WHL Calgary Hitmen

Hitmen At Kootenay Friday Then Host Medicine Hat Saturday, Kootenay Sunday

Published on December 7, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen play game six of a six game road trip Friday in Kootenay against the Ice. The Hitmen are 4-0-1-0 on the journey so far following Saturday's 6-3 win in Chilliwack. Brandon Kozun had a career high five points (2g 3a) while Joel Broda (1g 3a) and Michael Stone (4a) each had four points. Ian Schultz scored twice for the Hitmen who went 5-9 on the powerplay. Cody Beach added a single for his first goal in the Western Hockey League. Calgary outshot the Bruins 36-24. Calgary is 23-8-1-0 on the season. At 47 points they hold a two point lead over Saskatoon for top spot in the WHL Standings, and a nine point lead over Medicine Hat for first place in the Central Division.

VS KOOTENAY: Friday is the third of eight meetings with the Ice. Calgary leads the season series 2-0.

Oct. 2 in Cranbrook; Hitmen 2 Ice 1. Hitmen goalie Michael Snider 39 saves.

Nov. 11 in Calgary; Hitmen 7 Ice 2. Brandon Kozun 1g 3a as the Hitmen got goals from seven different players

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on goal: Koot 74 Cal 62 Powerplays: Cal 4-7 57.1% Koot 1-4 9.1%

The Hitmen and Ice will meet again on Sunday, December 13th in Calgary for the 15th Annual Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss. Game time 5:00 p.m.

STREAKIN': Michael Stone (5g 11a) is riding a 10 game point streak. Ian Schultz (5g 3a) is on a five game streak. Brandon Kozun (7g 7a) has points in four straight. Giffen Nyren (3a) has points in back-to-back games. Joel Broda has points in five of his last six games (8g 6a). Tyler Fiddler (1g 3a) had his three game point streak snapped Saturday in Chilliwack.

WORLD JUNIOR CAMP: Hitmen teammates Brandon Kozun and Martin Jones have both been invited to Canada's World Junior Selection Camp in Regina from December 12-16. Six years in a row the Hitmen have at least one player suit up for Team Canada. 2009: Brett Sonne, 2008: Karl Alzner, 2007: Karl Alzner, 2006: Justin Pogge, 2005: Ryan Getzlaf, Andrew Ladd, 2004: Ryan Getzlaf.

NYREN'S ARRIVAL: Since the arrival of Giffen Nyren in a November 23rd trade from the Kamloops Blazers the 20-year-old defenceman has four points (4a) in five games with the Hitmen and is a +4.

WHL TOP 10: Brandon Kozun leads the WHL scoring race with 61 points, four points ahead of Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats. Kozun also has the most assists with 43 and game winning goals with eight. Michael Snider has the third best goals against average (2.24). Snider is fifth in save percentage (.918). Michael Stone is tied with Kevin Connauton of Vancouver for most goals by a defenceman with 13 while Stone's 34 points is tied with Travis Hamonic of Moose Jaw for number one overall in defencemen scoring.

REGULAR SEASON MILESTONES: Giffen Nyren needs two points for 100. Martin Jones is three minutes shy of 7,000.

CHARITY WEEKEND: The Calgary Hitmen will play two big games for charity this weekend. Saturday night they host the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2nd Annual Shake Up The Dome. Fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the game for the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. In addition upon entrance fans will be given a box of Kraft Dinner to use as a noise maker and asked to donate back to the food bank upon entrance in exchange for a KD Bold Snack Cup. Then on Sunday evening the Hitmen host the Kootenay Ice in the 15th Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed toy to the game and toss it on the ice when the Hitmen score their first goal. Game time is 5:00 p.m. at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

MOVING UP THE CHARTS: Brandon Kozun with three assists Saturday in Chilliwack now has 146 career helpers moving him into a tie with Ryan White for sixth all time in franchise history. Kozun needs just two assists to tie Pavel Brendl for fifth place at 148. Brad Moran leads the way with 246.

DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have six NHL prospects ... Joel Broda-(5th round Washington 2008), Kris Foucault-(4th round Minnesota 2009), Martin Jones-(FA signing LA Kings '2008), Brandon Kozun-(6th round LA 2009), Ian Schultz-(3rd round St. Louis 2008), Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008).

Check out the Calgary Hitmen Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2009


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.

OurSports Central