PREVIEW: CGY-RED
HITMEN HEADLINES: Tonight the Calgary Hitmen open their 20th anniversary season in the Western Hockey League as they welcome the Red Deer Rebels to Scotiabank Saddledome for the Adrenalin Source For Sports Home Opener. Last season, Calgary (48-17-3-4) finished third in the Eastern Conference with 103 points, while Red Deer (35-32-1-4) completed the 2013-14 campaign ninth with 75 points. Tonight’s contest is the first of six regular season meetings between the two clubs but they won’t meet again until Saturday, November 22 in Red Deer.
2013-14 SEASON SERIES RECAP
Sep. 28/13 at CAL: Hitmen 4 Rebels 1
Greg Chase scored two goals in the home opener, including the game-winner.
Oct. 19/13 at RD: Hitmen 5 Rebels 2
Elliott Peterson paced the Hitmen attack with two goals and one assist in the win.
Dec. 3/13 at CAL: Hitmen 5 Rebels 2
Linden Penner scored his first career WHL goal, while Chase Lang (1g, 1a) had two points.
Dec. 27/13 at RD: Rebels 3 Hitmen 2
Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger made 37 saves in the setback.
Jan. 17/14 at RD: Hitmen 5 Rebels 1
Elliott Peterson and Alex Roach both had two assists.
Feb. 17/14 at CAL: Hitmen 7 Rebels 1
Travis Sanheim had a career high five assists and Brady Brassart scored a hat-trick.
INSIDE THE 2013-14 SERIES
Shots on Goal: CAL 227 RD 155
Power Plays: CAL 7-32 (21.9%) RD 5-27 (18.5%)
ALL-TIME IN SEASON OPENERS: In the previous 19 season openers, the Hitmen have a record of 10 wins, five losses, three overtime losses and one tie.
ALL-TIME IN HOME OPENERS: Tonight marks the first time in four seasons the Hitmen will open the regular season at home. They have won their last three home openers and have an all-time record of 14 wins, two losses, one overtime loss and two ties.
FAMILIAR FOE: Tonight is the second consecutive year, and ninth in the last 12 seasons, the Hitmen home opener is against their Central Alberta rivals from Red Deer.
PRE-SEASON RECAP: Calgary went 4-2 during their six-game exhibition schedule. Landon Welykholowa led the Hitmen in pre-season scoring with seven points (3g, 4a) in five games, followed by Pavel Karnaukhov (4g, 2a), Terrell Draude (2g, 4a) and Jody Stallard (1g, 5a) who all had six points each.
LET’S GO CAMPING: The Hitmen were well represented at NHL camps this month with nine roster players getting a taste of professional hockey: Greg Chase (Edmonton), Radel Fazleev (Philadelphia), Kenton Helgesen (Anaheim), Chase Lang (Minnesota), Pavel Padakin (Calgary), Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia), Adam Tambellini (NY Rangers), Ben Thomas (Tampa Bay), and Jake Virtanen (Vancouver). Eight remain with their respected NHL organizations while Padakin was returned to the Hitmen by the Flames on Friday.
CHL IMPORT DRAFT: Calgary selected 17-year-old Pavel Karnaukhov with the 56th overall pick in the 2014 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. Last season, Karnaukhov, a native of Minsk, Belarus, scored 13 goals and added 16 assists for 29 points along with 56 penalty minutes over 48 games played with Krasnaya Armiya Moskva of the MHL. Karnaukhov also played for Team Russia at the 2014 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament where he had one assist in four games.
WHL DEBUT: Seven Hitmen have yet to play a regular season game in the WHL; Jake Bean, Donald Marshall, Evan Johnson, Pavel Karnaukhov, Taylor Sanheim, Jordy Stallard and Carsen Twarynski.
NHL PROSPECTS: Greg Chase (Rd. 7, EDM ‘13 – Signed); Radel Fazleev (Rd. 6, PHI ’14); Kenton Helgesen (Rd. 7, ANA ’12 – Signed); Chase Lang (Rd. 6, MIN ’14); Travis Sanheim (Rd. 1, PHI ’14), Adam Tambellini (Rd. 3, NYR ’13); Ben Thomas (Rd. 4, TB ’14); Jake Virtanen (Rd. 1, VAN ‘14 – Signed).
OFF SEASON CHANGES: Mark French was hired on June 12 to replace Mike Williamson becoming the eighth head coach in franchise history. French, a native of Milton, Ontario, has an extensive coaching resume having been both a head coach and an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears for six seasons. Last season he was the bench boss of Medvescak Zagreb of the KHL, where he guided the expansion team to the playoffs after a 92-point regular season that included setting a league record for most consecutive wins by a debut team at eight. Also on June 12 the Hitmen promoted Associate Coach Brent Kisio who adds the title Assistant General Manager.
DID YOU KNOW?: Taylor and Travis Sanheim are fraternal twins, however Kirk Johnson and Evan Johnson are not related … Lochlan Morrison won the 2014 TELUS Cup, the national midget championship with the Prince Albert Mintos.
NATIONAL HEADLINES: The Hitmen are seventh in the CHL Top 10 preseason rankings as determined by a panel of NHL scouts.
DIVISIONAL DIET: Tonight is the first of six straight games for the Hitmen against Central Division opponents to start the season.
REGULAR SEASON CAREER MILESTONE WATCH: Kenton Helgesen is one game shy of 200 games. Mack Shields is one game away from his 50th appearance. Pavel Padakin needs one goal for 50. Elliott Peterson is three games away from 100.
GAME-WORN JERSEY AUCTION: Tonight at the home opener, fans have a chance to buy a piece of franchise history. The club is holding its annual game-worn jersey auction. All white jerseys from the 2013-14 season are up for bid. The silent auction is on the Scotiabank Saddledome concourse by section 226. All bids will close when the puck drops at the start of the third period. Winners will also receive a letter of authenticity.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Connor Rankin after the game at the Booster Club table (section 212).
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen play game two of their season opening three-game homestand next Friday, September 26, when they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers to Scotiabank Saddledome. Game time is 7:00 pm. Then on Sunday, September 28, the Lethbridge Hurricanes visit the ‘Dome in a 4:00 p.m. start.
HOW THE HITMEN WERE BUILT (31):
WHL Bantam Draft (16): Babych, Chase, Donald*, Draude, Harmsworth, Helgesen, Hyman*, Lang, Malenstyn*, Morrison*, Peterson, Travis Sanheim, Shields, Stallard*, Thomas, Virtanen
Listed (6) Bean*, Bensmiller*, Evan Johnson*, Kirk Johnson, Taylor Sanheim*, Twarynski*
Trade (6): Penner, Rankin, Tambellini, Welykholowa, Winther, Zipp
CHL Import Draft (3): Fazleev, Karnaukhov*, Padakin
*Denotes rookie
ROSTER BREAKDOWN (31):
’94-born (5): Helgesen, Rankin, Padakin, Tambellini, Winther
’95-born (7): Chase, Donald*, Harmsworth, Kirk Johnson, Penner, Peterson, Shields
’96-born (9): Fazleev, Lang, Evan Johnson*, Taylor Sanheim*, Travis Sanheim, Thomas, Virtanen, Welykholowa, Zipp
’97-born (7): Babych, Bensmiller*, Draude, Karnaukhov*, Morrison*, Stallard*, Twarynski*,
’98-born (3): Bean*, Hyman*, Malenstyn*
*Denotes rookie
GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND: The Hitmen 31-player roster is made up of the following provinces and countries; Alberta (14), B.C. (5), Saskatchewan (5), Manitoba (4), Belarus (1), Russia (1) and Ukraine (1).
