Monday 30 September 2013

Hitmen win Home Opener

Greg Chase scored a pair of second period goals 4:16 apart to break a 1-1 as the Calgary Hitmen beat Red Deer 4-1 in their home opener Saturday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Chase, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, is off to a hot start with four goals in two games.

"We were very disciplined, we moved out feet, we worked hard, we blocked shots, we got traffic around Bartosak, we did all the little things we didn't do last Friday in the loss to Edmonton," said Chase post game.

                                            Photo Credit: Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen

Ben Thomas and Pavlo Padakin also scored for Calgary.  For Thomas it was his first career goal in the WHL coming in just his ninth game.

The Hitmen carried the bulk of the play out shooting Red Deer 35-13.

With the win Calgary improves to 1-1 while the Rebels fall to 3-1.

The Hitmen begin a busy stretch of 14 games in 25 days Wednesday in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes.

GAME NOTES:  Red Deer's Lukas Sutter and Calgary's Calder Brooks both left the game with apparent injuries and did not return....Hitmen defenceman Kenton Helgesen played forward again setting up one of the Chase goals and now has three assists in two games to start the season...Calgary's Brady Brassart (AHL Tryout) and Red Deer's Matthew Dumba (Minnesota Wild) were among the scratches who both teams could get back at some point yet this season.

Red Deer Rebels 1 at Calgary Hitmen 4
Saturday, September 28, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Red Deer 0 1 0 - 1
Calgary 1 2 1 - 4

1st Period
1, Calgary, Thomas 1 (Brooks, Zgraggen), 10:52 (PP).
Penalties-Bear R.d (hooking), 9:38; Bellerive R.d (inter. on goaltender), 10:52; Doetzel R.d (high sticking, high sticking), 15:21.

2nd Period
2, Red Deer, Pawlenchuk 3 (Johnson, Bleackley), 3:52 (PP).
3, Calgary, Chase 3 10:59.
4, Calgary, Chase 4 (Helgesen, Peterson), 14:15.
Penalties-Helgesen Cal (closing hand on puck), 1:28; Lang Cal (interference), 2:12; Gaudet R.d (roughing), 10:56; Padakin Cal (roughing), 10:56; Bleackley R.d (charging), 18:38; Jones Cal (roughing), 18:43.

3rd Period
5, Calgary, Padakin 1 (Harmsworth, Thomas), 8:39.
Penalties-Dixon R.d (major-fighting), 3:17; Rissling Cal (major-fighting), 3:17; Musil R.d (hooking), 3:52; Musil R.d (roughing), 7:12; Virtanen Cal (roughing), 7:12; Musil R.d (tripping), 16:50; Bellerive R.d (major-fighting), 19:10; Padakin Cal (major-fighting), 19:10.

Shots on Goal
Red Deer 3-4-6-13. Calgary 14-7-14-35.
Power Play Opportunities
Red Deer 1 / 3; Calgary 1 / 7.
Goalies
Red Deer, Bartosak 2-1-0-0 (35 shots-31 saves). Calgary, Driedger 1-1-0-0 (13 shots-12 saves).
A-9,752
Referees-Tyler Adair (58), Jason Cramer (57).
Linesmen-Reid Anderson (53), Shaun Davis.

Friday 27 September 2013

Hitmen deal Calladine to Saskatoon

The Calgary Hitmen have traded 18-year-old forward Austin Calladine to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for a conditional 8th round pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft.

Calladine made the Hitmen last season, collecting three points (1g 2a) in 33 regular season games. 

The trade is a home coming for Calladine who is from Saskatoon. 

From a Calgary perspective the deal leaves the Hitmen with 14 forwards, 15 if you count Brady Brassart who is still on an AHL tryout with the Syracuse Crunch.


One other note, Joe Mahon, who was acquired from Portland last weekend won't be in the Hitmen line-up on Saturday against Red Deer in the home opener.

The 19-year-old is still recovering from off season shoulder surgery, a recovery that's expected to keep him on the sidelines for at least another week.

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Countdown to Home Opener is on

Saturday night the Calgary Hitmen host Red Deer in the Adrenalin Source For Sports Home Opener.

Game time is 7 o'clock at Scotiabank Saddledome but pre-game festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Travelodge Fan Face-Off Party that features family-friendly activities and entertainment.

Even the namesake of the franchise Bret "Hitman" Hart will be in attendance.

See full details below!  Click on it to enlarge.




Virtanen and Fazleev catch NHL eye

NHL Central Scouting has released it's preliminary "Ones to Watch" list for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft with a pair of Calgary Hitmen on the WHL sheet.

