Hitmen host Kamloops Tuesday then hit the road for three games
February 9, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen, 8-0-1-0 in their last nine, complete a two game home stand Tuesday against the Kamloops Blazers. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday's 4-2 win over the Kootenay Ice. Brett Sonne scored twice, including the game winner midway through the third, while Brandon Kozun and Paul Postma added singles. Postma's goal broke a trio of franchise records. Most goals in a single season by a defenceman (20), longest goal scoring streak by a defenceman (five games) and most 20 goal scorers on a single Hitmen team (seven). Kyle Bortis chipped in two assists for Calgary who overcame Ice leads of 1-0 and 2-1. The Hitmen outshot the Ice 35-20. Calgary went 0-5 on the power play while Kootenay was 0-3.
VS KAMLOOPS: Tuesday is the second of three meetings with the Blazers. Calgary leads the season series 1-0.
-Oct. 4 in Calgary; Hitmen 6 Blazers 2. Carson McMillan and Brett Sonne each with 1g 1a. Paul Postma 3a.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on goal: Calgary 40 Kamloops 19. Power plays: Calgary 2-4 50% Kamloops 0-4 0%
The Hitmen and Blazers will meet again on Wednesday, March 4th in Kamloops.
RACE FOR 100 POINTS: The 2008/09 Calgary Hitmen are trying to become just the fourth team in franchise history to hit the 100 point plateau; A win Tuesday against Kamloops would tie a franchise record for the fastest to 100 points at 59 games. 1999/2000 Team 120 pts (59), 1998/99 Team 110 pts (63), 2005/06 Team 101 pts (71).
*Game they hit the 100 point mark in brackets
STEADY SCORING: Not counting overtime, the Hitmen have scored at least one goal in 16 straight periods.....The Hitmen have scored at least four goals in 10 of their last 11 games. Calgary has scored four or more goals in a game 40 times this season
CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPS: For the second year in a row the Calgary Hitmen are Central Division Regular Season Champions. They have mathematically clinched the banner. This marks the fifth time in franchise history the Hitmen have won the division.
STREAKIN': Martin Jones is 19-0-2-0 in his last 19 starts. He is also unbeaten in regulation time in his last 19 starts at home 19-0-1-0. Paul Postma (10g 15a) has points in 13 straight games, a career high. Brett Sonne (12g 7a) has points in 10 straight, also a career high. Sonne has 22 goals in his last 19 games and has scored four games in a row. Brandon Kozun (4g 11a) has points in eight straight, Kris Foucault (4g5a) six straight. Kyle Bortis (3g 9a) is riding a five game point streak. Joel Broda (2g 3a) has points in four straight. Michael Stone (2a) has points in back-to-back games. Keith Seabrook (6g 9a) saw his eight game point streak snapped Sunday vs. Kootenay.
WHL TOP GUNS: The Calgary Hitmen have five of the Top 16 scorers in the Western Hockey League. Brandon Kozun is second with 85 points; Brett Sonne is third with 79, Kyle Bortis is fifth with 72, Paul Postma is tied for 12th with 66 while Joel Broda is tied for 16th with 65 points. The Hitmen also have three of the top scoring defencemen in the WHL. Paul Postma leads all blue liners with 66 points; Michael Stone is tied for fifth with 48 while Keith Seabrook is eighth with 43 points. Martin Jones leads the WHL in wins (35) and is tied for second in shutouts with (5). He has the third best GAA at 2.19.
DID YOU KNOW? Joel Broda is tied with John Tavares of the London Knights for the most goals scored in the Canadian Hockey League this season with 41.... Calgary has won two in a row at home and four straight on the road....Brandon Kozun is ranked 149th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting. It's their midterm rankings for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft....The Hitmen are ranked #3 in the CHL Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 Rankings this week, that's down a spot from last week. Three Hitmen have been named Boston Pizza Player of the Week in the WHL this season; Brett Sonne, Brandon Kozun and Keith Seabrook. Joel Broda also did it twice with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
2008-09 HITMEN STANDINGS: Record (47-7-3-1). Home (28-2-1-0). Road (19-5-2-1). Central Division (1st). Conference (1st). Western Hockey League (1st).
IRON MEN: Only Brandon Kozun and Jason MacDonald have played in every Hitmen game this season.
