Hitmen To Play Three Home Games
January 18, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen play game two of a season high six game home stand Tuesday night against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday's 3-1 loss to Kootenay. The Ice jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals from Max Reinhart and Jesse Ismond. It stayed that way until Brock Montgomery scored early in the third to extend the lead to 3-0. Brandon Kozun, shorthanded, scored the lone Hitmen goal midway through the final period. Ice goalie Todd Mathews was named the first star stopping 29 of 30 shots. Ian Schultz led the Hitmen with five shots on goal. Calgary went 0-7 on the powerplay while killing all four Kootenay chances. Calgary is 29-15-1-1. At 60 points the Hitmen trail Medicine Hat by two points for the Central Division lead but have four games in hand on the Tigers. Calgary is fourth in the Eastern Conference, nine points back of the conference and WHL leading Saskatoon Blades.
VS LETHBRIDGE: Tuesday is the fourth of six meetings with the Hurricanes. Lethbridge leads the season series 2-1.
-Nov. 10 in Lethbridge; Hurricanes 3 Hitmen 2. Cam Braes 1g 1a.
-Jan. 3 in Calgary; Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 2. Linden Rowat made 35 saves as the 'Canes were outshot 37-13.
-Jan. 16 in Lethbridge; Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 0. Martin Jones made 24 saves for the shutout.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on goal: Cal 105 Leth 65 Powerplays: Cal 4-16 25.0% Leth 1-17 5.9%
The Hitmen and Hurricanes will meet again on Sunday, January 24th in Calgary.
THE GOALIE FACTOR: The Hitmen have lost six of their last nine games. However in each of those defeats the opposition goalie has been the number one star with Calgary scoring just seven goals on 219 shots for an average of one goal for every 31.3 shots.
HOME SWEET 'DOME: Including Tuesday tonight against Lethbridge, the Hitmen will play 16 of their remaining 26 regular season games at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
KILLING TIME: The Hitmen have only allowed two powerplay goals on the opponents last 31 chances for an efficiency of 93.5%.
POWERPLAY SLUMP: The Hitmen are 7-63 (11.1%) in their last 12 games with the man advantage.
SLOW STARTS: In their last four games the Hitmen have been outscored by a combined 7-1 in the first period.
KOZUN'S CLIMB: Brandon Kozun is fifth on the Hitmen's all time regular season assists list with 149 one back of Kenton Smith who is fourth at 150. Kozun needs seven points to catch Ryan White for fifth place on the club's all time regular season scoring list. Kozun has 230 points, White 237.
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 this Wednesday 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 Tuesday's Skills Competition.
MILESTONES: Ian Schultz needs two goals for 50 career regular season markers. Brandon Kozun needs one assist for 150.
OFFENSIVE DEPTH: The Hitmen have eight players with 10 or more goals this season, four with 20 or more goals.
NHL DRAFT RANKINGS: Two Hitmen have cracked NHL Central Scouting's Mid Term Rankings for the 2010 Entry Draft. Matt MacKenzie is #85 among North American Skaters while Cody Beach is ranked 181. The NHL Entry Draft will be held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles from June 25 to 26.
HITMEN TEAM LEADERS:
Goals (22) Tyler Shattock
Points (67) Brandon Kozun
Plus/Minus (+12) Tyler Fiddler
Assists (46) Brandon Kozun
PIM (109) Ian Schultz
Wins (17) Martin Jones
HITMEN VS: (Bran 1-1), (Cwk 1-1), (Edm 4-0), (Evt 1-0), (Kam 0-0), (Kel 0-1), (Ktn 4-3), (Leth 1-2), (MH 2-1-0-1), (MJ 1-2), (Port 1-0), (PA 0-1-1-0), (PG 1-0), (RD 3-0), (Reg 3-0), (Sask 1-2), (Sea 1-0), (Spok 0-1), (SC 1-0), (TC 0-0), (Van 3-0)
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have eight NHL prospects... Jimmy Bubnick-(5th round Atlanta 2009), 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), Tyler Shattock-(4th round St. Louis 2009), Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008).
HITMEN ALUMNI: Jeff Schultz who played four seasons with the Hitmen (2002-03 to 2005-06) currently has the second best plus/minus in the NHL. He's a +27 with the Washington Capitals. Only Alex Ovechkin at +28 has a greater rating.
UP NEXT: Calgary will host the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night. Game time is 7:00 p.m. The Hitmen then welcome Lethbridge to the 'Dome on Sunday afternoon for a 2:00 p.m. start.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2010
- Bruins Introduce Lower Ticket Price For Youth - Chilliwack Bruins
- Portland Winterhawks This Week - Portland Winterhawks
- Blazers Week In Review - Kamloops Blazers
- Calgary Hitmen To Host The Lethbridge Hurricanes And The Olympic Torch Tuesday - Calgary Hitmen
- Hitmen To Play Three Home Games - Calgary Hitmen
- Kootenay Ice's Jesse Ismond Named Boston Pizza WHL Player Of The Week - WHL
- Everett Stops Seattle In Overtime - Seattle Thunderbirds
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