Hitmen Report: On a long, long road trip
By Ryan Pike
5 years agoThe Calgary Hitmen are in the midst of a season-high seven-game road trip. But after starting off the season in a big hole, they’re finally stringing some big wins together.
Get your tickets!
If you’re hoping to go to the Teddy Bear Toss game on Sunday, Dec. 9, get your tickets right now. A quick skim on Ticketmaster reveals zero open seats in the lower bowl, scattered singles in the 200s and much of the press level going quickly. They’re playing the Kamloops Blazers in the annual charity bonanza.
Tickets for the three games in the Stampede Corral in February go on sale on Monday, Nov. 26.
- Friday, Feb. 1 – in Calgary Centennials jerseys – against the Brandon Wheat Kings
- Wednesday, Feb 6 – in Calgary Cowboys jerseys – against the Regina Pats
- Friday, Feb. 8 – in Calgary Wranglers jerseys – against the Prince Albert Raiders
It’s not a big building, so these tickets will go quickly.
The week that was
Friday: 5-0 win in Kootenay
Rookie Jack McNaughton made 19 saves for his first career shutout. On the offensive front, rookie Ryder Korczak had a pair of goals and Mark Kastelic, Dakota Krebs and Jake Kryski had tallies of their own. Kootenay netminder Duncan McGovern made 37 saves for the loss.
Saturday: 5-1 win in Spokane
In the first big test of their road trip, the Hitmen fared pretty well. Kastelic had a hat trick and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Riley Stotts scored twice. Carl Stankowski made 33 saves for the win. The Chiefs simply weren’t able to get their offense going, despite all those shots.
Tuesday: 4-0 loss in Everett
2019 NHL Draft prospect Dustin Wolf made 26 saves and Washington Capitals prospect Riley Sutter had a goal and an assist to lead Everett in a game where the Hitmen just couldn’t bury their chances. McNaughton made 29 saves for Calgary in the loss.
Wednesday: 3-2 win in Portland
Stankowski made 38 saves as Portland peppered him with shots. Stotts’ third period goal stood up as the winner, while Kryski and James Malm also scored for the Hitmen. Carson Focht had two assists. John Ludvig and Vegas top prospect Cody Glass scored for the Winterhawks.
Coming up this week
The Hitmen head into next week with an 9-13-2 record. They’re just three points behind the Medicine Hat Tigers for the last Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot, and they’ve managed to string together wins against teams with some pretty good records.
Calgary has a light week ahead, with a pair of games on the west coast to conclude that portion of their lengthy road trip. They’re in Seattle to face the Thunderbirds on Friday and head to Tri-City on Saturday to visit the Americans.
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