Jake Virtanen is ranked as an "A Skater" while Russian rookie Radel Fazleev is a "C"

Here is the complete WHL list.

A SKATERS
Chase De LeoPortlandC5'9177
Leon DraisaitlPrince AlbertC6'1.75208
Haydn FleuryRed DeerD6'2.5198
Julius HonkaSwift CurrentD5'10167
Brycen MartinSwift CurrentD6'1.75184
Sam ReinhartKootenayC6'0.75185
Jake VirtanenCalgaryRW6'0.75208
B SKATERS
Conner BleackleyRed DeereRW6'0.5192
Jayce HawrylukBrandonC5'10.25186
Joseph HickettsVictoriaD5'7.25180
Waltteri HopponenEverettLW6'1.25187
Ivan NikolishinEverettC5'8.25158
Nelson NogierSaskatoonD6'2.25191
Brayden PointMoose JawC5'9.5160
C SKATERS
Tomas AndrlikPrince AlbertD5'11.25182
Rourke ChartierKelownaC5'10.5173
Reid DukeLethbridgeC5'11.5189
Tanner FaithKootenayD6'3.25211
Radel FazleevCalgaryC6'0.75176
Justin GutierrezTri-CityLW6'3.75184
Joshua HansonPortlandD6'3.25207
Edson HarlacherKamloopsD6'2187
Jared HaufSeattleD6'4.75212
Keegan IversonPortlandC/RW6'0.75219
Spenser JensenMedicine HatD6'4191
Justin MarreckTri-CityLW6'3190
Dysin MayoEdmontonD5'11.75181
Tyler SandhuEverettC5'10162
Colin ShirleyKootenayLW6'1.5180
Alexei SleptsovMoose JawD5'11.5160
Ty StantonMedicine HatD6'3.75179
Dominic TurgeonPortlandC6'1.75198
Taylor VickermanTri-CityLW5'11.25194

Hitmen get bigger in trade with Portland

The Calgary Hitmen beefed up their line-up on Sunday acquiring 19-year-old forward Joe Mahon from the Portland Winter Hawks.

Mahon, is a 6'5" 233lbs, right winger who earned a spot on the Winterhawks last season after an invite to camp.

In exchange for the Calgary product, the Hitmen surrender a fourth round pick in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft and a conditional sixth round selection in 2015.

Mahon appeared in 41 regular season games plus an additional four playoff games for the WHL Champion Winterhawks.

His total numbers, 45 games (2g 1a) and 137 penalty minutes.

Hitmen drop season opener

Too many trips to the penalty box proved costly as the Calgary Hitmen opened a new season with a 7-3 loss in Edmonton Friday night.

The Oil Kings blew the game open scoring three times with the extra attacker in a span of 2:09, all on the powerplay to break a 1-1 first period tie.

The defending Eastern Conference champs finished with five powerplay goals on 10 chances.

                                                     Photo Credit: Andy Devlin

Greg Chase scored a pair of goals for Calgary in the loss while Jake Virtanen added a single.  Kenton Helgesen, who played forward chipped in a pair of assists.

Calgary Hitmen 3 at Edmonton Oil Kings 7
Friday, September 20, 2013 - Rexall Place - Edmonton, AB

Calgary 1 0 2 - 3
Edmonton 4 2 1 - 7

1st Period
1, Edmonton, Irving 1 (Sautner, Kieser), 4:20.
2, Calgary, Virtanen 1 (Rissling), 9:56 (PP).
3, Edmonton, Sautner 1 (Samuelsson, Corbett), 11:04 (PP).
4, Edmonton, Moroz 1 (Irving, Samuelsson), 12:34 (PP).
5, Edmonton, Corbett 1 (Eller, Kulda), 13:13 (PP).
Penalties-Galbraith Cal (elbowing), 2:20; Zgraggen Cal (holding), 5:23; Thrower Cal (boarding), 7:37; Moroz Edm (boarding, boarding), 8:08; Jones Cal (roughing), 10:19; Chase Cal (checking from behind), 10:35; Sanheim Cal (tripping), 11:38; Ralph Edm (interference), 14:32; Galbraith Cal (major-fighting, game - coach), 16:52; Ralph Edm (major-fighting, game misconduct), 16:52; Lang Cal (roughing), 17:03; Baddock Edm (roughing), 17:03.

2nd Period
6, Edmonton, Corbett 2 (Mayo, Kieser), 5:56.
7, Edmonton, Pollock 1 (Samuelsson, Sautner), 11:51 (PP).
Penalties-Thrower Cal (major-fighting), 2:22; Baddock Edm (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 2:22; Virtanen Cal (slashing), 3:07; Jones Cal (inter. on goaltender), 7:36; Rissling Cal (charging), 11:31; Sautner Edm (delay of game), 13:47.

