Hitmen drop pre-season opener

Airdrie, AB – The Calgary Hitmen opened their pre-season schedule Wednesday night dropping a 3-0 decision in Airdrie to the Red Deer Rebels.

After a scoreless first period, Lane Scheidl gave the Rebels a 1-0 second period scoring on a 5-on-3 powerplay.

Less than a minute into the third period Adam Kambeitz extended the Rebels lead to 2-0.  Tyson Ness then rounded out the scoring with an empty net goal.

Kraymer Barnstable and Matthew Pufahl combined to make 34 saves to share the shutout in the Red Deer goal while Michael Snider stopped all 17 shots he faced in the Hitmen net before being replaced midway through the second period by Juraj Holly who stopped 10 of 12 shots.

See the complete scoring summary below.

Red Deer 3  Calgary 0

First Period
No scoring

Second Period
1. RD: Lane Scheidl, (1), (Nick Bell, Mason Burr),17:30 (pp)

Third Period
2. RD: Adam Kambeitz, (1), (Colton Mayor, Daulton Siwak), :45
3. RD: Tyson Ness, (1), (Unassisted), 19:07 (en)

Shots on goal
Cal: 6+12+16=34
RD: 11+13+6=30

Goaltenders (shots-saves)
Cal: Michael Snider (17/17), Juraj Holly (11:39 of second) (L, 0-1) (10/12); RD: Kraymer Barnstable (13/13), Bolton Pouliot (11:39 of second) (W, 1-0) (21/21).

Powerplays
Cal: 0-2
RD: 1-5

The Hitmen continue their pre-season schedule Saturday night in Innisfail when they play the rematch with the Red Deer Rebels.