Valuable points up for grabs as Hitmen head south of border
Lucas Cullen is warming up the vocal cords. Now he needs to choose a song. As the Calgary Hitmen prepare to head out on a season-longest six-game road trip into the U.S., the rookie winger is preparing for some of the hijinks.
“I know one thing that might happen is Rookie Idol,” Cullen said.
“It’s where all the rookies have to pick a song and sing it to the best of your ability.”
The 5-foot-6, 157-pounder has never been on an extended tour like this one that begins Friday in Seattle (8:35 p.m., Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
“This is my first experience with something like this, a 10- or 11-day trip,” Cullen said. “So it’ll be something new but I’m looking forward to it for sure.
“It’s a fun thing for me. Just being with the team for that many days, it’s nice. All the guys come together a bit more. By the end of it we might be getting on each other’s nerves a little bit.”
The Hitmen will also visit Portland, Everett, Tri-City and Spokane before stopping off in Cranbrook on the way home.
The club won’t play at the Dome until Nov. 22 when they host the Red Deer Rebels.
The Hitmen (6-5-2) have played the fewest games in the league and forward Matteo Gennaro said an exclusively weekend-only schedule has made it tough to get on a roll.
“I don’t think we’ve had any weekday games yet,” Gennaro said. “So it’s challenging to keep a streak going when you win a game, and when you’re losing you don’t really have a chance to redeem yourself.
“It’s hard when you’re just practising and you’re not in many game situations.
“But our schedule is about to get better. We’re heading out on our U.S. road trip so I think it’ll get better for us.”
The Hitmen are coming off Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos.
Winger Jordy Stallard, who is tied with Gennaro for the team scoring lead with 10 points apiece, is in the minority. He loves road trips.
“I know a lot of guys aren’t fond of them,” Stallard said. “But it’s a good time to bond and have some fun with the guys.
“We’ll watch lots of movies, hang out in (hotel) rooms, play some pranks. “It can’t get much better.” A long, cramped bus ride to the west coast? What’s not to like?
“We leave for Abbotsford in the morning,” Stallard said. “It’s probably a 10-hour bus ride, maybe even more.
“But I have no problem with that. I’ll probably sleep a little bit, play a couple card games, watch some movies.”
Movie selection is critical. That responsibility likely falls in the lap of captain Micheal Zipp.
“Probably Zipper,” Stallard said. “Some would say he has OK taste.
“But he’s picked some questionable movies in the past. Overall, I guess he’s pretty good.”
This six pack of road games could make or break the team’s season. Stallard is banking on the former. “We’re starting to come together as a team and it’s starting to show on the ice,” Stallard said.
“And I think that’s something a road trip can help with even more.
“There’s lots of team bonding and lots of back-to-back games so it’ll be good.
“We obviously want to go 6-0. It’s huge.
“These (first five) are non-divisional games so it’s important to get those points.”