Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, January 9 at Moose Jaw
January 9, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (19-16-3-1, 42 pts.) at MOOSE JAW WARRIORS (21-9-5-1, 48 pts.)
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. MT - Mosaic Place
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open a four-game road trip with a stop in Moose Jaw tonight against the Warriors. Calgary is on a four game winning streak following Saturday's 4-3 home ice victory over Medicine Hat. The turning point came in the second period with the Hitmen scoring twice in a span of 11 seconds to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. Those goals came off the sticks of Bryce Bader and Luke Coleman with Bader's marker his second in as many games and Coleman's tally extending his goal scoring streak to three games. Jake Kryski and Carson Focht rounded out the Calgary offense helping Kryski push his career-high point scoring streak to nine games. Logan Christensen, Tyler Preziuso and Ryan Jevne replied for the Tigers who suffered only their second loss in 11 games. Calgary outshot Medicine Hat 42-36 with both teams 0-3 on the power play. Jack McNaughton picked up the win in his 14th consecutive start in the Hitmen net.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
ATTACHMENT
Media Kit
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STREAKS
- Jake Kryski (5g, 7a) is on a career high nine-game point streak.
- Luke Coleman (3g, 1a) and Bryce Bader (3g) are both riding three-game goal scoring streaks.
- Cael Zimmerman (2g, 2a) and Layne Toder (3a) have points in back-to-back games.
- Jack McNaughton has won his last four starts in goal, posting a combined goals against average of 2.25 and a .918 save percentage.
- Mark Kastelic (5g, 1a) has points in five of his last six games while Vladislav Yeryomenko (4a) has points in three of his last four outings.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. MOOSE JAW: Tonight is the third of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Warriors. Calgary is 2-0 against Moose Jaw this season after having lost the previous 11 to the Warriors. Kaden Elder (2g, 2), Mark Kastelic (2g, 2a) and Riley Stotts (4a) lead Calgary in the season series with four points each while Josh Prokop (1g, 2a) and Egor Zamula (1g, 2a) have two points each. Four Warriors have a single point against the Hitmen with Alek Sukunda and Justin Almeida proving the goals.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 19/18 at MJ: CGY 5 MJ 1...Carl Stankowski made 30 saves in a first-star performance.
Dec. 2/18 at CGY: CGY 5 MJ 1...Riley Stotts led Calgary with four assists.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 80 MJ 75 Power Plays: CGY 4-8 (50%) MJ 1-8 (12.5%)
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 19-11-2-1.
RECENT RUN: Calgary has picked up 28 of a possible 38 points in their last 19 games posting a record of 13-4-1-1. Special teams have been a major driver with the power play a combined 20-61 (32.8%) while the penalty kill is 60-67 (89.6%).
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is sixth in the WHL in goals with 27 and 12th in shots on goal with 150 while his 14 power play markers lead the league. Egor Zamula is in a two-way tie for fourth in defencemen scoring with 36 points.
FAST FACTS: Calgary has scored nine even strength goals in the last two games...The Hitmen are 12-0-2-1 when leading after the first period.
DID YOU KNOW?: The WHL Trade Deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on Thursday, January 10...The Hitmen are 4-1 against teams from the East Division...Calgary has the WHL's best road power play operating at 34%...The Hitmen have killed 19 of their last 20 shorthanded situations...James Malm has 26 points (7g, 19a) in 24 games since joining Calgary in an Oct. 31, 2018 trade with the Vancouver Giants.
ROSTER MOVE: On Dec. 31, the Hitmen added 16-year-old goaltender Ethan Hein to the roster. The product of Saskatoon, SK has been playing this season in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League with the Swift Current Legionnaires. In 14 games he has a 2.75 goals against average and .900 save percentage. The Hitmen acquired Hein last season in a multi-player trade with the Swift Current Broncos. The November, 27, 2018 deal saw Calgary obtain Conner Chaulk, Dom Schmiemann, Riley Stotts and the rights to Josh Prokop along with Hein and a second-round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft (Zac Funk) in exchange for graduating forwards Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn and a 2018 fifth-round bantam pick.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Carl Stankowski (2-3 weeks, lower body), Tye Carriere (2 weeks, upper body).
