Despite new additions, Hitmen fall to Raiders
The three newest members of the Calgary Hitmen all made an impact in their first games playing for the home team at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Riley Stotts had a pair of assists, while fellow forward Conner Chaulk also set up a goal for the Hitmen, who lost 5-3 to the visiting Prince Albert Raiders, while Dom Schmiemann threw his weight around on defence.
“Obviously I just want to take my game to the next level,” Chaulk said of his new beginning with the Hitmen. “I’m going to be given a good opportunity here to help the team win, for sure. Our focus is to make the playoffs and there should be no other mindset in that room. Especially as a 20-year-old, I want to make it as far as I can and make an immediate impact.”
Calgary acquired the trio of players from the Swift Current Broncos last Saturday in a deal that saw forwards Matteo Gennaro and Beck Malenstyn go the other way. The Hitmen also acquired the rights to forward Josh Prokop and goaltending prospect Ethan Hein, while they also exchanged a fifthround pick for a second-round selection in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.
Cole Fonstad, Max Martin, Justin Nachbaur and Parker Kelly scored for the Raiders (11-10-5), while goalie Ian Scott made 26 saves to pick up the win.
Jakob Stukel had two goals and Jake Bean scored once for the Hitmen (7-15-4), who will travel to Red Deer to play the Rebels on Saturday (7 p.m., Sportsnet. ca/960) before returning home to host the Regina Pats the following afternoon (4 p.m., Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
“We’re just going to try to focus in on one game at a time and try to get two points each time and set ourselves up for the playoffs and have a good rest of the season,” said Stotts.
Hitmen goalie Nick Schneider finished with 24 saves.
Despite the loss, the Hitmen remain just five points behind the Lethbridge Hurricanes (11-13-1) for third place in the Central Division. They’re also only three points behind the Rebels (9-16-4), who currently hold down fourth spot, just two points behind the Hurricanes.
It didn’t take long for Chaulk to make an impact as he set up Stukel’s 11th goal of the season at 1:15 of the first period.
“We’ve built up a little chemistry,” said Chaulk of playing on a line with Stukel and Andrew Fyten. “They’re two really good players and I’m really looking forward to getting the chance to play with them.”
Stukel took a pass from Chaulk and then skated out of the corner towards the net before flipping a backhand shot into the net over Scott’s shoulder.
Exactly eight minutes later the Raiders tied things up when Fonstad cut into the slot before tucking a shot past Schneider to the far corner.
Midway through the second period, Schmiemann laid a big hit on Raiders forward Carson Miller behind the Prince Albert net. The Raiders managed to get the puck back to the point to Martin, who snapped a shot from the point through traffic and past Schneider.
Stotts made a nice pass to set up a power-play goal by Bean with 1:09 left in the second to pull the Hitmen back into a 2-2 tie.
The Raiders then took a two-goal lead thanks to a quick goal by Nachbaur 35 seconds into the third and another by Parker at 5:02.
Although the Hitmen got into some penalty trouble, Stukel showed off his speed and scored a short-handed goal at 10:37 to pull Calgary within a goal.
With Schneider on the bench for an extra attacker, the Hitmen pushed hard to try and notch the equalizer to force overtime, but they weren’t able to get any more pucks past Scott.
Montgomery then scored an empty-net goal with 1:19 left on the clock to seal the victory for the Raiders.