Big need for Teddy Bears on Sunday

The 19th annual Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss is this Sunday at Scotiabank Saddledome as the Calgary Hitmen welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers. 

Game time is 4:00 p.m. with fans asked to bring a stuffed toy (or 2 or 3) to the game and toss it on the ice when the Hitmen score their first goal. 

This year the demand for stuffed toys has increased, partly due to the flood Calgary experienced this past summer.  Over 50 local agencies have requested more than 28,000 teddy bears. 

Teddy Bear Toss tickets are still available at all Ticketmaster locations and the Saddledome box office. 

Order online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 1-855-985-5000.

Here's a list of the charities who will receive the stuffed toys.

Care Connect
Ronald McDonald House
Souper Stars
Special Olympics
St. Vincent de Paul
Wood’s Homes (Exit Outreach)
YWCA
Aids Calgary
Alexander Center Society
Boys and Girls Club of Calgary
Calgary Bridge Foundation
Canadian Mental Health Association
Change of Heart
Closer to Home
Cornerstone of Hope
Pace Kids
Red Cross
Southwest Community Resource Centre
Stephan's Backpacks
All Nations Treatment Centre Alumni
Bowness Montgomery Daycare
Bowest Community Resource Centre
Brenda Stafford Society
Calgary Association of Self Help
Calgary Police Children's Victims
Cerebral Palsy Association
Daily Reflections
East Calgary Health
Eden Valley Wellness Centre
Family Matters
JIL
Marlborough Park Pre-school
McMahon Youth and Family Services
Metis Calgary Services
North East Calgary Adopt A Family Society
Walden Heights Senior
Calgary Military Family Resource Centre
Calgary Womens' Emergency Shelter
Forest Grove Care Center
Hull Child and Family Services
Jamie's Preschool
North of McKnight Community Resource Centre
Northside Baptist
Pathways Community Services
Siksika Nation
Blood Tribe
Stoney Nakoda Nation
Salvation Army
Food Bank
Calgary Board of Education
Calgary Children's Hospital

Chase stars for Team WHL

Calgary Hitmen forward Greg Chase scored a pair of goals as Team WHL beat Russia 4-2 Thursday night in Lethbridge helping the CHL win the Subway Super Series.

Post Game Chase had this to say to whl.ca's Jesse Watts;

“I think I came in here and tried to play the game I do during the season,” said Chase, who was named the Player of the Game for Team WHL with his two-goal effort. “The biggest thing for us was getting pucks to the net and being a bit more gritty in front of the net...we had lots of chances (on Wednesday night) that we didn’t capitalize on, but tonight we did.”

Chase will be in the line-up tonight when the Hitmen meet the Broncos in Swift Current.

Silvertips blank Hitmen

Joshua Winquist scored his 21st goal of the season on a second period powerplay as the Everett Silvertips blanked the Calgary Hitmen 1-0 at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.

Goalie Austin Lotz made 25 saves for his third shutout of the season and fourth of his WHL career.

Sixteen of those stops came in the third period when the Hitmen outshot Everett 16-3.

The loss snapped Calgary's three game winning streak while the victory improves the Silvertips WHL leading points total to 42.

                                          Photo Credit:  Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen

Everett Silvertips 1 at Calgary Hitmen 0
Saturday, November 23, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Everett 0 1 0 - 1
Calgary 0 0 0 - 0

1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Brassart Cal (tripping), 6:27; Betker Evt (major-fighting), 10:26; Thrower Cal (boarding, major-fighting), 10:26.

2nd Period
1, Everett, Winquist 21 (Pufahl, Bauml), 5:13 (PP).
Penalties-Brassart Cal (slashing), 4:15; Harmsworth Cal (boarding), 12:23; Bajkov Evt (holding), 15:08.

3rd Period
No Scoring.Penalties-Rissling Cal (boarding), 3:29; MacDonald Evt (tripping), 8:05; Mueller Evt (cross checking), 11:32.

Shots on Goal
Everett 12-12-3-27. Calgary 5-4-16-25.
Power Play Opportunities
Everett 1 / 5; Calgary 0 / 3.
Goalies
Everett, Lotz 14-3-1-0 (25 shots-25 saves). Calgary, Driedger 7-6-1-3 (27 shots-26 saves).
A-7,072
Referees-Chris Crich (20), Clayton Hall (42).
Linesmen-Aidan Henderson (78), Jared Mackey (52).

