Game Preview – 09.23.23 – CGY at MH
HITMEN HEADLINES: After falling to the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 in their Home opener, the Calgary Hitmen (0-1-0-0) play their second game of the 2022-23 WHL campaign at Co-op Place tonight against the Tigers (1-0-0-0), finishing the home-and-home set. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
MEDICINE HAT: Tonight is the second of five regular season meetings between the two trans Canada rivals. Two shorthanded goals and a penalty shot were the difference makers in last night’s loss. Ben Kindel scored the lone Hitmen goal making for his first WHL goal. Sawyer Mayes would record his first WHL point with the assist.
2022-23 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 22/23 in CGY: Hitmen 1 Broncos 4…The Hitmen were outshot just by one, Ethan Buenaventura made 33 saves in the contest
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 36 MH 37 Power Plays: CGY 0-8 (0%) MH 0-3 (0%)
LET’S GO CAMPING: Four Hitmen headed to NHL camps earlier this month: Tyson Galloway (Calgary), Oliver Tulk (Calgary), Grayden Siepmann (Boston) and Sean Tschigerl (Los Angeles). So far only Siepmann has returned.
FIRST OF MANY: Forward Ben Kindel scored his first Western Hockey League goal last night. The 2007-born forward from Coquitlam made his WHL debut at the end of last season registering one game. Kindel had a successful season with Burnaby Winter Club (CSSHL) tallying 47 points (12g, 35a) in just 22 games.
WHL DEBUT: Three Hitmen made their first career appearance in a regular season game last night in Reese Hamilton, Keets Fawcett and Aleksey Chichkin.
2023 PRE-SEASON RECAP: Calgary went 1-3 during their four-game exhibition schedule. Rookie forward Sawyer Mayes led the team in points with four, while Keets Fawcett (2g,1a) and Matteo Danis (2g, 1a) notched three points each.
TRANSACTIONS: On Wednesday, 20-year-old defenceman Keagan Slaney cleared waivers and was picked up by the Regina Pats. The club also reassigned prospects Connor Bear, Brandon Gorzynski and Simon Bowland.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: None.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Carson Wetsch returns to the Hitmen roster this season. Wetsch is coming off a successful rookie year, overcoming a mid season injury – still posting 21 points (10g, 11a) , in 45 games played. This earned him the Calgary Hitmen Rookie of the year at this past season’s Hitmen awards. The forward from North Vancouver represented team Canada this past summer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and returned home with a gold medal.
ALUMNI REPORT: Two of the Hitmen’s most recent graduates, Jacob Wright and Brayden Peters, will be making their appearance in USPORTS this season. Announced this past week, Wright will suit up for the UBC Thunderbirds of Canada West for the 2023-24 campaign. After attending the Rookie-Faceoff in Vegas with the Colorado Avalanche, goaltender Brayden Peters made his debut with the Acadia Axemen (AUS).
UPCOMING GAMES: Calgary will enjoy a five-day break before travelling to Swift Current to face the Broncos for their first meeting of the season. They will then head home to Calgary for the first Sunday Funday of the season on Sunday, October 1st, welcoming the Saskatoon Blades to the Scotiabank Saddledome. This season’s Sunday Funday, presented by Brookfield Residential, is a must see for both the Calgary Hitmen and the Calgary Wranglers. Family friendly prices, family friendly food specials, and family friendly entertainment. Look out for lots of activities as the fun zone returns to the concourse.
TICKETS: Fans can still purchase Season Tickets as well as the Hitmen Flex pass for the 2023-24 campaign which gets you 12 E-vouchers for $195.00 (plus GST) saving you up to $105. Find full details at hitmenhockey.com
