the Hitmen, in partnership with Adrenalin Source for Sports (9309 Macleod Trail South), are honouring an alumnus at each home game. Today the Hitmen are recognizing three off-ice officials who have been working games since day one of the franchise in Gord Simonin, Sheldon Siemens and Wes Jamieson.
DECADE REWIND: As Calgary opens a new decade today they finished the last one with an overall record of 361-260-35-22. It included a WHL Championship in 2010 and a pair of trips to the Eastern Conference Final, one in 2013 and another in 2015. Joel Broda scored the first goal of the decade while Jett Woo netted the last. The Hitmen leading scorer was Brady Brassart with 222 points. Cody Sylvester tallied 209 and Mark Kastelic 200. Greg Chase (177) and Jake Bean (175) rounded out the top five.
WORLD JUNIORS: Hitmen defenceman Egor Zamula is a member of Team Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship becoming the 23rd player in franchise history to play in the prestigious event. Zamula has three points (2g, 1a) in four games to sit tied for seventh in team scoring. Hitmen Assistant and Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera is Team Canada's Goaltending Coach. Both teams will play in Thursday's Quarterfinals with Canada to meet Slovakia and Russia taking on Switzerland.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 9-6-1-1 at home this season, grabbing points in six of their last eight games while posting a 4-2-1-1 record at the 'Dome. Medicine Hat is 12-6-0-1 on the road but winless in their last two going 0-1-0-1.
HERE WE GO: The Hitmen stormed out of the post-Christmas schedule with three games in four days. Today kicks off another busy run with four games in five days.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Tye Carriere after today's game against Medicine Hat. Tye will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
WELCOME BACK: Forward Hunter Campbell is eligible to return to the lineup today after serving a one-game WHL imposed suspension for a charging major and game misconduct assessed last Saturday in Medicine Hat.
GAME DATA: Today is the sixth of eight straight games for the Hitmen against Central Division opponents. During this span they face Lethbridge four times, Medicine Hat on three occasions and Edmonton once. Calgary is 7-7-3-0 against Central Division foes this season.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Cael Zimmerman (lower body, week-to-week).
Total man-games lost: 92
TOP PROSPECTS INVITE: Hitmen defenceman Luke Prokop will play in the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The game, which showcases the top CHL players eligible for the NHL Draft, takes place on Thursday, Jan. 16 and will be hosted by the Hamilton Bulldogs. Prokop will become the 27th Hitmen player to compete in the Top Prospects Game. Jake Bean was the last to appear, suiting up in 2016.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Fri., Jan. 3 at MH 7:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Jan. 4 at LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Jan. 5 vs. MJ 4:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Fri., Jan. 10 vs. LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Jan. 12 vs. SC 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Airdrie Day presented by Southland Transportation on Jan. 1 vs. MH
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 5 vs. MJ
- Pucks for Paws on Jan. 10 vs. LET
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 12 vs. SC
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Sun. Jan. 26 vs. RD. It's also Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Josh Prokop is two games away from 100 while Blake Allan is three games shy of the century mark.
- Mark Kastelic is 12th on the clubs all-time points list, six back of Brandon Segal's 206. Kastelic is also four goals behind Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Segal has 110.
- Monday against Edmonton, Jack McNaughton moved past Brandon Glover and into 11th place on the clubs all-time regular season saves list with 1,570. Nick Schneider holds 10th place at 1,651.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2020
- Silvertips Edged in Shootout - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Shutout Giants - Victoria Royals
- Oil Kings Kick off 2020 with Shootout Win over Silvertips - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Giants Fall 1-0 in their 2020 Opener against Victoria - Vancouver Giants
- Holmes Ends OT Early for 2-1 Pats' Win - Regina Pats
- Raiders Earn Point in OT Loss to Pats - Prince Albert Raiders
- Best in East ICE Down Saskatoon Blades - Saskatoon Blades
- Tigers Fall 4-2 in New Year's Day Date with the Hitmen - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hitmen Edge Tigers, 4-2 - Calgary Hitmen
- ICE Ring in the New Year with 6-1 Win - Winnipeg Ice
- Americans Deal Warm to Edmonton for Two Players, Two Picks - Tri-City Americans
- Oil Kings Acquire Goaltender Beck Warm from Tri-City Americans - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Preview: Broncos Begin New Year with Old Rivalry against Regina - Swift Current Broncos
- Game 36 at Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- ICE Look to Ring in the New Year in Saskatoon. - Winnipeg Ice
- Game Preview: Ice Roll into Town for First Game of 2020, Decade - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, January 1 vs. Medicine Hat - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Kick off 2020 with New Year's Day Game against Prince Albert Wednesday - Regina Pats
- Hawks Secure New Year's Eve Win in Front of Sellout Crowd - Portland Winterhawks
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