Hitmen To Host Edmonton Wednesday, Everett Friday, Swift Current Sunday
Published on November 2, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen open a three game home stand Wednesday night when they welcome the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Hitmen are coming off a three game British Columbia road trip where they posted a 1-2 record. The swing wrapped up Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 loss in Chilliwack. Jamie Crooks scored twice to lead the Bruins. Kris Foucault and Ben Wilson replied for the Hitmen who led 2-1 after one. Overall Calgary is now 13-5 on the season. At 26 points they sit first in the Central Division but trail the Saskatoon Blades by two points for first in the Eastern Conference and first overall.
VS EDMONTON: Wednesday is the fourth of six meetings with the Oil Kings. Calgary leads the season series 3-0 having outscored Edmonton by a combined 13-4.
-Sept. 19 in Edmonton; Hitmen 4 Oil Kings 2. Ian Schultz broke a 2-2 tie with 3:53 remaining in the third period.
-Oct. 21 in Calgary; Hitmen 4 Oil Kings 0. Edmonton was held to 18 shots on goal.
-Oct. 23 in Edmonton; Hitmen 5 Oil Kings 2. The Hitmen went 5-6 on the powerplay.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: Cal 93 Edm 76 Powerplays: Cal 5-13 0% Edm 0-10 0%
The Hitmen and Oil Kings will meet again on Wednesday, March 10th in Edmonton.
NATIONAL ATTENTION: The Calgary Hitmen have moved up a spot in this week's CHL Top 10. They are once again ranked number one. It's the seventh week this season the Hitmen have earned a spot in the Top 10.
STREAKIN': Brandon Kozun is on a season high 11 game point streak (7g+13a20 points). The Hitmen franchise record for the longest point streak is 20 games set by Pavel Brendl (28g+21a49 points) in the 1998-99 season. Ian Schultz (1g 1a) and Ben Wilson (1g 1a) both have points in back-to-back games. Michael Snider has won his last two starts in goal stopping 47 of 49 shots for a.959 save percentage.
WORLD JUNIOR HOPEFULS: Team WHL will face Team Russia in games five and six of the upcoming 2009 Subway Super Series. Games will be played Wednesday, November 25 in Victoria, BC, and on Thursday, November 26 in Kelowna, BC. Three Hitmen are among the 33 players named to Team WHL. Goaltender Martin Jones will play in both games while Brandon Kozun and Michael Stone will suit up for the game in Kelowna. Team WHL was selected by a special committee of WHL General Managers along with Al Murray, Hockey Canada's Head Scout for the Canadian National Junior Team, as part of the selection process for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships.
WHL TOP 10: Brandon Kozun leads the WHL scoring race with 31 points. He also has the most assists with 22. Michael Snider leads the league with a 2.11 goals against average while his two shutouts are ranked second. Matt MacKenzie is tied for seventh in defencemen scoring with 15 points. He's also in a two-way tie for most assists among blueliners with 14.
DID YOU KNOW? The Hitmen have allowed the second fewest goals (48) in the Eastern Conference. Only the Saskatoon Blades (43) have surrendered less.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Hitmen have played 12 road games. That's a third of their entire 36 game road schedule this season.
REGULAR SEASON CAREER WATCH: Brandon Kozun has moved into the Top 10 in franchise scoring. His 193 points is tied with Kenton Smith for 10th place on the all time list. Kozun is now three points behind Chris Neilsen for ninth. Brad Moran leads the way with 450.
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 '08), Brandon Kozun-(6th round LA 2009), Ian Schultz-(3rd round St. Louis 2008), Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008).
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Hitmen have the number one powerplay in the WHL (26-84) clicking at 31.0%. Meanwhile the penalty kill is ranked ninth at 80.7%.
HITMEN TEAM LEADERS:
Goals (10) Tyler Fiddler
Points (31) Brandon Kozun
Plus/Minus (+11) Brandon Kozun
Assists (22) Brandon Kozun
PIM (40) Ian Schultz
Wins (7) Martin Jones
HITMEN VS: (Bran 1-0), (Cwk 0-1), (Edm 3-0), (Evt 0-0), (Kam 0-0), (Kel 0-1), (Ktn 1-0), (Leth 0-0), (MH 1-0), (MJ 0-2), (Port 1-0), (PA 0-0), (PG 0-0), (RD 3-0), (Reg 1-0), (Sask 0-1), (Sea 1-0), (Spok 0-0), (SC 0-0), (TC 0-0), (Van 1-0)
HITMEN ALUMNI: Kenton Smith who played five full seasons with the Hitmen (1995-96 to 1999-2000) is playing in Italy with Valpellice. The 30-year-old defenceman has six points (1g 5a) in 10 games.
UP NEXT: The Hitmen continue their three game home stand Friday night against the Everett Silvertips. Game time is 7:00 p.m. The Hitmen will then host the Swift Current Broncos on Sunday (5:00 p.m.) before heading to Lethbridge on Tuesday, November 10th.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 2, 2009
- Portland Winterhawks This Week - Portland Winterhawks
- Saskatoon Blades & Saskatoon Minor Hockey Enter Third Year Of Novice Hockey Program - Saskatoon Blades
- Hitmen To Host Edmonton Wednesday, Everett Friday, Swift Current Sunday - Calgary Hitmen
- Weekly Ice Report - Kootenay Ice
- Pats Weekly - Regina Pats
- Metz To Junior-A - Regina Pats
- Raiders Raise Big Dollars For Cancer - Prince Albert Raiders
- Blazers Week In Review - Kamloops Blazers
- Calgary Hitmen Launch Movember Campaign - Calgary Hitmen
- Saskatoon Blades Stefan Elliott Named Boston Pizza WHL Player Of The Week - WHL
- Brandon Wheat Kings Insider: Manitoba Claims Silver At Under 16's - Brandon Wheat Kings
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