Hitmen1
10-02-2009, 11:17 AM
The Hitmen make their first visit to Cranbrook this season and play the Ice for the first of eight meetings. For whatever reason, the Ice always give the Hitmen trouble. It sounds like the Ice, as a team, are suffering from the flu. Meanwhile, the Hitmen are likely to be without starting goalie Marty Jones, who has an ankle injury.
From hitmenhockey.com: (http://www.hitmenhockey.com/index.asp?newsID=266)
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen, off to a 4-0 start, are in Cranbrook tonight to face the Kootenay Ice. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday’s 3-2 Saddledome win over the Red Deer Rebels in the home opener. Joel Broda scored the game winner for Calgary snapping a 2-2 third period tied with a powerplay goal at 14:14. Ian Schultz, shorthanded, and Tyler Fiddler with his team leading fifth goal of the season also scored for Calgary while Michael Stone chipped in a pair of assists. Michael Snider made 13 saves in goal to record his first win of the season.
VS KOOTENAY: Tonight is the first of eight meetings with the Ice. Overall last season the Hitmen went 5-3 against Kootenay outscoring the Ice by a combined 25-18. However in Cranbrook , Calgary was 1-2-0-1 in four visits….The Hitmen and Ice will meet again on Remembrance Day in Calgary (Wednesday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m.)
NATIONAL HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen are the number one ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League this week. It’s the second week in a row they’ve earned top spot.
ROSTER REDUCED: On Wednesday the Hitmen reduced their roster to 26 players by releasing 20 year-old forward Jason MacDonald.
WHL TOP GUNS: Brandon Kozun leads the WHL scoring race with 10 points while Tyler Fiddler is tied for fifth with eight points.
2008-09 GRADS: Kyle Bortis is in the CIS with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Bostjan Golicic signed in the Austrian Elite League, Tomas Karpov signed with Sparta Prague in the Czech League, Carson McMillan is in the Minnesota Wild system, Alex Plante is in the Edmonton Oilers system, Paul Postma is in the Atlanta Thrashers system, Keith Seabrook is in the Calgary Flames system while Brett Sonne is in the St. Louis Blues system.
HOMEGROWN TALENT: Of the 26 players on the Hitmen roster, eight are from the Calgary area; Eric Bonsor (Calgary), Kris Foucault (Calgary), Peter Kosterman (Calgary), Brandon Kozun (Calgary), Matt MacKenzie (Family moved to Calgary this summer), Ian Schultz (Calgary), Michael Snider (DeWinton) and Ben Wilson (Calgary).
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have six NHL prospects ... Joel Broda-(5th round Washington 2008), Kris Foucault-(4th round Minnesota 2009), Martin Jones-(FA singing LA Kings ’08), Brandon Kozun-(6th round LA 2009), Ian Schultz-(3rd round St. Louis 2008), Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008).
BUS TIME: Starting tonight in Cranbrook , the Hitmen will play nine of their next 14 games on the road. That includes a Manitoba/Saskatchewan road trip (Bran, Reg, MJ) and a BC road trip (Kel, Van, Cwk)
DID YOU KNOW? Rigby Burgart was a free agent invite to San Jose Sharks camp….Two players joined the Hitmen from other WHL teams this summer; Misha Fisenko from Vancouver (trade) and Cody Gross from Red Deer (waivers).
REGULAR SEASON CAREER WATCH: Michael Stone is one game shy of 200 games played. He has (33g 88a) 121 points in 199 games. Last Friday in Medicine Hat Martin Jones passed the 6,000 mark in regular season minutes played. Only Dan Spence (8402), Brent Krahn (6778) and Alexandre Fomitchev (6758) have been between the pipes longer in franchise history.
GAME WORN JERSEY AUCTION: Last Sunday during the home opener the Hitmen sold their white game worn jerseys from the 2008-09 season. A total of 25 jerseys were auctioned off with proceeds to the Hitmen Education Fund which supports post secondary study for alumni players. The biggest bid was $850 for Paul Postma’s #2 jersey while Brandon Kozun’s #15 went for $700.
UP NEXT: Calgary will return home to host former Hitmen Brendan Rowinski and the Moose Jaw Warriors on Sunday afternoon. Game time is 2:00 p.m. at the Pengrowth Saddledome. It’s the Hitmen’s 15th Birthday Party Celebration. The Hitmen will wear a special pink theme jersey in celebration while Bret “The Hitman” Hart, whom the team is named after, will be in attendance for a ceremonial puck drop and intermission interview.
