GAME PREVIEW: Calgary at Lethbridge – 09.19.25
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (0-0-0-0) open their 31st season in the Western Hockey League tonight on the road in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes (0-0-0-0). It’s the first of a back-to-back weekend set between the two rivals. Game time in Southern Alberta is 7:00 p.m. at VisitLethbridge.com Arena. Fans can watch for free on Victory+ or listen to the broadcast on Sportsnet 960 The Fan. The Hitmen roster has undergone a major overhaul from last season’s club that finished second in the Central Division with a record of 45-17-3-3. Their 96 points were second only to Medicine Hat in the Eastern Conference and third overall behind front-running Everett.
LETHBRIDGE: Tonight marks the first of eight regular season meetings between the two clubs with a whopping four of those scheduled in Calgary’s first eight games of the season. The Hitmen and Hurricanes met eight times during the 2024-25 regular season with Calgary posting a 6-2 record, including a 3-1 mark on the road in the windy city. Ben Kindel (2g, 8a) led the way with 10 points while Oliver Tulk (4g, 5a) was next with nine. Brayden Edwards (3g, 6a) was the top performing Hurricane with nine points. Logan Wormald (3g, 5a) recorded eight. Over the last five regular seasons the Hitmen have posted a record of 7-7-1-1 in Lethbridge.
2024-25 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 29/24 in CGY: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 1…The Hitmen raced out to a 2-0 first period lead.
Oct. 19/24 in CGY: Hitmen 6 Hurricanes 1…Six different Hitmen counted goals in the victory.
Nov. 1/24 in LET: Hitmen 5 Hurricanes 3…David Adaszynski scored twice for Calgary.
Dec. 27/24 in LET: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 1…Tristen Doyle (2g, 1a) led the ‘Canes with three points.
Jan. 25/25 in LET: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 2…Calgary built a 3-0 first period lead on goals from Ben Kindel, Carson Wetsch and Chase Valliant.
Feb. 2/25 in CGY: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 3…Brayden Yager led the ‘Canes with a hat trick.
Feb. 11/25 in CGY: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 2 OT…Oliver Tulk scored the game winner 1:40 into extra time.
Mar. 15/25 in LET: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 1…Ethan Moore scored twice for Calgary while Daniel Hauser made 24 saves.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 260 LET 185 Power Plays: CGY 5-29 (17.2%) LET 5-24 (20.8%)
BEHIND THE BENCH: The Hitmen have a new coaching staff this season led by Head Coach Dustin Friesen, taking over from Paul McFarland who is now an Assistant Coach with the Edmonton Oilers. Friesen is joined by Assistants Brad Moran and Dakoka Krebs. Moran, a Hitmen standout player from 1995-2000, spent the previous seven seasons with the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks, the last six as GM and Head Coach where he won two league championships and the 2025 Centennial Cup. Krebs meanwhile gets a promotion after working in the role as Hitmen Video Coach last season. The new Hitmen Video Coach is Lukas Lomicky.
FAST FACTS: Calgary 2-3 in their last five regular season openers with their last opening night win coming in the 2022-23 season when they skated to a 2-1 victory in Swift Current. Carson Wetsch and Grayden Siepmann both scored for the Hitmen while Ethan Buenaventura made 18 saves in the triumph.
LET’S GO CAMPING: Five Hitmen from the current 27-player roster headed to NHL camps earlier this month: Kale Dach (Pittsburgh), Brandon Gorzynski (Dallas), Axel Hurtig (Calgary), Ben Kindel (Pittsburgh) and Anders Miller (Tampa Bay). So far only Dach and Miller have returned.
2025 PRE-SEASON RECAP: Calgary went 3-2 during their five-game exhibition schedule. Rookie forward Keaton Jundt led the team in scoring with five points (4g, 2a) while Landon Amrhein (2g, 2a) tallied four. Luc Trevors (2g, 1a), Ethan Moore (1g, 2a) and Hayden Schollar (1g, 2a) were all next with three points each. Sophomore Anders Miller led the goaltending department posting an 18-save shutout in his lone appearance.
DID YOU KNOW? For the first time in Hitmen franchise history the team has players from five different countries on their roster with the following breakdown: Canada (17), United States (7), Russia (1), Sweden (1), Czechia (1).
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Forward Ethan Moore is now in his fourth full season with the Hitmen and enters today with 93 career points (47g, 46a) in 194 games. Last season he scored a career-high 23 goals. Moore is one of only two overage 20-year-olds on the roster joining Axel Hurtig with each WHL team allowed a maximum of three.
ROSTER CONSTRUCTION: The Hitmen head into the opening weekend with 27 players on their roster but only 10 returnees from last season. That means there are 17 rookies on the club including forward Luc Trevors who signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement yesterday. The 19-year-old recorded 22 points (8g, 14a) in 34 games with the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks last season and cracked the opening weekend roster after coming to training camp as a free agent invite.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Last season the Hitmen picked up the second most road points in the Eastern Conference while posting a record of 19-11-2-2 away from the ‘Dome. Lethbridge meanwhile tied for the WHL’s second most home ice wins, going 25-7-2-0 at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
WHL REGULAR SEASON MILESTONES: Goaltender Anders Miller is 31 saves away from 500. The product of Anchorage, AK signed with the Hitmen on Nov. 19, 2025 after starting last season with the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Koy Funk (Upper Body, Week-to-Week), Paker Schellenberg (Lower Body, Month-to-Month).
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The Hitmen return to Calgary tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 20 for their Home Opener in the rematch with the ‘Canes. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome. Be sure to take advantage of the $6 food and drink Hitmen Happy Hour from when doors open at 6:00 p.m. up until the opening faceoff. Noise clappers will be handed out to the first fans in the building while special pre-game ceremonies will include player introductions. Fans are invited to stop by the CGY Team Store at Section 212 on the concourse to take in the jersey blowout sale featuring several Hitmen jerseys from past seasons. There will also be a post-game autograph session where two players will be at the autograph table behind Section 212.