Hitmen extend winning streak to three

Pavel Padkin scored twice, his first two goal game of the season, lifting the Calgary Hitmen to a 3-0 win over the Prince George Cougars Thursday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Chris Driedger made 30 saves to record his first shutout of the season and sixth of his Western Hockey League career.

Zane Jones also scored while Radel Fazleev and Alex Roach both had two assists for the Hitmen who built period leads of 1-0 and 3-0.

The special teams battle played a large role in the outcome as Calgary went 2-7 on the powerplay while killing all six Cougar chances.

The Hitmen are now 13-6-1-3, tied with Prince Albert for third in the Eastern Conference at 30 points.

Calgary will wrap up their season high six game home stand Saturday against the WHL's top team in Everett who leads the league with 38 points.  Game time is 7:00 p.m.

                                           Photo Credit:  Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen

Prince George Cougars 0 at Calgary Hitmen 3
Thursday, November 21, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Prince George 0 0 0 - 0
Calgary 1 2 0 - 3

1st Period
1, Calgary, Jones 7 (Fazleev, Roach), 19:17 (PP).
Penalties-Bourke P.g (delay of game), 4:59; Thomas Cal (interference), 8:08; Grewal P.g (holding), 18:02.

2nd Period
2, Calgary, Padakin 5 (Jones, Fazleev), 10:31.
3, Calgary, Padakin 6 (Roach, Virtanen), 15:14 (PP).
Penalties-Sanheim Cal (holding), 1:29; Lishchynsky P.g (slashing), 4:41; Roach Cal (interference), 11:08; Bobos P.g (high sticking), 15:07; Penner Cal (roughing), 15:56.

3rd Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-McNulty P.g (roughing, roughing), 2:43; Lang Cal (roughing), 2:43; Mahon Cal (10-minute misconduct), 2:43; Bourke P.g (tripping), 5:04; Grewal P.g (hooking), 10:56; Ruopp P.g (major-fighting), 13:18; Virtanen Cal (roughing, major-fighting), 13:18; Roulston P.g (major-fighting), 15:41; Penner Cal (major-fighting), 15:41; Padakin Cal (roughing), 19:57.

Shots on Goal
Prince George 9-12-9-30. Calgary 6-16-9-31.
Power Play Opportunities
Prince George 0 / 6; Calgary 2 / 7.
Goalies
Prince George, Zarowny 2-8-1-1 (31 shots-28 saves). Calgary, Driedger 7-5-1-3 (30 shots-30 saves).
A-5,696
Referees-Tyler Adair (58), Kevin Webinger (6).
Linesmen-Reid Anderson (53), Scott Sharun (103).

Hitmen edge Warriors for second straight win

The Calgary Hitmen recorded their second win in as many tries Sunday evening with a 3-2 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors Sunday at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Jaynen Rissling, Pavel Padakin and Jake Virtanen all scored for the Hitmen who erased a 2-1 second period deficit. 

Virtanen also had an assist and finished the game with two points, tied a top the team lead with Kenton Helgesen who chipped in a pair of assists.

Goaltender Chris Driedger was superb between the pipes making 30 saves.

Sam Fioretti and Tanner Eberle scored for Moose Jaw in the loss who outshot Calgary 32-31.

                                           Photo Credit: Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen

Moose Jaw Warriors 2 at Calgary Hitmen 3
Sunday, November 17, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Moose Jaw 0 2 0 - 2
Calgary 1 2 0 - 3

1st Period
1, Calgary, Rissling 6 (Helgesen, Virtanen), 7:49.
Penalties-Chase Cal (boarding), 3:04; White M.j (slashing), 17:26; Chase Cal (slashing), 17:41.

2nd Period
2, Moose Jaw, Fioretti 8 (Chirva, Warkentine), 2:45.
3, Moose Jaw, Eberle 5 (Point, Warkentine), 9:44.
4, Calgary, Padakin 4 (Roach, Chase), 15:45 (PP).
5, Calgary, Virtanen 10 (Helgesen, Rissling), 16:39.
Penalties-Fioretti M.j (hooking), 0:04; Brassart Cal (slashing), 3:22; Brown M.j (tripping), 4:46; Brassart Cal (boarding), 12:58; Uhrich M.j (10-minute misconduct), 15:07; Zalitach M.j (holding), 15:07; Thrower Cal (10-minute misconduct), 15:07.

