2023-24 Calgary Hitmen Awards
The Calgary Hitmen Team Awards were held on Saturday, March 23 preceding the Hitmen’s last game of the Regular Season. Sponsors included ENMAX, RAM and Ed Williams Men’s Wear. See award recipients below.
Player of the Year Presented by Ed Williams Men’s Wear – Oliver Tulk
Previous winners include Ryan Getzlaf and Martin Jones. In his third season with the Calgary Hitmen, Oliver Tulk has come to define himself as a dynamic two-way centre. This player is the highest scoring Hitmen player since Mark Kastelic who notched 38 in the 2019-20. This forward has established himself a go to in all situations, leading the team in in points, power play goals, shorthanded goals and game winning goals.
Fan Favourite Award – Keets Fawcett
Undrafted and signed by the Hitmen in the spring of 2023, Keets Fawcett came to the Hitmen this season, making the team out of training camp. It has been an impressive season for the rookie, appearing in 62 games and registering over 40 points. Not only did his offensive prowess and gritty attitude catch the eye of Hitmen fans but also NHL scouts, finding himself on the NHL central scouting’s mid-term ranking coming in at number 163. The rookie has remained in the top 10 amongst rookies in scoring in the league throughout the entire season.
Part of a strong core rookie group, the future for the forward is an exciting one.
Scholastic Player of the Year – Chase Valliant
Balancing hockey and education is a must for Hitmen players. Chase Valliant completed the majority of his high school core course online through his home school in British Columbia. To do so while playing hockey, Valliant showed a high level of responsibility, discipline and time management – completing all his classes, finishing with a core subject of 85%.
Player’s Choice presented by RAM – Ethan Buenaventura
This award is voted on by the players themselves and goes to the recipient who personifies what it means to be a Hitmen player through commitment to their teammates and the game itself. This player provided veteran presence game over game and led by example on and off the ice. A good teammate, a leader in the community, this player puts the team first.
3 Star Selection Award – Oliver Tulk
This award is voted on by the media, who we would like to thank for their continuing coverage of the Western Hockey League and the Calgary Hitmen. It includes ballets cast for all regular season games. Oliver Tulk was named the most amongst the 3 stars throughout the season, leading the team in trips to the top of the podium as the game’s first star.
Rookie of the Year – Ben Kindel
Originally selected by Calgary in the second round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Ben Kindel made the team out of training camp as a 16 year old rookie. Kindel wasted no time scoring his first WHL in the first game of the season. He would go on to lead the hitmen in assists and register 13 multi point performances including two 4 point performances. Remaining in top 5 in the league in rookie scoring throughout season, he closes out the year with 15 goals, and a team leading 45 assists for 60 points rookie season.
Coaches Award – Ethan Buenaventura
This award is based on leadership, attitude, effort and performance. Ethan Buenaventura has been consistent and durable this season in net, and was an instrumental part of the Hitmen’s on ice successes. He has emerged as a leader in the room, stepping up as a veteran presence. Buenaventura continually works on his game and has improved consistently throughout his WHL career.
Appearing in over 50 games this season, the goaltender hit multiple milestones including 100 career games player, 6,000 career minutes and recorded his first WHL shutout.
Top Defenceman – Carter Yakemchuk
Carter Yakemchuk made franchise history this season, establishing a new record for most goals in a single season by a Hitmen defenceman. He snapped the previous mark of 24 set by previous defenceman of the year recipient Jake Bean. In his third season with the club, the player’s offensive talent put him second in team points, averaging a point per game with 30 goals and 41 assist for 71 points. Not only does he lead his team in this regard but he takes home most goals by a defenceman in the WHL. Projected to go in the first round of the NHL draft, not only is the future bright for this defenceman with the Calgary hitmen, but well beyond.
Leading Scorer – Oliver Tulk
Oliver Tulk recorded a new WHL career high in goals and assists recording 40 goals and 40 assists for 80 points in 66 games. Season highlights include 18 multi point games , including two back to back four point performances. He recorded his second career hat trick on March 6th against the Brandon Wheat scoring all three goals including the over time winner.The forward finishes the season with a +7 rating, 13 power plays and 7 game winning markers.
Humanitarian Award presented by ENMAX – Carson Wetsch and Ethan Buenaventura
The Calgary Hitmen take great pride in their commitment to the community, and encourage our players and staff to use our platform to give back. This year our partners from ENMAX helped bolster our reach through Community Moments powered by ENMAX.
The winner of this year’s award could not be boiled down to just one. Carson Wetsch took the initiative to be present in the community where he could. Taking after players like Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Ryan Getzlaf, Wetsch created a program called Carson’s Crew which invited various group to games through the organization Kids Up Front. The forward also recently became a Hockey Gives Blood Ambassor with the goal of educating the hockey community about the importance of blood donation.
Ethan Buenaventura was always the first to step up to volunteer for community driven initiatives, showing the way for younger players. Playing a role in the Hitmen’s annual Every Child Matters game, this player was one of two player ambassadors to work behind the scenes as the game came to fruition. From hanging Christmas lights and the Alberta Children’s Hospital, to skating with HEROs hockey, this player understands the importance of giving back.