Calgary at Medicine Hat

Sorry this blog has ran quiet for the last several days, but my hard drive died.  I am happy to report that it's all systems go once again.  HUGE thanks to the IT Department for the fix!!

The Calgary Hitmen (32-18-2-1) wrap up a three game road trip tonight in Medicine Hat against the Tigers (32-18-2-2).   Radio Broadcast on Sportsnet 960 The Fan starts at 7:00 p.m.  The Hitmen are 1-1 on the roadie so far, falling 2-1 to the Kootenay Ice before beating Red Deer 6-2 on Saturday.  The Tigers are back home after a 2-0 road trip posting wins of 3-2 in Prince Albert on Friday and 7-2 in Medicine Hat on Saturday.

                                          Photo Credit:  Medicine Hat Tigers

The Hitmen have 67 points, trailing Medicine Hat by just a single point in the race for third in the WHL's Eastern Conference.  Calgary also has company on their tail with Kootenay sitting just a point back of the Hitmen in the battle for fourth.

Tonight is the fifth of six meetings between the two teams.  Medicine Hat leads the season series 3-1 having outscored Calgary by a combined 14-7.  Jimmy Bubnick (1g 2a) and Spencer Humphries (3a) lead the Hitmen with three points each against Medicine Hat while Anaheim Ducks first round pick Emerson Etem tops the Tigers with 10 points (2g 8a) in four games. 
-Oct. 15 in MH: Tigers 5 Hitmen 0.  Tyler Bunz 36 save shutout.  Emerson Etem four assists.
-Dec. 4 in CAL: Tigers 2 Hitmen 1.  Tyler Bunz 37 saves.  Curtis Valk two goals, Emerson Etem two assists.
-Jan. 18 in CAL: Tigers 5 Hitmen 1.  Emerson Etem led the Tigers with a pair of goals.
-Jan. 28 in MH: Hitmen 5 Tigers 2.  Calgary scored three unanswered third period goals to break a 2-2 tie.

DID YOU KNOW?  Victor Rask returns to the Hitmen line-up tonight after serving a two game suspension.

NEAR RECORD:  Jimmy's Bubnick's five points against Red Deer on Saturday was just shy of the franchise record of six points in a single game which has happened on four previous occasions.
-Brad Moran Jan 11/1998 PA (3g 3a),
-Brad Moran March 15/1998 RD (4g 2a)
-Pavel Brendl Nov 21/1999 vs Portland (4g 2a)
-Kris Beech Jan 29/2000 at Portland (3g 3a)

Calgary is 16-10-2-0 on the road this season while Medicine Hat is 14-10-1-1 at home.

Top Scorers:

Calgary
Cody Sylvester 18g 38a 56pts
Jimmy Bubnick 24g 29a 53pts
Victor Rask 21g 19a 40pts
Brady Brassart 16g 24a 40pts

Medicine Hat
Emerson Etem 48g 37a 85pts
Hunter Shinkaruk 40g 30a 70pts
James Bettauer 18g 26a 44pts