Game Preview: Calgary vs Edmonton – 11.29.24
HITMEN HEADLINES: Riding a season high four-game winning streak, the Calgary Hitmen (11-7-3-1) open a busy three-game weekend tonight by hosting the Edmonton Oil Kings (11-10-1-1). Note the early 6:00 p.m. start time at Scotiabank Saddledome. Be sure to take advantage of the $6 Hitmen Happy Hour from when doors open at 5:00 p.m. up until the opening faceoff. Items include pizza, burgers, hot dogs, 14-ounce beer, highballs and 6-ounce house wine. The Hitmen are coming off a full six-day break having not played since last Friday’s 5-4 overtime victory against Victoria. Carter Yakemchuk buried the winner 1:39 into extra time while Oliver Tulk (2g, 2a) notched a team leading four points. Edmonton is also playing their best hockey of the season, extending their winning streak to three-games last Sunday in a 5-0 home ice victory over Red Deer. Alex Worthington made 26 saves for his first career shutout.
EDMONTON: Tonight is only the second of eight regular season meetings between the two Central Division rivals. Calgary is 0-1 against the Oil Kings after dropping their season opener in Edmonton over two months ago. Maxim Muranov scored the lone goal for Calgary in the 4-1 loss. The two teams won’t see each other again until New Year’s Day in Edmonton.
2024-25 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 28/24 in EDM: Oil Kings 4 Hitmen 1…Alex Worthington made 33 saves for Edmonton in a first-star performance.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 34 EDM 29 Power Plays: CGY 0-3 (0%) EDM 1-5 (20%)
STREAKS: Ben Kindel (4g, 8a) is on a career high seven-game point streak…Oliver Tulk (4g, 4a) and Carter Yakemchuk (3g, 2a) are both riding three-game goal scoring streaks…Maxim Muranov (2g, 3a) saw his two-game point streak end last Friday against Victoria.
ROSTER MOVES: This week the Hitmen released 17-year-old forward Robin Svancara in a transaction to reduce their number of imports to the WHL maximum of two players in Maxim Muranov and Axel Hurtig…On Nov. 21, the Hitmen acquired Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Tanner Howe from the Regina Pats in exchange for Keets Fawcett, Resse Hamilton and two draft picks, a third-round selection in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft and a second-round pick in 2027. Howe has been a prolific point producer in the WHL and recorded two assists in his Hitmen debut last Friday…On Nov. 19 the Hitmen signed 18-year-old goaltender Anders Miller to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement and added him to the roster while reassigning goalie Kason Kobelka to the U18 AAA Calgary Northstars. Miller, who came off the bench against the Royals last Friday to earn the win, has spent the season in the AJHL with Lloydminster posting a 1.98GAA and .919SV% in 10 games…On Nov. 18 the Hitmen signed defenceman Linden Burrett and added him to the roster. In 15 games with Cowichan Valley of the BCHL this season, Burrett registered nine points (3g, 6a)…On Nov. 17 the Hitmen filled their last 20-year-old spot by acquiring Kalem Parker from the Moose Jaw Warriors in return for 2009-born prospect Nathan Gardiner, a second-round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft plus third and seventh round picks in 2026. Parker, a Minnesota Wild prospect, helped the Warriors win the WHL Championship last season.
FAST FACTS: Tonight is only Calgary’s second game in a span of 13 days however tonight kicks off the first three-game weekend of the season for the Hitmen…Carson Wetsch is ninth in the WHL with 90 shots on goal…The Hitmen win last Friday against Victoria was their first in a game this season when allowing the first goal…The Hitmen power play is 16th in the WHL at 20.4% while the penalty kill is ninth at 78.8%…Calgary has gone to overtime in back-to-back games and in six of their last 11 outings…Calgary’s 42 shots against Victoria last Friday was a new season high.
THE INCREDIBLE TULK: Hitmen 19-year-old centre Oliver Tulk has a remarkable efficiency on faceoffs this season having won 237 of his 344 draws for a winning percentage of 68.9%. Tulk has won 1,983 career faceoffs in 218 career games.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISION: The Hitmen have picked up a point in six of their last seven home games having gone 4-1-2 in that span. Overall, they are 5-2-1-1 at Scotiabank Saddledome this season. Edmonton is 5-8-1-1 on the road. The Oil Kings have played 15 games in enemy buildings this season. Only Victoria, at 16, has played more games on the road.
NHL RADAR: Hitmen forward Ben Kindel suited up this week in the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota. The two-game series saw the top first-year NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL take on the U.S. National Under-18. Kindel finished with one assist.
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH: Tanner Howe is two goals away from 100…Oliver Tulk is tied for 17th on the clubs’ all-time goal scoring list with Owen Fussey at 82, three goals behind Jake Virtanen who scored 85. Carter Yakemchuk eclipsed the 150-point mark last Friday against Victoria. Yakemchuk is now just two goals behind Matt Kinch for the clubs’ all-time goal scoring lead among defencemen. Kinch finished his Hitmen career with 63 goals while Yakemchuk currently has 61.
ROSTER CONSTRUCTION: There are 22 players on the Hitmen roster with 15 veterans and seven rookies. 20’s (3) – Hvidston, Parker, Muranov, 19’s (7) – Adaszynski, Howe, Moore, Tulk, Hurtig*, Williams, Yakemchuk, 18’s (4) – Burrett*, Miller*, Wetsch, Valliant, 17’s (5) – Mayes, Kindel, Gorzynski, Pisarczyk. Aura*, 16’s (3) – Kosick*, Tu*, Ng* *Denotes rookie
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: None.
TEDDY BEAR COUNTDOWN: We are just TWO days away from one of the most popular games of the season for Calgary, the Teddy Bear Toss powered by ENMAX. The annual event is Sunday, Dec. 1 when the Hitmen welcome Moose Jaw to Scotiabank Saddledome. Game time is 4:00 p.m. with doors set to open at 2:30. Fans are asked to bring a small or medium sized stuffed toy to the game and toss it on the ice when the Hitmen score their first goal. There is a charitable request for almost 30,000 bears to be shared by over 70 local agencies this coming holiday season.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen are right back on the ice tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 30 as they visit the Tigers in Medicine Hat. Calgary then returns home on Sunday, Dec. 1 to host Moose Jaw in the ‘Dome. Game time is 4:00 p.m. in the /Teddy Bear Toss powered by ENMAX Energy. Special Press Level pricing is in effect starting at $25 for adults and $18 for kids.