3rd Period
8, Calgary, Chase 1 (Brooks, Helgesen), 6:34.
9, Calgary, Chase 2 (Clayton, Helgesen), 11:29.
10, Edmonton, Samuelsson 1 (Pollock, Irving), 17:48 (PP).
Penalties-Irving Edm (interference), 7:34; Rissling Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:25; Baddock Edm (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:25; Chase Cal (high sticking, high sticking), 14:28; Eller Edm (embellishment), 18:36.

Shots on Goal
Calgary 10-10-10-30. Edmonton 18-10-10-38.
Power Play Opportunities
Calgary 1 / 6; Edmonton 5 / 10.
Goalies
Calgary, Driedger 0-1-0-0 (26 shots-20 saves); Shields 0-0-0-0 (12 shots-11 saves). Edmonton, Jarry 1-0-0-0 (30 shots-27 saves).
A-9,550
Referees-Fraser Lawrence (10), Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Chris Carlson (92), Darren Spurgeon (61).

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Hitmen deal Peter Kosterman to Prince George

The Calgary Hitmen have traded long time defenceman Peter Kosterman to the Prince George Cougars in exchange for a pair of bantam picks.

The Hitmen acquire a 4th round pick in 2014 and a 6th round pick in 2016.

Kosterman broke into the WHL as a 16-year-old winning a championship with the Hitmen in 2010.

Since then he had played in 233 regular season games plus an additional 27 in the post season.

The trade of Kosterman reduces the number of 20-year-olds on the roster to the WHL maximum of three (Brady Brassart, Jaynen Rissling and Jesse Zgraggen).  It also paves the way for some of the younger blueline talent to earn a spot on the roster with two pre-season games remaining.



Monday 9 September 2013

Sylvester's Pittsburgh tryout comes to an end

Graduating Calgary Hitmen forward Cody Sylvester has been released from his amateur tryout contract by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins made the announcement today as the club announced it's training camp roster.

Sylvester had been a member of the Penguins rookie attending the prospects tournament in London, Ontario.

Hitmen improve to 3-1 WHL Pre-Season

Josh Thrower had a goal and an assist to lead the Calgary Hitmen to a 4-2 win over the Red Deer Rebels Friday night before a standing room only crowd in Nanton.

Evan Johnson turned in a strong performance in goal making 36 saves to pick up the win.

Brett Brooks, who played parts of the last two seasons with Moose Jaw, Pavel Padakin and Chase Lang also scored for Calgary who took control of the game with three second period powerplay goals.

Jake Virtanen had an assist for the Hitmen and continues to lead the club in pre-season scoring with seven points (2g 5a) in four games.

Red Deer Rebels 2 at Calgary Hitmen 4
Friday, September 6, 2013 - Tom Hornecker Recreation Centre - Nanton, AB

Red Deer 1 0 1 - 2
Calgary 1 3 0 - 4

1st Period
1, Calgary, Brooks 1 7:02.
2, Red Deer, Stockl 1 (Webb, Lapointe), 12:40.
Penalties-Fleury R.d (interference), 7:24; Bellerive R.d (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 8:00; Padakin Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 8:00; Johnson R.d (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 9:22; Brooks Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 9:22; Denham R.d (slashing), 9:55; Oleksyn Cal (charging), 12:54; Pawlenchuk R.d (charging), 16:14; Johnson R.d (tripping), 18:42.

2nd Period
3, Calgary, Padakin 1 (Fazleev, Kosterman), 1:43 (PP).
4, Calgary, Thrower 1 (Clayton, Virtanen), 11:38 (PP).
5, Calgary, Lang 1 (Thrower, Sanheim), 13:14 (PP).
Penalties-Bear R.d (kneeing), 0:17; Volek R.d (slashing), 6:04; Calladine Cal (roughing), 6:04; Bear R.d (charging), 10:17; Denham R.d (checking from behind), 11:50; Fafard R.d (tripping), 12:58; Morse R.d (roughing), 13:17; Clayton Cal (high sticking), 13:17; Thomas Cal (cross checking), 14:19; Millette R.d (roughing), 14:37; Morrison Cal (roughing), 14:37; Lang Cal (holding), 16:07.

3rd Period
6, Red Deer, Fleury 1 (Volek, Maxwell), 5:02 (PP).
Penalties-Mpofu R.d (high sticking), 1:57; Morrison Cal (high sticking), 4:43; Bear R.d (hooking), 5:29; Padakin Cal (match-butt ending, game misconduct), 5:29; Thomas Cal (slashing), 13:48; Clayton Cal (delay of game), 14:00; Morrison Cal (holding), 17:23.

