WHL Calgary Hitmen

Hitmen Host Kootenay Thursday And Vancouver Saturday

January 4, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN NEWS AND NOTES

HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen play game three of a four game home stand Thursday night when they host the Kootenay Ice. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. 'Canes goaltender Linden Rowat was the difference as the Hitmen outshot Lethbridge 37-13 with Rowat making 35 saves in a first star performance. Graham Hood scored twice for the Hurricanes, his second goal into an empty net, iced the win. Joel Broda and Rigby Burgart both scored for Calgary who erased a 2-0 second period deficit. Brennan Yadlowski scored the game winner for Lethbridge snapping a 2-2 third period tie with an early powerplay goal. Calgary is 27-11-1-1 on the season. At 56 points they lead the Central Division Standings by just one point over Medicine Hat, but have three games in hand on the Tigers. The Hitmen are four points back of Saskatoon for both top spot in the Eastern Conference and number one overall.

VS KOOTENAY: Thursday is the sixth of eight meetings with the Ice. Calgary leads the season series 4-1 having outscored the Ice by a combined 16-9.

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.

Dec. 11 in Cranbrook; Hitmen 3 Ice 1. Martin Jones made 24 saves in a first star performance.

Dec. 13 in Calgary; Hitmen 3 Ice 2 in a shootout. Chase Schaber scored the shootout winner after Del Cowan forced overtime with 2:41 remaining.

Dec. 27 in Cranbrook; Ice 3 Hitmen 1. Kootenay built a 3-0 lead as goalie Todd Matthews made 34 saves.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on goal: Cal 158 Koot 156 Powerplays: Cal 5-26 19.2% Koot 1-28 3.6%

The Hitmen and Ice will meet again on Sunday, January 17th in Calgary.

HOT GOALIES: The Hitmen have lost two of their last three games, but in both cases the opposition goalie was named the first star. (December 27 in Cranbrook Ice goalie Todd Matthews makes 34 saves, January 3rd vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes goalie Linden Rowat makes 35 saves)

MILESTONES: Mike Williamson is four wins shy of 250 WHL head coaching victories. (219 Portland, 27 Calgary). Meanwhile Ian Schultz needs two goals for 50 career regular season markers.

GOING FOR GOLD: Two members of the Hitmen are at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatoon. Brandon Kozun and Martin Jones are both on Team Canada and will face the U-S Tuesday night in the Gold Medal Game. Kozun has seven points (3g 4a) through five games with 12 shots on goal including a shootout winner against the United States in the final round robin game. Jones meanwhile is 1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and.926 save percentage. It's now seven years in a row the Hitmen have had at least one player suit up for Team Canada. 2010: Martin Jones, Brandon Kozun, 2009: Brett Sonne, 2008: Karl Alzner, 2007: Karl Alzner, 2006: Justin Pogge, 2005: Ryan Getzlaf, Andrew Ladd, 2004: Ryan Getzlaf.

STREAKIN': Brandon Kozun (8g 7a) is riding a five game point streak. Matt MacKenzie (1g 3a) has points in four straight. Tyler Fiddler (1g 2a) and Joel Broda (1g 1a) both have points in back-to-back games.

NHL DRAFT RANKINGS: Two Hitmen have cracked NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings for the 2010 Entry Draft. Austin Madaisky is #20 among WHL Prospects while Matt MacKenzie is #24. The NHL Entry Draft will be held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles from June 25 to 26.

NATIONAL ATTENTION: The Calgary Hitmen are ranked #4 in the CHL Top 10.

CHL TOP PROSPECT: Matt MacKenzie will play in the 2010 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

MacKenzie, in his third season with the Hitmen, will suit up for Team Orr on January 20th in Windsor, ON. He is among 40 of the CHL's top players eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft who will also compete in the January 19th Skills Competition.

PROSPECT WATCH: Hitmen prospect, Shane Gingera, is currently playing Manitoba Midget "AAA" with the Winnipeg Wild. The fifth round pick, 107th overall, in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft is currently seventh in league scoring with 28 points (16g 12a) in 20 games.

PENALTY MINUTE WATCH: Ian Schultz is nearing the Top 10 in franchise regular season penalty minutes. At 353 Schultz is only one minute behind Ryan Getzlaf who currently holds the 10th spot at 354.

HITMEN TEAM LEADERS:

Goals (21) Joel Broda

Points (63) Brandon Kozun

Plus/Minus (+14) Brandon Kozun

Assists (44) Brandon Kozun

PIM (98) Ian Schultz

Wins (15) Martin Jones

HITMEN VS: (Bran 1-1), (Cwk 1-1), (Edm 4-0), (Evt 1-0), (Kam 0-0), (Kel 0-1), (Ktn 4-1), (Leth 0-2), (MH 2-1-0-1), (MJ 1-2), (Port 1-0), (PA 0-1), (PG 1-0), (RD 3-0), (Reg 3-0), (Sask 1-1), (Sea 1-0), (Spok 0-1), (SC 1-0), (TC 0-0), (Van 2-0)

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).

IN THE COMMUNITY: On Sunday, January 10th the Hitmen will take part in Pond Hockey by Enmax Energy. Up to 13 members of the Hitmen will take to the ice for grassroots pond hockey with six minor hockey teams. All events, including autographs, will take place at Lake Chaparral (225 Chaparral Drive SE) from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

HITMEN ALUMNI: Brett Carson who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen (2002-03 to 2005-06) is in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 24 year-old defenceman has three points (3a) in 13 games with the Hurricanes.

UP NEXT: Calgary wrap up their four game home stand Saturday night against the Vancouver Giants. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The Hitmen will then play three straight on the road (@PA, @Saskatoon and @Lethbridge) the following week.

Check out the Calgary Hitmen Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2010


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