Hitmen game notes
Published on January 29, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: Calgary wraps up a three game home stand tonight against Kootenay coming off Sunday's 5-1 win over Kelowna. The Hitmen scored two shorthanded goals and one on the powerplay en route to the win. Ryan White led the charge with four points (2 goals, 2 assists) while Freddie Pettersson, Keegan Dansereau and Brodie Dupont also scored for Calgary. Martin Jones made 20 saves to get the win. Calgary held period leads of 1-0 and 3-1. The Hitmen outshot the Rockets 35-21. Calgary went 1-8 on the powerplay while Kelowna was 1-6. The Hitmen are now 26-19-2-4. They are third in the Central Division with 58 points.
VS KOOTENAY: Tonight is the sixth of eight meetings this season. The Ice lead the season series with a 4-1-0-0 record. Their next meeting is February 3rd in Kootenay.
-Oct 6 in CGY: Ice 8 Hitmen 4. Ryan Russell and Ben Maxwell combined for eight points. Russell (3G1A), Maxwell (2G2A).
-Nov 15 in CGY: Hitmen 4 Ice 3. Karl Alzner 1G2A.
-Nov 17 at KTN: Ice 4 Hitmen 3. Andrew Bailey 2G
-Jan 13 at KTN: Ice 5 Hitmen 2. Mike Busto 2G2A.
-Jan 26 in CGY: Ice 3 Hitmen 2 OT. Mike Busto 1G1A including OT winner.
INSIDE THE SEASON SERIES
Shots: Kootenay 163 Calgary 162 Powerplays: Calgary 8-33 24.2% Kootenay 6-34 17.6%
COPS FOR CANCER: Sunday's game saw the Hitmen hold their second annual "Cops for Cancer Head Shave." 13 Hitmen receive new haircuts as well as three staff members. The event was a rousing success with approximately $19,000 raised for the worthy cause. Last year's event raised $7,250.
MID SEASON NHL DRAFT RANKINGS: Central Scouting has released its mid season rankings for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Four Hitmen are among the top North American prospects. Karl Alzner is 8th, Alex Plante 56th, Brett Sonne 91st and Eric Frere 181st among skaters. Alzner, Plante and Sonne all played in CHL Top Prospects game in Quebec City.
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have 4 NHL picks ...Ryan White-(3rd round Montreal 2006), Robin Figren - (3rd round NYI 2006), Brodie Dupont-(3rd round NY Rangers 2005), Freddie Pettersson-(5th round Edmonton 2005).
ROAD WARRIORS: Calgary plays six of their next eight and 12 of their next 16 games on the road.
DUPONT ENDS DROUGHT: Brodie Dupont ended a nine game goalless streak on Sunday by notching his 24th goal of the year. Dupont has led Calgary in goals scored for the majority of the season.
CAREER WATCH: Brodie Dupont passed Owen Fussey to move into 20th position on the team's career assists list with 62.
TOP TEN: Ryan White is third in WHL scoring with 64 points (23G41A). He is also fifth in assists, tied for fourth in game winning goals with 6, and tied for second in short handed goals with 4. Dan Spence is tied for fifth in shutouts with 5, and is tied for fifth in wins with 20.
THE ROSTER: Calgary is carrying 24 players; (14 forwards, 8 defencemen and 2 goalies)
Break down: 3 (20 year-olds), 5 (19 year-olds), 8 (18 year-olds), 4 (17 year-olds), and 4 (16 year-olds).
INJURIES: Riley Merkley - concussion (indefinitely), Ryan Letts - knee (indefinitely)
VS. CENTRAL DIVISION: The Hitmen are 10-12-1-1 against teams from the Central Division.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Hitmen are just 4 for 45 in their last nine games with the man advantage. Overall Calgary is 65-326 on the powerplay. That's fourth in the WHL at 19.9%. The penalty kill has surrendered 58 goals on 359 chances. It's sixth at 83.8%.
HITMEN ALUMNI: Justin Pogge who played parts of two seasons with the Hitmen from 2004-05 to 2005-06 is in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. The netminder has played in 22 games and accumulated a record of 7-14-0 with a goals against average of 3.23. Pogge's save percentage is .894 and he has collected one shutout.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen head out on the road for a three game road trip. First up is a Friday night tilt in Spokane versus the Chiefs. Then it is off to Kootenay for a Saturday night game versus the Ice. Calgary returns to the Pengrowth Saddledome on Wednesday February 7th when they take on Chilliwack at 7 p.m.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2007
- Simpson and Yawney Joining Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- Second annual "Head Shave for Cancer" a big success - Calgary Hitmen
- T-Birds change game time for Hockey Challenge - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Silvertips Get Ready for US Division Match Up vs. Americans - Everett Silvertips
- Hitmen game notes - Calgary Hitmen
- Blazers week in review - Kamloops Blazers
- Zach Hamill Named WHL Player of the Week - Everett Silvertips
- Zach Hamill Named BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Wheaties end trip on winning note - Brandon Wheat Kings
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