PREVIEW: HITMEN VS AMERICANS
HITMEN HEADLINES: Tonight the Calgary Hitmen (31-12-3-3) host the Tri-City Americans (24-21-2-3) in the RE/MAX Chuck-a-Puck game, in support of the Children’s Miracle Network, at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Hitmen will look to rebound following Saturday’s 7-3 road loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings and a 3-2 overtime setback to the Oil Kings at home on Sunday. Connor Rankin (1g, 1a) recorded a two-point effort for Calgary, scoring his first goal for the Hitmen since being acquired at the WHL Trade Deadline, while Jake Virtanen also scored in the overtime loss.
VS. TRI-CITY: Tonight marks the only regular season meeting between Calgary and Tri-City. During the 2012-13 campaign, the Hitmen recorded a 6-2 road win over the Americans in the only regular season match-up between the two clubs. Victor Rask scored his second career hat trick in the road victory, extending Calgary’s then-winning streak to four games. Brooks Macek had a goal and two assists for the Hitmen. Brady Brassart and Chase Clayton also scored for Calgary, while Pavel Padakin chipped in a pair of helpers. Hitmen netminder Chris Driedger made 31 saves to pick up the win. Earlier this month, Calgary acquired 19-year-old forward Connor Rankin from Tri-City in exchange for 17-year-old defenceman Josh Thrower. Both players will face their former teams for the first time tonight.
2012-13 SERIES RECAP
Feb. 12/13 at TC: Hitmen 6 Americans 2
Victor Rask scored his second career hat trick in the win.
Shots on Goal: CAL 20 TC 33
Power Plays: CAL 0-3 (0%) TC 2-8 (25.0%)
GETTING NOTICED: Four Hitmen players were recognized by NHL Central Scouting in its midterm rankings for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft: forwards Jake Virtanen (ninth, North American Skater) and Radel Fazleev (129th, North American Skater), and defencemen Ben Thomas (49th, North American Skater) and Travis Sanheim (167th, North American Skater).
STREAKIN’: Adam Tambellini (2g, 4a) is on a four-game point streak. Mack Shields has recorded a win in his last five starts.
DID YOU KNOW?: Brady Brassart hit 300 career WHL games played on Sunday. The 20-year-old forward currently sits third in team scoring with 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) this season… Jake Virtanen has reached 50 career WHL goals after scoring his team-leading 31st goal of the season on Sunday…Micheal Zipp was a co-winner of the Everett Silvertips Scholastic Player of the Year Award last season… Ben Thomas and Kenton Helgesen are the only two Hitmen players to have played in all 49 games this season… The Hitmen lead the WHL in home wins at 21.
MILESTONE WATCH: Brady Brassart is three goals shy of recording his 100th career WHL goal. Chris Driedger is 12 saves away from surpassing the franchise record for most career saves, set by Martin Jones at 3,374 (2006-10). Colby Harmsworth is six games away from reaching 100 career WHL games played. By setting up six more goals, Connor Rankin will reach 100 career WHL assists.
ALUMNI WATCH: Cody Sylvester was named the Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week for January 20-26. Sylvester, a member of the Hitmen from 2008-13, has recorded 14 points (11g, 3a) over 22 games played with the Wheeling Nailers this season. Last week, he scored five goals, including three game-winning goals, added one assist and had a plus-6 rating through four games over that span. The former Hitmen captain currently leads the ECHL with five game-winning goals.
GAME-WORN JERSEY AUCTION: In October 2013, the Calgary Hitmen, with the support of Canada Diagnostic Centres, launched the fifth annual Hitmen Fight Cancer campaign in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT Region. As part of the campaign, the Hitmen have worn pink-themed third jerseys throughout the season. Fans now have an opportunity to bid on the game-worn jerseys by visiting www.elevateauctions.com/hitmenfightcancer2014. The online auction closes on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 9 p.m. Over four years, the Calgary Hitmen, with the support of their partners, players, staff and fans, have raised more than $71,900 through the club’s Hitmen Fight Cancer initiatives.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Mike Winther after the game at the Booster Club table (section 212).
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen next see action on Friday, Jan. 31 when the Brandon Wheat Kings visit the ’Dome for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop (Sportsnet 960 The FAN). On Friday, the Hitmen, in partnership with the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), are proud to continue the third annual CBE Night. Throughout the game, CBE schools will showcase their fine and performing arts programs, highlighted by a special video presentation that features Hitmen forward Brady Brassart and defencemen Kenton Helgesen and Alex Roach performing a dance routine with Central Memorial High School arts students.
