Calgary 5 Kootenay 3

The Calgary Hitmen extended their winning streak to six games with a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over the Kootenay Ice Friday night at Western Financial Place in Cranbrook.

With the Ice leading 3-2 after 40 minutes, Hitmen captain Cody Sylvester scored both the tying and game winning goals just past the midway mark of the third period.  The two goals were his 40th and 41st of the season and completed a three point night (2g 1a) giving the 20-year-old his first career 90 point season in the Western Hockey League.  

Brady Brassart added an empty net goal to also finish the game with three points, two goals and an assist.

Calder Brooks had the other Hitmen marker while Luke Philp, Sam Reinhart and Austin Vetterl replied for the Ice who saw leads of 2-0 and 3-1 slip away.

Chris Driedger made 28 saves to pick up the win as Calgary outshot the Ice 34-31.

The Hitmen went 2-3 on the powerplay while Kootenay was 1-4.

These same two teams will meet in a rematch Saturday night at Scotiabank Saddledome to end the regular season.

Game time is 7 p.m. for the ENMAX Energy Night and Hitmen Fan Appreciation Jersey Off Our Back game.  Fans will have an opportunity to win great prizes including game-worn third jerseys, family games gift baskets courtesy of ENMAX and a $1,000 Safeway gift card.

Single game day tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations and the Scotiabank Saddledome box office.  Order online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 1-855-985-5000.  For more information on tickets, visit www.hitmenhockey.com or contact customer service at 403-777-4646

Calgary Hitmen 5 at Kootenay Ice 3
Friday, March 15, 2013 - Western Financial Place - Cranbrook, BC

Calgary 1 1 3 - 5
Kootenay 2 1 0 - 3

1st Period
1, Kootenay, Philp 20 (Descheneau, Dirk), 6:34 (PP).
2, Kootenay, Reinhart 34 (Martin, Leach), 8:13.
3, Calgary, Brooks 4 (Harmsworth, Clayton), 15:21.
Penalties-Humphries Cal (interference), 6:21; Mayor Cal (roughing), 9:03; Vetterl Ktn (roughing), 9:03; Descheneau Ktn (hooking), 11:13.

2nd Period
4, Kootenay, Vetterl 5 (Leach, Philp), 5:45.
5, Calgary, Brassart 32 (Rask, Sylvester), 15:05 (PP).
Penalties-Mayor Cal (checking from behind), 12:01; Faith Ktn (holding), 14:16; Padakin Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:05; Shirley Ktn (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:05.

3rd Period
6, Calgary, Sylvester 40 (Humphries, Brassart), 11:12 (PP).
7, Calgary, Sylvester 41 (Zgraggen, Brassart), 12:51.
8, Calgary, Brassart 33   19:49 (EN).
Penalties-Chase Cal (high sticking), 5:07; Leach Ktn (delay of game), 10:31; Macek Cal (tripping), 14:59.

Shots on Goal-Calgary 6-15-14-35. Kootenay 11-11-9-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Calgary 2 / 3; Kootenay 1 / 4.
Goalies-Calgary, Driedger 36-14-1-3 (31 shots-28 saves). Kootenay, Skapski 33-25-1-0 (34 shots-30 saves).
A-2,622
Referees-Devin Klein (9), Jon Stephenson (38).
Linesmen-Michael Boisvert (111), Jim Maniago (85).