GAME ONE PREVIEW: CALGARY AT RED DEER
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen open the 2023 Western Hockey League Playoffs presented by Nutrien tonight on the road in Red Deer against the Rebels. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Peavey Mart Centrium. After missing the post-season last year, Calgary is making their 21st playoff appearance in franchise history. They have captured the Ed Chynoweth Cup twice as WHL Champions in 1999 and again in 2010. The Hitmen enter as the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference after posting a regular season record of 31-29-5-3 to finish with 70 points. The Rebels are the #2 seed in the conference after winning the Central Division with a record of 43-19-3-3, good for 92 points.
2023 WHL Playoffs: Round 1 Schedule:
The Hitmen and Rebels opening round playoff series is a 2-2-1-1-1 format. Red Deer has home-ice advantage.
| Game | Visitor | Home | Date | Time | |
| 1 | Calgary | @ | Red Deer | Friday, March 31 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 2 | Calgary | @ | Red Deer | Saturday, April 1 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 3 | Red Deer | @ | Calgary | Monday, April 3 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 4 | Red Deer | @ | Calgary | Wednesday, April 5 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 5 * | Calgary | @ | Red Deer | Friday, April 7 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 6 * | Red Deer | @ | Calgary | Sunday, April 9 | 2:00 p.m. |
| 7 * | Calgary | @ | Red Deer | Tuesday, April 11 | 7:00 p.m. |
*If necessary
RED DEER: The Hitmen and Rebels met eight time during the regular season. Calgary went 2-4-2-0 against their Alberta rivals with three of the games decided in overtime. Sean Tschigerl (4g, 2a), Jacob Wright (2g, 4a) and Oliver Tulk (1g, 5a) were the top performers for Calgary with six points each. Riley Fiddler-Schultz (1g, 4a) and Carter Yakemchuk (1g, 4a) were next with five. Kai Uchacz (9g, 1a) and Jayden Grubbe (3g, 7a) led the way for the Rebels with 10 points. Jace Isley (4g, 4a), Kalan Lind (2g, 6a) and Christoffer Sedoff (8a) all notched eight. Calgary is 6-5-3-0 in their last 14 visits to Red Deer.
2022-23 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 8/22 in RD: RD 3 CGY 2 OT…Jace Isley scored twice including the winner on a penalty shot.
Oct. 19/22 in RD: RD 5 CGY 2…Ben King led the Rebels with three points (2g, 1a).
Nov. 27/22 in CGY: RD 3 CGY 2 OT…Hunter Mayo scored the winner on a power play 3:51 into extra time.
Dec. 29/22 in RD: RD 4 CGY 1…Kai Uchacz notched a hat-trick for the Rebels.
Jan. 1/23 in CGY: RD 5 CGY 3…The Rebels broke a 3-3 tie with 3:36 to go.
Jan. 22/23 in CGY: CGY 4 RD 2…Brayden Peters made 32 saves while Sean Tschigerl notched a goal and an assist.
Mar. 10/23 in RD: CGY 4 RD 3 OT…Sean Tschigerl (2g, 1a) and Riley Fiddler-Schultz (1g, 2a) notched three points each.
Mar. 11/23 in CGY: RD 9 CGY 0…Jhett Larson scored a hat-trick for the Rebels.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 257 RD 277 Power Plays: CGY 4-37 (10.8%) RD 11-38 (28.9%)
POST-SEASON EXPERIENCE: The Hitmen have a combined 21 games of WHL playoff experience. Riley Fiddler-Schultz leads the way with 11 games. Jacob Wright has six and Sean Tschigerl four.
RETURN TO THE DANCE: Calgary is making their first playoff appearance since 2019 when they upset Lethbridge in the opening round then fell to Edmonton in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final. It was on this day in 2019 when Calgary beat Lethbridge 6-5 to take a 3-2 series lead. Hitmen captain Mark Kastelic paved the way with two goals and an assist.
PLAYOFF DATA: This is the seventh time in league history the Hitmen and Rebels will square off in a playoff series. Calgary has won twice.
1999: CGY 4 RD 0 – Hitmen were led by Pavel Brendl (10pts), Brad Moran (8pts) and Alexandre Fomichev (2.22 GAA)
2001: RD 4 CGY 2 – Rebels were led by Martin Erat (10pts), Justin Mapletoft (9pts) and Shane Bendera (1.98 GAA)
2003: RD 4 CGY 1 – Rebels were led by Ryley Layden (7pts), Boyd Gordon (6pts) and Cam Ward (1.80 GAA)
2004: RD 4 CGY 3 – Rebels were led by Justin Taylor (8pts), Joel Henitiuk (6pts) and Cam Ward (1.58 GAA)
2013: CGY 4 RD 1 – Hitmen were led by Victor Rask (6pts), Cody Sylvester (4pts) and Chris Driedger (1.54 GAA)
2016: RD 4 CGY 1 – Rebels were led by Adam Helewka (7pts), Jake DeBrusk (5pts) and Trevor Martin (2.21 GAA)
PLAYOFF RECORD: Calgary has a lifetime playoff record of 135-112 including a 24-21 mark all-time in Game 1’s. The Hitmen have competed in 45 series prior to this one. They have won 27 and lost 18. Calgary is 30-23 all-time in post-season overtime games.
FAST FACTS: Calgary went 7-3-0-1 in their last 11 games to clinch a playoff berth…The Hitmen were 18-14-2-0 on the road this season…Calgary finished with the WHL’s top rated penalty kill at 83.7% accomplishing that feat for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign…Riley Fiddler-Schultz is the Central Division Humanitarian of the Year and a finalist for the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy. He was also named a Central Division first-team all-star while teammate Carter Yakemchuk was named a Central Division second-team all-star…The Hitmen have added 2021 third-round pick Chase Valliant to their playoff roster. He had 42 points in 27 games for the U18 Prep Yale Hockey Academy while adding 11 points (3g, 8a) in four playoff games. He also appeared in 10 games (1g, 2a) for the Hitmen this season…Defenceman Keagan Slaney will miss the first two games of the series to serve the remainder of a three-game WHL imposed suspension for charging assessed on March 27 in Edmonton.
