GAME PREVIEW: HITMEN VS BLADES
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (3-3-1-1) open a two-game weekend homestand tonight with a visit from the Saskatoon Blades (7-2). Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome. Be sure to take advantage of the $6 Hitmen Happy Hour from when doors open at 6:00 p.m. up until the opening faceoff. Items include pizza, burgers, hot dogs, 14-ounce beer, highballs and 5-ounce house wine all for $6 each. The Hitmen are coming off Wednesday’s 5-2 setback in Red Deer which saw Sean Tschigerl and Tyson Galloway produce the Calgary markers. Saskatoon, winners of four in a row, also last played on Wednesday skating to a 3-2 victory in Lethbridge. Josh Pillar set up a pair of goals for the Blades. The Hitmen are tied for second in the Central Division with Lethbridge at eight points while the Blades are second in the East Division with 14 points.
SASKATOON: Tonight is the second of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Blades. Saskatoon grabbed a home-ice win in their initial clash just five days ago at SaskTel Centre. Calgary is 1-3-0-0 in their last four home games against the Blades. The two teams won’t meet again until Tuesday, Jan. 3 in Saskatoon.
2022-23 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 16/22 in SAS: SAS 4 CGY 2…Brandon Lisowsky scored twice for the Blades.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 28 SAS 30 Power Plays: CGY 0-1 (0%) SAS 1-4 (25%)
STREAKS: Grayden Siepmann (1g, 2a) is riding a three-game point streak and has points in every game but one this season. Sean Tschigerl (1g, 3a) also has points in three consecutive games. Oliver Tulk (5g, 3a) saw his career high six-game point streak end Wednesday in Red Deer.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 1-1-0-1 at the ‘Dome this season while Saskatoon is 3-1 on the road.
WELCOME RETURN: Hitmen 19-year-old forward Zac Funk returns to the lineup tonight after serving a three-game WHL imposed suspension for a Thanksgiving Day charging major against Brandon. Funk has four points (2g, 2a) in four games this season.
FAST FACTS: David Adaszynski is the only Hitmen to record at least one shot on goal in all eight games this season…Calgary’s penalty kill is ranked eighth in the WHL at 83.9%… Matteo Danis is tied for eighth in WHL rookie scoring with five points (2g, 3a) in eight games while Grayden Siepmann is tied for fifth in WHL defencemen scoring with eight points (2g, 6a) in eight games.
CANADA CALLS: Hitmen forward Carson Wetsch has been named to Team Canada Red for the upcoming 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The 10 day event will be held in British Columbia from November 3-12 and co-hosted by Langley and Delta. Wetsch is in his rookie season in the WHL and is tied for fifth in team scoring with four points (2g, 2a) in six games.
HOME COOKING: Not only does tonight mark the start of back-to-back games for Calgary at the ‘Dome but the Hitmen will play five of their next six games on home ice. The first three will take place at Scotiabank Saddledome with the last two at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on Tsuut’ina Nation.
CAPTAIN’S LOG: On Oct. 7 the Hitmen named 20-year-old centre Riley Fiddler-Schultz as the 30th Captain in franchise history. The five-player leadership group is rounded out by four alternates in Tyson Galloway, Sean Tschigerl, Keagan Slaney and Jacob Wright. Cael Zimmerman served as team captain last season.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Ethan Buenaventura (lower body, day-to-day).
HITMEN HISTORY: The Hitmen are in their 28th WHL season since joining the league as an expansion franchise in the 1995/96 campaign. During that time the team was won the league title twice, once in 1999 and again in 2010.
REGULAR SEASON CAREER MILESTONE WATCH: Sean Tschigerl, now in his fourth-full season in the WHL is just one point away from 100. The Anaheim Ducks prospect has 42 goals and 57 career assists. Riley Fiddler-Schultz needs three goals to reach 50.
UPCOMING GAMES: Calgary is back in the ‘Dome on Sunday, Oct. 23 to host Prince Albert. The puck drops at 4:00 p.m. for the ‘Everyone Belongs™ Hockey Game.’ The Hitmen have partnered with the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary dedicating the afternoon to celebrating inclusion and showing support for a diverse Calgary where Everyone Belongs™. It will also be another Sunday Funday presented by Brookfield Residential. In addition to $2 sips and snacks specials all game long, look for concourse activities from TELUS Spark, and a cast of characters outfitted by the Costume Shoppe. There are also $6 Hitmen Happy Hour food and drink deals throughout the day.
TICKETS: Let the fur fly! Fans can now purchase tickets to one of the most anticipated games of the regular season, the ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss. The game is Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2:00 p.m. at the ‘Dome against 2023 NHL Draft top prospect Brayden Yager and the Moose Jaw Warriors. Admission is $25.99 for adults and $15.99 for kids.
