Hitmen beat Red Deer, and release 20-year-old Danny Gayle

The Calgary Hitmen improved their pre-season record to 4-0 Friday night with a 4-2 win over the Red Deer Rebels at WinSport Canada’s Markin MacPhail Centre.  Trevor Cheek had a hand in all four goals scoring once and setting up three.  Brooks Macek also had a strong night with three points (1g 2a).

Click here to listen to a post game interview with Brooks Macek

                                          Chris Driedger made 26 saves in the win

                                      Colby Harmsworth sets up a Hitmen break-out

Here is the complete scoring summary:

Red Deer Rebels 2 at Calgary Hitmen 4

Friday, September 7, 2012 - Winsport (COP) - Calgary, AB

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

1st Period
1, Calgary, Cheek 1 (Macek, Rask), 4:11.
2, Red Deer, Millette 1 (Hamilton, Elson), 13:39 (PP).
3, Red Deer, Elson 2 (Hak, Bittner), 16:51.
4, Calgary, Peterson 1 (Macek, Cheek), 18:20.
Penalties-Cheek Cal (roughing), 1:29; Kambeitz R.d (charging), 10:00; Brassart Cal (interference), 11:56; Virtanen Cal (interference), 14:47.

2nd Period
5, Calgary, Macek 3 (Fluter, Cheek), 4:49.
6, Calgary, Virtanen 1 (Cheek, Peterson), 15:47.
Penalties-Calladine Cal (roughing), 5:07; Bleackley R.d (slashing), 7:42; Doetzel R.d (holding), 9:23; Rask Cal (embellishment), 9:23; Virtanen Cal (charging), 11:02; Thiel R.d (interference), 12:53; Thiel R.d (charging, major-fighting), 16:06; Roach Cal (instigator, major-fighting, game misconduct), 16:06; served by Rask Cal (too many men), 17:54.

3rd Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Bleackley R.d (tripping), 1:57; Padakin Cal (cross checking), 2:35; Rask Cal (roughing), 6:47; Kambeitz R.d (high sticking), 8:15; Bricker R.d (interference), 10:55; Henry Cal (holding), 12:59; Bricker R.d (10-minute misconduct), 16:01; Elson R.d (10-minute misconduct), 16:01; Fafard R.d (cross checking, 10-minute misconduct), 16:01; Brassart Cal (slashing), 16:01; Clayton Cal (10-minute misconduct), 16:01; Henry Cal (roughing), 16:01.

Shots on Goal-Red Deer 9-9-10-28. Calgary 14-11-6-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Red Deer 1 / 9; Calgary 0 / 7.
Goalies-Red Deer, Pouliot 0-2-0-0 (21 shots-18 saves); Naherniak 0-1-0-0 (10 shots-9 saves). Calgary, Driedger 2-0-0-0 (28 shots-26 saves).
Referees-Kevin Weinberger.
Linesmen-Reid Anderson (53).

HIT SCENE:  The battle for the three 20-year-old spots is down to five player after the club released forward Danny Gayle.  Gayle, had a career high 15 goals and 39 points last season.  The move also leaves the club with 29 players on their pre-season roster.  I would expect to see at least four more players moved out before the start of the regular season September 21st.   

Calgary will now get a week of practice before closing out their pre-season schedule next weekend with a pair of games in the Crowsnest Pass.  Saturday they face Lethbridge before taking on Kootenay on Sunday.