Game Preview: Calgary at Swift Current – 10.09.24
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (2-3-0-0) are in Saskatchewan for a one game stop against the Broncos (3-3-0-0) tonight in Swift Current. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at InnovationPlex. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday’s 4-3 home ice win over the Vancouver Giants. Connor Hvidston scored twice while Sawyer Mayers and Ethan Moore added singles. Swift Current has been idle since Saturday’s 4-3 shootout victory in Brandon. The Broncos overcame a 3-1 third period deficit scoring twice in the final 6:27.
SWIFT CURRENT: Tonight is the first of five regular season meetings between the two Trans-Canada Highway rivals. Calgary went 2-3 against the Broncos last season including a 0-2 record in southwest Saskatchewan. Carter Yakemchuk (3g, 6a) led the Hitmen with nine points in the season series. Oliver Tulk (4g, 4a) and Reese Hamilton (2g, 6a) were next with eight points each. Clarke Caswell (3g, 5a) was the top performing Bronco with eight points. Rylan Gould (2g, 5a) and Brady Birnie (1g, 6a) were next with seven points each. Their next meeting isn’t until Sunday, Dec. 15 when the Hitmen host the Broncos. The Hitmen are 6-3-1-0 in their last 10 visits to Swift Current.
2023-24 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 29/23 in SC: Broncos 3 Hitmen 0…Joey Rocha made 33 saves for the shutout.
Dec. 6/23 in CGY: Broncos 6 Hitmen 5…Brady Birnie snapped a 5-5 tie with 69 seconds remaining.
Dec. 17/23 in CGY: Hitmen 7 Broncos 4…Maxim Muranov led the Hitmen with three points (1g, 2a).
Mar. 22/24 in SC: Broncos 7 Hitmen 6…Brady Birnie led the Broncos with three assists.
Mar. 23/24 in CGY: Hitmen 6 Broncos 3…Trailing 2-0, Calgary erupted for a five-goal second period.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 196 SC 162 Power Plays: CGY 8-20 (40%) SC 4-23 (17.4%)
STREAKS: Connor Hvidston (2g, 5a) and Oliver Tulk (2g, 5a) are both on a four-game point streaks.
NHL ALUMNI: Six former Hitmen are on NHL opening night rosters for the 2024-25 season in Jake Bean (Calgary), Chris Driedger (FLA), Mark Kastelic (BOS), Beck Malenstyn (WSH), Travis Sanheim (PHI) and Egor Zamula (PHI).
LEADERSHIP GROUP: The Hitmen have named third year forward and San Jose Sharks prospect Carson Wetsch the 32nd captain in franchise history. Five teammates will serve as alternates in David Adaszynski, Connor Hvidston, Oliver Tulk, Ben Kindel and Carter Yakemchuk.
LET’S GO CAMPING: Five Hitmen headed to NHL camps this fall: Axel Hurtig (Calgary), Maxim Muranov (Toronto), Oliver Tulk (Los Angeles), Carson Wetsch (San Jose) and Carter Yakemchuk (Ottawa). Yakemchuk was the last to return and was reassigned to the Hitmen by the Senators on Monday. After scoring 30 goals and recording 71 points last season, the defenceman is expected to make his season debut tonight against the Broncos.
ROSTER CONSTRUCTION: There are 24 players on the Hitmen roster with 18 veterans and six rookies. The roster breakdown is as follows:
20’s (3) – Buenaventura, Hvidston, Muranov
19’s (6) – Adaszynski, Moore, Tulk, Hurtig*, Williams, Yakemchuk,
18’s (6) – Wetsch, Valliant, Leonard, Fawcett, Osborne, Bowland*
17’s (7) – Hamilton, Mayes, Kindel, Gorzynski, Pisarczyk. Aura*, Svancara*
16’s (2) – Tu*, Ng*
*Denotes rookie
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Robin Svancara (Upper Body – Indefinitely)
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Forward Keets Fawcett is in his second year with the Hitmen after recording 45 points (19g, 26a) in 65 games during his rookie season. Undrafted and signed by the Hitmen in the spring of 2023, Fawcett took home the Fan Favourite Award during his debut campaign.
WE MEET AGAIN: Tonight marks the first meeting between the two clubs since their mid-September trade which saw the Hitmen acquire Connor Hvidston from the Broncos in exchange for Connor Dale and three draft picks. Hvidston spent three seasons with the Broncos notching 61 goals and 95 assists in 170 career games.
BEHIND THE BENCH: The Hitmen have a new coaching staff this season led by Head Coach Paul McFarland who is flanked by Assistants David Liffiton and Ben Wilson. Dakota Krebs also joins the staff as a Video Coach. McFarland brings a decorated resume to the position having spent six seasons on an NHL bench as an Assistant Coach with Seattle (2021-24), Toronto (2019-20) and Florida (2017-19). Liffiton enjoyed a lengthy pro career (2004-2017) in both North America and Europe before joining the coaching ranks while both Wilson and Krebs have gone full circle from former Hitmen defencemen to now members of the coaching staff.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISION: The Hitmen are 0-2-0-0 on the road while Swift Current is 2-1-0-0 at home.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen will enjoy a four-day break before returning to action on Thanksgiving Monday, Oct. 14 at home against Prince George. Game time is 1:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary will then welcome Red Deer to the ‘Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in a 7:00 p.m. start.