3rd Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Brassart Cal (boarding), 1:48; McCarthy M.j (slashing), 4:29; Eberle M.j (delay of game), 5:34; Fioretti M.j (10-minute misconduct), 19:53.

Shots on Goal
Moose Jaw 10-12-10-32. Calgary 7-12-12-31.
Power Play Opportunities
Moose Jaw 0 / 5; Calgary 1 / 6.
Goalies
Moose Jaw, Paulic 3-13-2-2 (31 shots-28 saves). Calgary, Driedger 7-5-1-3 (32 shots-30 saves).
A-8,149
Referees-Adam Byblow (23), Matt Cassidy (93).
Linesmen-Jared Mackey (52), Michael Roberts (87).

Team West has Hitmen presence

The World U-17 Hockey Challenge will be held December 28 - January 4th, 2014 in Cape Breton, Novia Scotia.

Team West, comprised of players from Manitba and Saskatchewan has been announced with a Calgary Hitmen flavour.

Current Hitmen forward Terrell Draude along with prospect defenceman Brennan Riddle have both been named to the squad.

Draude has a goal and an assist in 10 games with the Hitmen in his rookie season while Riddle has five points (1g 4a) in 16 games with the Tisdale Trojans of the Saskatchewan AAA Midget League.

                                                              Terrell Draude Photo

Hitmen snap Broncos nine game winning streak

Radel Fazleev scored the lone goal of the shootout lifting the Calgary Hitmen to a 3-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.

The win was Calgary's first in five tries after going 0-3-0-1 while the loss ended Swift Current's season high nine game winning streak.

Kenton Helgesen forced overtime for the Hitmen scoring the tying goal with 53.4 seconds remaining.

Greg Chase with his team leading 14th goal of the season staked the Hitmen to a 1-0 lead before the Broncos struck for a pair of powerplay goals off the sticks of Graham Black and Jay Merkley.

Chris Driedger was stellar in the Hitmen net making a combined 40 saves through the shootout while Landon Bow was also strong for the Broncos stopping 35 shots through overtime and two more in the shootout.

Calgary, 11-6-1-3, will now host Moose Jaw Sunday at 6pm.

                                            Photo Credit:  Brad Watson - Cgy Hitmen

Swift Current Broncos 2 at Calgary Hitmen 3 (SO)
Friday, November 15, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Swift Current 0 2 0 0 - 2
Calgary 0 1 1 0 - 3

1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Mahon Cal (checking from behind), 4:25; Leth S.c (roughing), 9:31; Oleksyn Cal (roughing), 9:31; Roach Cal (roughing), 17:44.

2nd Period
1, Calgary, Chase 14 (Sanheim, Peterson), 1:38.
2, Swift Current, Black 14 (Gordon, Martin), 3:47 (PP).
3, Swift Current, Merkley 9 (Honka), 4:47 (PP).
Penalties-Zinkan S.c (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 2:39; Fazleev Cal (cross checking, roughing), 2:39; served by Jones Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 3:47; Chase Cal (10-minute misconduct), 3:47.

3rd Period
4, Calgary, Helgesen 3 (Rissling, Brassart), 19:06.
Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Padakin Cal (inter. on goaltender), 4:58.

Shootout - Swift Current 0 (Gordon NG, Sanvido NG, Black NG), Calgary 1 (Padakin NG, Chase NG, Fazleev G).
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 14-13-10-2-0-39. Calgary 13-8-13-3-1-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 2 / 5; Calgary 0 / 0.
Goalies-Swift Current, Bow 6-1-0-1 (37 shots-35 saves). Calgary, Driedger 5-5-1-3 (39 shots-37 saves).
A-6,364
Referees-Shaun Harris (43), Matt Kirk (4).
Linesmen-Cory Lundquist (128), Scott Sharun (103).

Ice produce Remembrance Day win in Calgary

Jaedon Descheneau (2g1a) and Tim Bozon (1g2a) had three points each as the Kootenay ICE beat the Calgary Hitmen 5-1 Monday at Scotiabank Saddledome.

For Bozon, it was his first goal in eight games since joining the ICE in a trade from Kamloops.

Calder Brooks had the lone goal for Calgary and has now scored in back-to-back games.

Wyatt Hofflin made 29 saves to pick up the victory for Kootenay while Mack Shields suffered his first loss of the season making 29 saves for Calgary.