HITMEN TEAM LEADERS:
Goals (41) Joel Broda Points (85) Brandon Kozun Plus/Minus (+46) Paul Postma
Assists (53) Brandon Kozun PIM (127) Alex Plante Wins (35) Martin Jones
POSTMA'S STAMP: Paul Postma (66 points) is the highest scoring Hitmen defenceman since the 2000/01 season when Matt Kinch (18g 66a) had 84 points.
PLAYOFF BOUND: On January 28th the Hitmen mathematically clinched a berth in the 2009 WHL Playoffs. This marks the 12th straight season the Hitmen have qualified for the post season.
CAREER WATCH: Carson McMillan needs one goal for 50. Kyle Bortis is three points shy of 200 while Brett Sonne needs one point for 150.
CAREER YEAR: 13 Calgary Hitmen are having career years in the Western Hockey League; Joel Broda 65 points (53) Bostjan Golicic 42 points (30), Kris Foucault 10 points (3), Brandon Kozun 85 points (53), Jason MacDonald 16 points (7), Matt Mackenzie 12 points (8), Carson McMillan 56 points (42), Paul Postma 66 points (42), Chase Schaber 18 points (4), Ian Schultz 39 points (30), Keith Seabrook 43 points (17), Brett Sonne 79 points (30), Michael Stone 48 points (35)
*Previous career high in brackets
WHAT'S LEFT: Including tonight vs. Kamloops the Hitmen have 14 regular season games remaining; Five at home and nine on the road as the Hitmen won't play a regular season home game in March because of the Tim Hortons Brier at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
RECORD BREAKING SEASON: From Oct. 15/08 to Jan. 16/09 the Hitmen set a new franchise record 18 game home ice winning streak. The previous mark of 14 was set in the 1999/2000 season....On January 25th vs. Regina the Hitmen scored a franchise record six power play goals. In that game defenceman Paul Postma tied the franchise mark for power play points by a defenceman with four....Postma also tied the franchise record for the longest assist streak by a defenceman at eight games (Jan 18 to Feb 5).....On January 18th vs. Chilliwack the Hitmen fired 26 third period shots tying a franchise record for most shots in a single period....The Hitmen currently have 28 home ice wins with five games remaining. The franchise record is 30, set in the 1999/2000 season.
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have nine NHL prospects ...Joel Broda-(5th round Washington 2008), Carson McMillan-(7th round Minnesota 2007), Alex Plante-(1st round Edmonton 2007), Paul Postma-(7th round Atlanta 2007), Ian Schultz-(3rd round St. Louis 2008), Keith Seabrook-(2nd round Washington 2006), Brett Sonne-(3rd round St. Louis 2007) and Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008). Martin Jones-(Los Angeles Kings-Signed '08).
THE ROSTER: Calgary is carrying 24 players; (15 forwards, 7 defencemen and 2 goalies)
-Break down....3 (20 year-olds), 7 (19 year-olds), 7 (18 year-olds), 4 (17 year-olds), and 3 (16 year-olds).
HITMEN VS: (Bran 2-0-1-0), (Cwk 1-1), (Edm 5-1), (Evt 1-0), (Kam 1-0), (Kel 1-0), (Ktn 5-2-1-0), (Leth 5-0), (MH 5-0), (MJ 3-0), (Port 1-0), (PA 3-0-1-0), (PG 1-0), (RD 4-0), (Reg 2-0), (Sask 1-2), (Sea 1-0), (Spok 0-0-0-1), (SC 4-0), (TC 0-1), (Van 1-0)
PROMOTIONS: On Friday's February 20th the Hitmen will host the Red Deer Rebels. It's the third annual Hitmen Head Shave as several players will take to centre ice following the game to have their locks cut. Fans are asked to donate money in the fight against cancer.
UPCOMING GAMES: Calgary will start a three game road trip in Brandon on Friday against the Wheat Kings. The Hitmen will also play Saturday in Regina and Sunday in Moose Jaw. The next Hitmen home game is Wednesday, February 18th against the East Division Leading Saskatoon Blades. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
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Western Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2009
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- Bruins Sign Brent Wold - Chilliwack Bruins
- Wheat Kings' Matt Calvert named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Pats Weekly - Regina Pats
- Americans Downgrade Hurricanes 5-2 - Tri-City Americans
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