GAME PREVIEW: Calgary vs Brandon | 03.11.26
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (35-18-8-1) host the Brandon Wheat Kings (37-24-1-0) tonight in a potential WHL Playoff preview. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome with the Hitmen to wear their black and pink third jersey, featuring the original “Starburst” logo for the final time this regular season. 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. Fans can also watch the game for FREE on Victory+ or listen on Sportsnet 960 The Fan. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday’s thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Regina Pats. Trailing 3-0 after 40 minutes, the Hitmen struck for a trio of goals in the final 8 minutes and 55 seconds to force overtime. It was Blake Vanek who scored the game typing goal with 1:43 remaining. In OT, Calgary won the opening faceoff and held the puck until Julien Maze buried the winner on a doorstep deflection 62 seconds in. Brandon meanwhile has been idle since Saturday night when they posted a 5-3 home ice win over Swift Current. Luke Mistelbacher led the charge with three points (1g, 2a) on a night where shots finished 30-30.
WHERE THEY STAND: Calgary is fourth in the Eastern Conference at 79 points, four points up on fifth place Brandon (75) and eight points behind third place Edmonton (87).
BRANDON: Tonight marks the fourth and final regular season meeting between the two clubs. Calgary has picked up five of a possible six points with a record of 2-0-1-0. Kale Dach (1g, 2a), Andrei Molgachev (1g, 2a), Caine Wilke (1g, 2a) and Ben MacBeath (3a) lead the Hitmen with three points each. Jaxon Jacobson (3g, 1a) has been the top performing Wheat King with four points while Luke Mistelbacher (1g, 2a) is next with three. The Hitmen are 5-2-2-0 in their last eight home games against Brandon.
2025-26 SERIES RECAP
Nov. 2/25 in BDN: Hitmen 3 Wheat Kings 1…Calgary scored once in every period getting a goal and assist each from Kale Dach and Brandon Gorzynski.
Dec. 19/25 in CGY: Wheat Kings 3 Hitmen 2 OT…Calgary erased a 2-0 deficit before Joby Baumuller scored the winner 2:25 into extra time.
Feb. 6/26 at BDN: Hitmen 5 Wheat Kings 4…The Hitmen erased a 4-1 third period deficit.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 118 BDN 67 Power Plays: CGY 5-10 (50%) BDN 2-6 (33.3%)
STREAKIN’: Julien Maze (4g, 7a) is on a season high eight-game point streak. His career best is nine games set last season with Everett from Oct. 11 – Nov.11, 2024. Hunter Aura (2a) has points in back-to-back games.
DOWN THE STRETCH: Counting tonight, the Hitmen play six games in 12 days to close out their 68-game regular season schedule. Of those six, three are on the road and three at home. They will play Edmonton three times with single dates against BDN, RD and LET.
FAST FACTS: Calgary has outshot their opponents in five straight games and in eight of the last nine contests. The Hitmen have clinched a berth in the WHL Playoffs for the second season in a row. The Hitmen are 14-6-3-0 against the East Division. Ethan Moore’s (71) goal Sunday against Regina moved him past Carter Yakemchuk (70) and into sole possession of 21st place on the club’s all-time regular season goal scoring list. Riley Fiddler-Schultz is 20th with 77 goals.
THE RACE IS ON: Julien Maze (73) leads Kale Dach (71) by two points for the team scoring title. The last time a Hitmen season ended with a tie atop the team scoring race was in the 2019/20 season when both Mark Kastelic (38g, 30a) and Riley Stotts (25g, 43a) finished with 68 points each.
35 WIN CLUB: Sunday’s 4-3 overtime win against Regina was Calgary’s 35th victory of the season. It’s the second straight season they have hit that mark and the 18th time in franchise history.
BOWLING WITH THE HITMEN: Tomorrow, Thursday, Mar. 12, fans can take to the lanes with the Calgary Hitmen. The one night only event runs from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $40 which not only includes two hours of bowling but also a FREE ticket to the Hitmen Fan Appreciate Game and regular season finale Saturday, Mar. 21 against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. Game time is 6:00 p.m. Proceeds from Bowling with the Hitmen benefit the Calgary Hitmen Foundation. Secure your spot by booking now on the Hitmen website; https://chl.ca/whl-hitmen/hitmen-bowling/
HITMEN HOCKEY CARDS: Fans can purchase a complete set of the 2025/26 Calgary Hitmen Hockey Cards for just $10 cash. Cards are available on the concourse at the Hitmen Booster Club Table behind Section 211.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEBOOK: The Hitmen power play, which has scored in 15 of the last 18 games, is third in the WHL at 31.4%. Calgary’s penalty kill, which has killed five straight, is fifth at 79.9%.
HOME & AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 18-9-4-0 at home, with points in 14 of the last 16 games (12-2-3-0) at the ‘Dome. Brandon is 18-11 on the road having won three in a row in enemy buildings with two of those victories in Swift Current and one in Moose Jaw.
SHOT CLOCK: Harrison Lodewyk (99) is one shot shy of 100. Landon Amrhein (101) reached the century mark on Friday against Prince Albert. Julien Maze is the club leader with 176 shots on goal.
WHL REGULAR SEASON MILESTONES: Julien Maze needs one goal to reach 50. Hunter Aura is two assists shy of 50.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Rylan Ng (Upper Body, TBD).
HITMEN VS: BDN (2-0-1-0), EDM (4-1), EVT (1-0), KAM (0-1), KEL (0-1), LET (4-2-1-0), MH (1-5-1-1), MJ (1-3), PEN (0-0-1-0), POR (0-1), PA (3-1), PG (1-0), RD (6-1), REG (3-0-1-0), SAS (2-1-1-0), SEA (1-0), SPO (1-0), SC (3-1), TC (1-0), VAN (1-0), VIC (0-0-1-0), WEN (0-0).
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: Calgary plays a pair of games this coming weekend. The first sees the Hitmen head to Red Deer on Saturday, Mar. 14 for a 6:00 p.m. start. It’s then back home to host Edmonton on Sunday, Mar. 15 in a 5:00 p.m. puck drop at Scotiabank Saddledome. Not only is it Sunday Funday presented by Brookfield Residential where fans can enjoy $6 food and drink deals all game long, $3 sips and snacks, Face Painting and the Fun Zone on the West Concourse but it’s also the Real Canadian Superstore ‘Design a Jersey’ game. Hitmen players will wear the specially designed sweaters as created by one lucky fan. Please note due to the later start time there will be no post-game family skate.