Shots on Goal
Red Deer 13-10-15-38. Calgary 11-18-10-39.
Power Play Opportunities
Red Deer 1 / 6; Calgary 3 / 7.
Goalies
Red Deer, Toth 0-2-0-0 (39 shots-35 saves). Calgary, Johnson 1-1-0-0 (38 shots-36 saves).
Referees-Reid Anderson (53), Clayton Hall (42).
Linesmen-Aidan Henderson (78), Scott Sharun (103).

Friday 6 September 2013

Hitmen fall for first time in the pre-season

The Lethbridge Hurricanes won their pre-season opener and in the process handed the Calgary Hitmen their first loss in three outings Thursday night with a 7-4 win in Taber.

Reid Duke had a goal and two assists to lead the Lethbridge attack.

Colby Harmsworth, Elliott Peterson, Ben Thomas and Cal Babych all scored for Calgary with Thomas and Babych both also adding an assist.

The Hitmen are back in action Friday night in Nanton when they host the Red Deer Rebels.  Game time is 7 o'clock, doors open at 6pm.

Admission is $10 for Adults and $5 for students with a valid I-D.  Children get in for FREE.  All ticket proceeds will support local minor hockey player and coach development. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Alberta Marine in Nanton and will also be available at the door. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as seating is limited.


Sunday 1 September 2013

Hitmen improve pre-season record to 2-0 with win over Swift Current

Outshot 37-20 the Calgary Hitmen still posted a pre-season victory Sunday afternoon beating the Swift Current Broncos 4-1.

Goalies Chris Driedger (22/22) and Evan Johnson (14/15) combined on a 36 save performance.

The veteran Driedger got the start and was perfect in just over 31 minutes of work.  Coming on in relief Johnson, was nearly flawless with the only goal to beat him coming in the second period.

Jake Virtanen, Travis Sanheim, Layne Bensmiller and Kenton Helgesen all scored for Calgary.  For Virtanen and Bensmiller it was their second goals in as many days at the Edmonton Oil Kings Invitational Tournament in St. Albert.

Josh Thrower chipped in a pair of assists for the Hitmen who went 2-8 on the powerplay while killing all 10 Swift Current chances.

Calgary will now enjoy a two day break before heading to Taber to play the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Thursday night.

Swift Current Broncos 1 at Calgary Hitmen 4
Sunday, September 1, 2013 - St. Albert, AB

Swift Current 0 1 0 - 1
Calgary 0 2 2 - 4

1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Morrison Cal (holding), 0:44; Draude Cal (hooking), 2:38; McLean S.c (tripping), 6:24; Mackay S.c (roughing), 8:41; Chase Cal (high sticking), 8:41; Harmsworth Cal (cross checking), 11:47; Oleksyn Cal (holding), 14:06; Gawdin S.c (slashing), 19:30; Chase Cal (tripping), 19:30.

2nd Period
1, Calgary, Virtanen 2 (Thrower, Padakin), 0:59 (PP).
2, Calgary, Sanheim 1 (Chase, Thrower), 5:17 (PP).
3, Swift Current, Honka 4 15:02.
Penalties-Honka S.c (boarding), 0:35; Honka S.c (roughing), 2:50; Thomas Cal (cross checking, roughing), 2:50; Lernout S.c (holding), 3:42; Johnson S.c (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 4:50; Peterson Cal (tripping), 9:15; Arnold S.c (roughing), 11:27; Morrison Cal (roughing), 11:27; Lernout S.c (10-minute misconduct), 12:25; Padakin Cal (10-minute misconduct), 12:25; Gawdin S.c (hooking), 12:47; Honka S.c (hooking), 15:58; Draude Cal (hooking), 17:07.

3rd Period
4, Calgary, Bensmiller 2 (Virtanen, Clayton), 12:54.
5, Calgary, Helgesen 1 18:50 (EN).
Penalties-Oleksyn Cal (tripping), 2:53; Clayton Cal (slashing), 4:53; Thrower Cal (elbowing), 9:01; Gawdin S.c (roughing), 15:04; Bosc S.c (kneeing), 18:50.

Shots on Goal
Swift Current 15-11-11-37.
Calgary 3-6-11-20.

Power Play Opportunities
Swift Current 0 / 10;
Calgary 2 / 8.

Goalies-Swift Current,
Laurikainen 0-1-0-0 (19 shots-16 saves).
Calgary, Driedger 1-0-0-0 (22 shots-22 saves); Johnson 0-0-0-0 (15 shots-14 saves).

Referees-Matt Cassidy (93), Kyle Kowalski (15).
Linesmen-Chad Huseby (59).