Hitmen open pre-season with a 6-3 win over Medicine Hat

Jake Virtanen and Rdel Fazleev both had a goal and two assists as the Calgary Hitmen opened their six game WHL pre-season schedule with a 6-3 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers Saturday afternoon.

Layne Bensmiller, Austin Calladine, Ben Thomas and Braden Oleksyn also scored for Calgary who scored three of the games first four goals.

Mack Shields made 30 saves, including 17 in the second period, to pick up the win as the Tigers outshot the Hitmen 33-29.

Both teams had eight powerplay chances with Medicine Hat scoring twice with the extra attacker and the Hitmen once.

Calgary is back in action Sunday at 3pm at the Edmonton Oil Kings Invitational Pre-Season Tournament when they face Swift Current in St. Albert.

Medicine Hat Tigers 3 at Calgary Hitmen 6
Saturday, August 31, 2013 - St. Albert, AB

Medicine Hat 1 0 2 - 3
Calgary 3 0 3 - 6

1st Period
1, Calgary, Virtanen 1 (Fazleev), 0:08.
2, Medicine Hat, Penner 1 (Owre), 4:10 (PP).
3, Calgary, Fazleev 1 (Virtanen), 9:54.
4, Calgary, Oleksyn 1 (Brooks), 13:21.
Penalties-Allan M.h (slashing), 1:35; Calladine Cal (tripping), 2:32; Allan M.h (holding), 17:29; Draude Cal (hooking), 19:18; Quenneville M.h (interference), 19:54.

2nd Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Bradley M.h (hooking), 3:40; Calladine Cal (slashing), 4:33; Morrison Cal (slashing), 5:00; Uhrich M.h (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:02; Thomas Cal (slashing), 6:02; Thrower Cal (slashing), 6:02; Smith M.h (roughing, roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 12:30; Calladine Cal (roughing, roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 12:30; Uhrich M.h (10-minute misconduct), 14:03; Thrower Cal (10-minute misconduct), 14:03; Riddle Cal (cross checking), 16:00.

3rd Period
5, Medicine Hat, Shaw 1 (Staples, Jevne), 1:26 (PP).
6, Calgary, Calladine 1 (Morrison, Fazleev), 11:11 (PP).
7, Calgary, Thomas 1 (Draude, Peterson), 15:15.
8, Medicine Hat, Jevne 1 17:46.
9, Calgary, Bensmiller 1 (Virtanen, Foster), 19:17 (EN).
Penalties-Thomas Cal (tripping), 0:47; Bradley M.h (hooking), 2:29; Wozniak M.h (slashing), 5:57; Forrest M.h (holding), 7:33; Mortlock M.h (interference), 10:13; Babych Cal (slashing), 12:38; Calladine Cal (roughing), 20:00.

Shots on Goal
Medicine Hat 9-17-7-33.
Calgary 13-8-8-29.

Power Play Opportunities
Medicine Hat 2 / 8;
Calgary 1 / 8.

Goalies
Medicine Hat, Williams 0-1-0-0 (28 shots-23 saves).
Calgary, Shields 1-0-0-0 (33 shots-30 saves).

Referees-Curtis Howe (27), Kevin Shmyr (22).
Linesmen-Greg Chornohus (127), Chris Carlson (92).