Hitmen to open U-S Road Trip with four games in five days
Published on December 1, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen, riding a season high 11 game winning streak, open a five game U-S road trip Wednesday night in Spokane against the defending Memorial Cup Champion Chiefs. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday's 4-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 14th annual Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss. Brandon Kozun opened the scoring for the Hitmen 7:47 into the opening period. That goal unleashed 22,722 stuffed toys from the crowd. Brendan Rowinski, Brett Sonne and Ian Schultz also scored for the Hitmen who closed the month of November with a perfect 11-0 record. Keith Seabrook and Carson McMillan each chipped in a pair of assists for Calgary who held period leads of 2-0 and 3-1. Final shots were 26-26. The Hitmen went 1-3 on the powerplay while the Wheat Kings were 0-6.
VS SPOKANE: Wednesday is the first and only regular season meeting between the Hitmen and Chiefs. Last season Spokane posted a 2-1 overtime win in Calgary. The last Calgary visit to Spokane was on February 2, 2007 when the Hitmen recorded a 4-3 shootout win. Derek LeBlanc scored twice for Calgary while Karl Alzner added a single. Freddie Pettersson scored the shootout winner.
STREAKIN': Brandon Kozun is riding a 10 game point streak (7g 11a) and also has points in 17 of his last 18 games. Carson McMillan (5g 5a) has points in eight straight games. Kyle Bortis (4g 5a) Brett Sonne (4g 4a) and Keith Seabrook (1g 4a) are all riding four game point streaks. Michael Stone is on a three game streak (1g 3a). Ian Schultz (1g 2a) has points in back-to-back games
TOP GUNS: The Calgary Hitmen have three of the Top 10 scorers in the WHL. Brett Sonne is tied for top spot with 43 points. Brandon Kozun is third with 42 while Kyle Bortis is tied for 10th with 35.
2008-09 HITMEN STANDINGS: Record (24-4-1-0). Home (16-1-0-0). Road (8-3-1-0). Central Division (1st). Conference (1st). Western Hockey League (1st).
HITMEN TEAM LEADERS:
Goals (20) Brandon Kozun Points (43) Brett Sonne Plus/Minus (20) Paul Postma
Assists (28) Brett Sonne PIM (87) Ian Schultz Wins (16) Martin Jones
REGULAR SEASON CAREER WATCH: Brandon Kozun needs three points for 100 while Carson McMillan is four points away from the century mark. Brett Sonne is one game shy of 200.
DID YOU KNOW? Starting Wednesday in Spokane the Hitmen will play seven of their next nine games on the road before the Christmas Break .....Five Hitmen (Sonne, Kozun, Bortis, McMillan, and Rowinski) are all averaging at least a point a game.....The Hitmen have won five straight on the road and 10 in a row at home.....Calgary is ranked third in the Canadian Hockey League Top 10, that's up a spot from last week.....During their current 11 game winning streak the Hitmen have outscored their opponents by a combined 51-22.....Carson McMillan took boxing lessons at Minnesota Wild summer prospects camp from former heavyweight boxing contender Scott LeDoux.....The Hitmen went 3-1-0-1 on their last U-S road swing during the 2006/07 season.
MADAISKY OFF TO WORLDS: Hitmen defenceman Austin Madaisky will suit up for Team Pacific at the upcoming World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. The tournament will take place from December 28th to January 4th in Port Alberni, BC.
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have eight NHL prospects ...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 23 players; (14 forwards, 7 defencemen and 2 goalies)
-Break down....3 (20 year-olds), 5 (19 year-olds), 8 (18 year-olds), 4 (17 year-olds), and 3 (16 year-olds). There are 15 returning players from the 2007-08 season.
HITMEN ALUMNI: Konstantin Pushkarev who spent the 2004/05 season in Calgary is in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Magnitogorsk Metallurg. The 23-year-old right winger has four points (4g) in 10 games.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen U-S road trip continues Friday in Portland. They'll also make stops in Tri-City on Saturday and Seattle on Sunday before wrapping up the swing Tuesday in Everett. The next Hitmen home game is Saturday, December 13th against the Chilliwack Bruins. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2008
- Blazers Busy Before The Break - Kamloops Blazers
- Hitmen to open U-S Road Trip with four games in five days - Calgary Hitmen
- Oil Kings Goalie Recogzined for Outstanding Efforts - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Jory Recovering From Scary Injury - Brandon Wheat Kings
- McCrae Named Captain - Spokane Chiefs
- Weekly Ice Report - Kootenay Ice
- Americans' Procyshen named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Blades Extend Road Winning Streak to Nine Games - Saskatoon Blades
- Hurricanes Kick Off Holiday Season by Helping Out with Operation Christmas Child - Lethbridge Hurricanes
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