The Hitmen, now winless in their last four games (0-3-0-1), have slipped into a scoring drought with just four goals on their last 116 shots.

The win by the ICE pulls them into a three-way tie for fourth in the Eastern Conference with Calgary and Prince Albert.

                                              Photo Credit:  Brad Watson - Cgy Hitmen

Kootenay Ice 5 at Calgary Hitmen 1
Monday, November 11, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

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

1st Period
1, Kootenay, Bozon 4 (Descheneau, Valiev), 4:54.
2, Calgary, Brooks 4 (Sanheim, Fazleev), 18:11.
Penalties-Alfaro Ktn (tripping), 9:05.

2nd Period
3, Kootenay, Valiev 1 (Zborosky, Reinhart), 8:02.
4, Kootenay, Martin 4 12:14.
5, Kootenay, Descheneau 15 (Bozon, Philp), 19:35 (PP).
Penalties-Bozon Ktn (interference), 14:25; Helgesen Cal (hooking), 18:52.

3rd Period
6, Kootenay, Descheneau 16 (Reinhart, Peel), 6:02 (PP).
Penalties-Virtanen Cal (checking from behind), 0:31; Virtanen Cal (inter. on goaltender), 4:34; Chynoweth Ktn (major-fighting), 6:07; Padakin Cal (tripping, major-fighting), 6:07; Alfaro Ktn (tripping), 8:52; Virtanen Cal (inter. on goaltender), 10:41.

Shots on Goal-Kootenay 10-14-9-33. Calgary 13-13-4-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Kootenay 2 / 6; Calgary 0 / 3.
Goalies-Kootenay, Hoflin 5-3-0-0 (30 shots-29 saves). Calgary, Shields 6-1-0-0 (33 shots-28 saves).
A-7,328
Referees-Jason Cramer (57), Colin Watt (72).
Linesmen-Aidan Henderson (78), Justin Slimm (105).

Remembrance Day Ticket Special

The Calgary Hitmen (10-5-1-3) play host to the Kootenay Ice (10-8-2-0) on Remembrance Day.

Game time is 4pm at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Past and present members of the Canadian Forces as well as all police, fire and EMS service members will receive complimentary admission to the game by presenting an identification card at the Scotiabank Saddledome box office.

Tigers edge Hitmen in shootout

Curtis Valk scored the lone goal of the shootout lifting the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 3-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen Saturday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Kenton Helgesen forced overtime for Calgary sliding a rebound shot home with 10.3 second remaining in the third period.

Calder Brooks also scored for Calgary, given credit after Hunter Shinkaruk knocked the Brooks rebound past his own goalie and in.

Shinkaruk later scored on a powerplay for Medicine Hat to square the game at one through 20 minutes.

Trevor Cox put the Tigers in front in the second period, leading to Helgesen's late heroics.

Both teams had powerplay play chances in overtime but failed to capitalize.

Photo Credit:  Janette Ahrens - Calgary Hitmen 

Medicine Hat Tigers 3 (SO) at Calgary Hitmen 2
Saturday, November 9, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

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

1st Period
1, Calgary, Brooks 3 4:36.
2, Medicine Hat, Shinkaruk 5 (Koules, Vannelli), 12:44 (PP).
Penalties-Brassart Cal (tripping), 11:00.

2nd Period
3, Medicine Hat, Cox 4 (Sanford, Owre), 10:12.
Penalties-Vannelli M.h (tripping), 0:09; Cox M.h (interference), 0:44; Staples M.h (interference), 3:52; Sanheim Cal (holding), 6:34.

3rd Period
4, Calgary, Helgesen 2 (Roach, Rissling), 19:49.
Penalties-Jones Cal (interference), 14:09.

OT Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Helgesen Cal (charging), 0:36; Bredo M.h (hooking), 3:10.

Shootout
Medicine Hat 1 (Shinkaruk NG, Valk G, Vannelli NG), Calgary 0 (Fazleev NG, Chase NG, Padakin NG).
Shots on Goal-Medicine Hat 9-10-10-2-1-32. Calgary 6-8-18-6-0-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Medicine Hat 1 / 4; Calgary 0 / 4.
Goalies-Medicine Hat, Wapple 7-1-1-0 (38 shots-36 saves). Calgary, Driedger 4-5-1-3 (31 shots-29 saves).
A-7,795
Referees-Jonathan Langille, Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Reid Anderson (53), Cory Lundquist (128).