Hitmen in the Community Then off to Saskatchewan
Published on January 17, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen open a two game Saskatchewan Road Trip Friday night in Prince Albert against the Raiders. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday's 3-1 home ice win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Chase Clayton and Kyle Schmidt scored 74 seconds apart midway through the second period to erase a 1-0 Hurricanes lead. Spencer Humphries added an empty new goal in the game's final minute. Lethbridge outshot Calgary 35-29, but Brandon Glover made 34 saves in a second star performance. The Hitmen went 1-5 on the powerplay while the 'Canes were 0-3.
VS PRINCE ALBERT: Friday is the first of four regular season meetings with the Raiders. Last season the Hitmen were 2-1-1-0 against the Raiders but suffered losses of 3-2 in overtime and 8-1 at the Art Hauser Centre.
MORE CONSISTANT: The Hitmen are 8-8-1-1 in their last 18 games.
STREAKIN: Justin Kirsch has 12 points (6g 6a) in his last 13 games. Kris Foucault (4a) and Misha Fisenko (1g 2a) are both riding three game point streaks. Kyle Schmidt (2g) and Chase Clayton (2g) have both scored two of their last three games.
STRONG THIRD PERIODS: Over the last three games the Hitmen have outscored their opponents by a combined 5-1 in the third period.
DIVERSITY: Calgary's last nine goals have been scored by eight different players; Humphries, Schmidt (2), Clayton, Fisenko, MacMaster, Kirsch, Sylvester, Lubin.
TRADE WINDS: January 10th was the WHL Trade Deadline with the Hitmen completing a deal with the Tri-City Americans. Calgary acquired 18-year-olds Brooks Macek and Spencer Humphries along with a conditional third round pick in the 2012 Bantam Draft in exchange for 19-year-old Matt MacKenzie.
TRAVEL TIME: Of Calgary's 14 games in January, 10 are on the road (the most of any month this season). The Hitmen are in the midst of a stretch that sees the club play nine of 10 games away from Scotiabank Saddledome. Friday's game in PA is their eighth road game this month.
WHATS LEFT: 13 Home, 14 Road
TEAM PACIFIC: The Hitmen have three 16-year-old rookies on the team this season and all three; Chase Clayton, Keaton Lubin and Rob Trzonkowski won a Bronze Medal with Team Pacific at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Manitoba. Trzonkowski finished the tournament with three goals.
HITMEN TEAM LEADERS:
Goals (20) Justin Kirsch
Powerplay Goals (8) Justin Kirsch
Points (33) Justin Kirsch
Plus/Minus (-1) Spencer Humphries
Assists (20) Misha Fisenko
Wins (8) Michael Snider
PIM (75) Ben Wilson
WHL OUTDOORS: The Calgary Hitmen will host the Regina Pats at McMahon Stadium on Monday, February 21st in WHL Outdoors. Game time is 1:00 p.m. Tickets for the Family Day game are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations. There are two price points of $12 and $15.
NAIL BITTERS: Of Calgary's 45 games played this season, 33 (or 73.3%) have been one goal games at some point in the third period. The Hitmen record in those games is 11-20-1-1.
FALLING BEHIND: Calgary has given up the first goal in four straight games and in five of their last six. The Hitmen have also been outshot in six of their last seven games.
REGULAR SEASON CAREER WATCH: Misha Fisenko is three points shy of 100. Kris Foucault needs eight points to hit the century mark. Jimmy Bubnick is three games away from 250.
IN THE COMMUNITY: On Sunday the Hitmen will take to the lanes at Chinook Bowladrome for Bowling with the Booster Club from 7 to 9pm.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen are in Saskatoon Saturday to open a home and home series against Brayden Schenn and the Blades. The return match goes in Calgary on Tuesday, January 25th. Game time is 7:00 pm at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Hitmen will then host Brandon on Friday, January 28th.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2011
- Cougars and the Home Depot Launch 2011 Backyard Rink Contest - Prince George Cougars
- Portland Winterhawks this Week - Portland Winterhawks
- Weekly Ice Report - Kootenay Ice
- Q It up Sports to Mic up T-Birds Player - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hitmen in the Community Then off to Saskatchewan - Calgary Hitmen
- Hurricanes to Honor 1951 Lethbridge Maple Leafs - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Red Deer Rebels' Kuemper Named WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Pat Chat - Regina Pats
- McNeill off to Top Prospects Skills/Game - Prince Albert Raiders
- Warriors Update - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blue wins 1st Prairie Mobile Pats Skills Competition - Regina Pats
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.