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 will be held in Red Deer from Feb. 16-22.
CORRAL SERIES LUNCHEON: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is excited to announce plans for the reunion of the greatest junior hockey line in Calgary history for "The Corral Series Luncheon" sponsored by Sportsnet 960-The Fan. The event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31 in the Scotiabank Saddledome Chrysler Club will feature a Hot Stove Panel with the trio of Danny Gare, Jerry Holland and Mike Rogers. That line combined for 806 points during three seasons with the Calgary Centennials from 1971-74. Tickets for the luncheon are $60 each (plus applicable fees and taxes) and include the following:
- Buffet Lunch
- Special Corral Series gift
- Additional guests to help celebrate hockey in the Stampede Corral
A table of eight tickets is also available for $400 (plus applicable fees and taxes) with full details available online at http://hitmenhockey.com/corral-series-luncheon In February, the Hitmen will play a trio of regular season games at the historic Stampede Corral in "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports. As a tribute to the city's hockey history, the Hitmen are dedicating each game on Feb. 1, 6 and 8 to former local teams who once called the Stampede Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Calgary Wranglers and Calgary Cowboys. Tickets are still available with three-game pack starting at $59.25 for kids and $74.25 for adults.
IN THE COMMUNITY: The Hitmen are hosting an open practice at the Siksika Sportsplex on the Siksika Nation starting at 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 15. Hitmen Hockey staff will host a general coaching info session for coaches and parents from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on the upper level of the rink followed by a post-practice meet and greet with Hitmen players, dinner and ceremony. Due to limited space, interested participants must preregister before Jan. 10 with Jody at
403-734-5318.
ALUMNUS REPORT: Victor Rask, who played two seasons with the Hitmen from 2011-2013, is in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 25-year-old forward from Leksand, Sweden has five points (1g, 4a) in 22 games. Rask is now in his fifth season in the NHL recording 162 points in 335 career games.
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 35 points (22g, 13a) in 24 games.
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 (3-0-0-0).
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Jan. 11 at Saskatoon 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Jan. 12 at Prince Albert 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 19 at Edmonton 1:30 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 20 vs. Red Deer 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 25 vs. Prince George 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 20 vs. RD
- CBE Night on Jan. 25 vs. PG
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Jan. 27 vs. KTN
- The Corral Series - Presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports on Feb.1 vs. BDN, 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/Calgary Catholic 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
- Riley Stotts needs one assist for 50 while Kaden Elder is three helpers shy of 50. Elder eclipsed the 100 point mark on Jan. 4.
- Hunter Campbell is three games away from 100.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2019
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- The Hawks Are Hot - Portland Winterhawks
- Blades Set for Weekend Double Header - Saskatoon Blades
- Raiders Hold Firm, Silvertips Rise in Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings Unveiled - WHL
- Rosters Announced for 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game - WHL
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Regina - Game #41 - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Acquire '00-Born Defenceman Brenden Kwiatkowski from Warriors - Kootenay Ice
- Wheat Kings Acquire Chizen from Rockets - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Rockets Acquire Higson From Wheat Kings - Kelowna Rockets
- ICE Begin Six-Game Road Stretch against 'Canes - Kootenay Ice
- ICE Sign '98-Born Goaltender Curtis Meger, Will Join Team for Remainder of Season - Kootenay Ice
- Broncos Deal Hofer to Winterhawks in Exchange for Multiple Picks - Swift Current Broncos
- Hawks Trade for Joel Hofer - Portland Winterhawks
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, January 9 at Moose Jaw - Calgary Hitmen
- Winterhawks Edge Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Back in Action at Home to Portland Wednesday - Regina Pats
- Blades Edge T-Birds Tuesday Night - Saskatoon Blades
- Cougars Shutout Ams in Tri-City - Tri-City Americans
- Gauthier Shuts out Americans, 1-0 - Prince George Cougars
- Offense Guides Hawks to Fifth Straight Win - Portland Winterhawks
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