Hitmen game notes
October 13, 2004 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
TODAY VS. KOOTENAY: This is the second of seven regular season meetings with the ICE. Last season, the Hitmen were 4-2-1 vs. Kootenay. On Friday night in Cranbrook the ICE scored 3 powerplay goals to down the Hitmen 4-3. NIGEL DAWES scored twice for the ICE, while KOHN, ROGERS and OMALLEY replied for the Hitmen. Kootenay enters tonights game 1st in the B.C. Division and 1st overall in the WHL at 6-2-1. The Hitmen are 3rd in the Central Division at 4-3-1-1. The teams meet again on November 19th in Cranbrook.
LAST GAME: The Hitmen lost 3-2 to Kelowna on Sunday afternoon in the Pengrowth Saddledome. Calgary fell behind 3-0 before getting 3rd period goals from RYAN GETZLAF and KONSTANTIN PUSHKAREV. TROY BODIE tallied twice for the Rockets with TYLER SPURGEON adding a single. The win was the fourth in a row for the defending Memorial Cup Champions. The teams meet two more times this season. The Rockets were 1 for 7 on the powerplay, the Hitmen 0 for 7. RYAN GETZLAF extended his point streak to six games. The streak includes 4 goals and 3 Assists.
THE ROSTER: 23 players are currently listed on the team roster. The breakdown includes; (5) 16 year-olds, (3) 17 year-olds, (5) 18 year-olds, (6) 19 year-olds, (4) 20 year-olds.
DID YOU KNOW: General Manager/Head Coach KELLY KISIO made two roster moves on Friday. 18 year-old CODY McMULLIN was traded to Red Deer for a 7th Round Bantam pick in the 2005 draft. AARON ROBERGE was released and will play in the USHL in Indianapolis. KONSTANTIN PUSHKAREV, ROMAN TOMANEK and RYAN WHITE are amongst the Top 10 in WHL Rookie scoring. DUSTIN KOHN is tied for 5th in scoring amongst Defenceman, the 17 year-old has 2 goals and 7 points. The Hitmen had four players invited to the Canadian National Junior team development camp this summer. The list included: GETZLAF, LADD, SCHULTZ and ROGERS.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Hitmen Powerplay is 8 for 61 or 13.1%. The Penalty kill is at 85.7%. The Kootenay powerplay is 6 for 48 or 12.5%. The ICE penalty kill is 88.5%
INJURY REPORT: STEVEN CONVINGTON; Hip (day to day)
THE SCHEDULE: The Hitmen are at home again on Friday night vs. Medicine Hat. Calgary travels to Lethbridge next Wednesday night.
NEW SEASON: The 2004-05 season marks the 10th year in the WHL for the Calgary Hitmen. To celebrate this milestone, the team has introduced a commemorative 10th Anniversary Jersey that will be worn at the first 18 home games of the season. The Hitmen begin the new season with a total of nine new roster players and a brand new coaching staff. General Manager KELLY KISIO has added the title Head Coach to his list of duties. KISIO has been the General Manager of the team since the 1998-99 season. Joining Kelly on the bench will be Co-Coach DEAN EVASON who for the past two seasons was the Head Coach of the Vancouver Giants. Prior to his stint in Kamloops, he was the Head Coach of the Kamloops Blazers for 3 seasons. EVASON was with the Hitmen in the spring of 1999 when he joined the club as an Assistant Coach, en route to the Memorial Cup. EVASON and KISIO were teammates in the NHL. They are joined by Assistant Coach / Assistant General Manager BLAINE FORSYTHE and Goaltender Coach DARCY WAKALUK.
2004 NHL ENTRY DRAFT: 5 Hitmen players were selected at this years NHL Entry Draft in Carolina, including three in the 1st Round. The Carolina Hurricanes in the 1st Round, 4th overall selected ANDREW LADD. Hes joins former Hitmen PAVEL BRENDL as the highest ever drafted player from the Hitmen. In 1999, BRENDL was selected by the New York Rangers 4th overall. JEFF SCHULTZ and ANDY ROGERS also went in the 1st Round. SCHULTZ to Washington Capitals (27th Overall) and ROGERS to Tampa Bay Lightning (30th Overall). BRETT CARSON went in the 4th Round to the Carolina Hurricanes and STEVE COVINGTON in the 7th Round to the Detroit Red Wings.
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