From hitmenhockey.com: (http://www.hitmenhockey.com/index.asp?newsID=266)
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen, off to a 4-0 start, are in Cranbrook tonight to face the Kootenay Ice. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday’s 3-2 Saddledome win over the Red Deer Rebels in the home opener. Joel Broda scored the game winner for Calgary snapping a 2-2 third period tied with a powerplay goal at 14:14. Ian Schultz, shorthanded, and Tyler Fiddler with his team leading fifth goal of the season also scored for Calgary while Michael Stone chipped in a pair of assists. Michael Snider made 13 saves in goal to record his first win of the season.
VS KOOTENAY: Tonight is the first of eight meetings with the Ice. Overall last season the Hitmen went 5-3 against Kootenay outscoring the Ice by a combined 25-18. However in Cranbrook , Calgary was 1-2-0-1 in four visits….The Hitmen and Ice will meet again on Remembrance Day in Calgary (Wednesday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m.)
NATIONAL HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen are the number one ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League this week. It’s the second week in a row they’ve earned top spot.
ROSTER REDUCED: On Wednesday the Hitmen reduced their roster to 26 players by releasing 20 year-old forward Jason MacDonald.
WHL TOP GUNS: Brandon Kozun leads the WHL scoring race with 10 points while Tyler Fiddler is tied for fifth with eight points.
2008-09 GRADS: Kyle Bortis is in the CIS with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Bostjan Golicic signed in the Austrian Elite League, Tomas Karpov signed with Sparta Prague in the Czech League, Carson McMillan is in the Minnesota Wild system, Alex Plante is in the Edmonton Oilers system, Paul Postma is in the Atlanta Thrashers system, Keith Seabrook is in the Calgary Flames system while Brett Sonne is in the St. Louis Blues system.
HOMEGROWN TALENT: Of the 26 players on the Hitmen roster, eight are from the Calgary area; Eric Bonsor (Calgary), Kris Foucault (Calgary), Peter Kosterman (Calgary), Brandon Kozun (Calgary), Matt MacKenzie (Family moved to Calgary this summer), Ian Schultz (Calgary), Michael Snider (DeWinton) and Ben Wilson (Calgary).
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have six NHL prospects ... Joel Broda-(5th round Washington 2008), Kris Foucault-(4th round Minnesota 2009), Martin Jones-(FA singing LA Kings ’08), Brandon Kozun-(6th round LA 2009), Ian Schultz-(3rd round St. Louis 2008), Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008).
BUS TIME: Starting tonight in Cranbrook , the Hitmen will play nine of their next 14 games on the road. That includes a Manitoba/Saskatchewan road trip (Bran, Reg, MJ) and a BC road trip (Kel, Van, Cwk)
DID YOU KNOW? Rigby Burgart was a free agent invite to San Jose Sharks camp….Two players joined the Hitmen from other WHL teams this summer; Misha Fisenko from Vancouver (trade) and Cody Gross from Red Deer (waivers).
REGULAR SEASON CAREER WATCH: Michael Stone is one game shy of 200 games played. He has (33g 88a) 121 points in 199 games. Last Friday in Medicine Hat Martin Jones passed the 6,000 mark in regular season minutes played. Only Dan Spence (8402), Brent Krahn (6778) and Alexandre Fomitchev (6758) have been between the pipes longer in franchise history.
GAME WORN JERSEY AUCTION: Last Sunday during the home opener the Hitmen sold their white game worn jerseys from the 2008-09 season. A total of 25 jerseys were auctioned off with proceeds to the Hitmen Education Fund which supports post secondary study for alumni players. The biggest bid was $850 for Paul Postma’s #2 jersey while Brandon Kozun’s #15 went for $700.
UP NEXT: Calgary will return home to host former Hitmen Brendan Rowinski and the Moose Jaw Warriors on Sunday afternoon. Game time is 2:00 p.m. at the Pengrowth Saddledome. It’s the Hitmen’s 15th Birthday Party Celebration. The Hitmen will wear a special pink theme jersey in celebration while Bret “The Hitman” Hart, whom the team is named after, will be in attendance for a ceremonial puck drop and intermission interview.