GAME DAY: Hurricanes Host Hitmen in First Meeting of Season
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes play their final home game before the Christmas break tonight at 7:00pm as they welcome the Calgary Hitmen to the ENMAX Centre in the first of seven meetings this season.
The Hurricanes (19-9-0-5) earned a 4-2 win on Wednesday at home against the Red Deer Rebels. Noah Boyko, Justin Hall, Alex Thacker and Zack Stringer scored the goals in the victory while Bryan Thomson made 30 saves. The win for the ‘Canes was their second straight and improved their home-ice record to 8-5-0-4 on the season.
The Hitmen (15-9-3-1) were last in action on Sunday when they fell 6-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome against the Everett Silvertips. Riley Stotts score twice while Egor Zamula added the other in the defeat. Calgary enters play tonight with an 8-3-2-0 record on the road this season.
Tonight will be the first of three straight meetings between the Hurricanes and the Hitmen and the first of five meetings in the next eight games. It’s also the first meeting since the Hitmen ousted the Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs last year.
The Hurricanes also host Santa Claus tonight on Ugly Christmas Sweater Night! Tickets are available by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328), online at www.enmaxcentre.ca or in person at the ENMAX Centre or Yates Memorial Theatre Ticket Centre’s.
VS. HITMEN: Tonight will be the first of seven meetings on the season between the Hurricanes and the Hitmen. Tonight will be the first meeting since Calgary eliminated Lethbridge in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs last year. The ‘Canes posted a 5-1-0-0 record in the six regular season meetings last year.
2018-19 REGULAR SEASON SERIES: TOP 5 SEASON SCORERS
December 14th/2019 – at Lethbridge Dylan Cozens – 120G, 26A – 46 points
December 15th/2019 – at Calgary Oliver Okuliar – 23G, 19A – 42 points
December 27th/2019 – at Lethbridge Alex Cotton – 8G, 27A – 36 points
January 4th/2020 – at Lethbridge Calen Addison – 7G, 22A – 29 points
January 10th/2020 – at Calgary D-Jay Jerome – 13G, 12A – 25 points
February 9th/2020 – at Calgary
March 1st/2020 – at Calgary
2019-2020 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (23) – Oliver Okuliar Assists (27) – Alex Cotton
Points (46) – Dylan Cozens
PIMS (40) – Koletrane Wilson Plus/Minus (+29) – Ty Prefontaine
Wins (10) – Carl Tetachuk Shutouts (2) – Carl Tetachuk
Save % (.914) – Carl Tetachuk Goals Against Average (2.41) – Carl Tetachuk
WHO’S HOT:
– Oliver Okuliar has points in 7 straight games (6g-5a); 9 of 10 games (6g-6a); 20 of 22 games (19g-14a)
– Okuliar has goals in 13 of 21 games (19g)
– Alex Cotton has points in 5 straight games (2g-5a); 7 of 8 games (2g-9a); 18 of 22 games (6g-22a)
– Zack Stringer has points in 2 straight games (2g-1a); 6 of 10 games (3g-8a); 7 of 16 games (4g-10a)
– Logan Barlage has points in 2 straight games (1g-1a); 4 of 5 games (2g-2a); 9 of 15 games (7g-8a)
– Chase Wheatcroft has points in 2 straight games (2a); 5 of 8 games (1g-4a)
– Justin Hall has points in 2 straight games (1g-2a); 3 of 8 games (2g-3a)
– Calen Addison has points in 2 straight games (3a); 4 of 8 games (3g-5a); 11 of 17 games (5g-15a)
– Dylan Cozens has points in 2 straight games (1g-3a); 7 of 8 games (4g-10a); 15 of 19 games (12g-20a)
– D-Jay Jerome has points in 5 of 10 games (4g-3a); 9 of 17 games (9g-6a); 13 of 24 games (11g-10a)
– Dino Kambeitz has points in 5 of 10 games (3g-4a); 8 of 14 games (3g-7a); 12 of 19 games (7g-8a)
– Danila Palivko has points in 3 of 10 games (4a); 4 of 12 games (5a); 7 of 16 games (8a)
– Ty Prefontaine has points in 4 of 8 games (4a); 6 of 12 games (6a); 9 of 17 games (9a)
– Koletrane Wilson has points in 2 of 3 games (2a); 6 of 10 games (1g-6a)
– Alex Thacker has points in 3 of 6 games (2g-1a); 4 of 9 games (2g-3a)
– Noah Boyko has points in 5 of 11 games (5g-4a)
REGULAR SEASON MILESTONE WATCH:
– Calen Addison is 8 points away from 200 career points
– Danila Palivko has 7 games away from 100 career games
– Oliver Okuliar is 2 games away from 100 career CHL games
– Oliver Okuliar is 17 points away from 100 career CHL points
– D-Jay Jerome is 16 points away from 100 career points
– Noah Boyko is 9 games away from 100 career games
– Dylan Cozens is 16 points away from 200 career points
– Logan Barlage is 18 points away from 100 career points
– Alex Cotton is 8 games away from 100 career games
