GAME ONE RECAP: Hitmen Win In Triple OT Making For the Second Longest Game in Hitmen History
Calgary, AB – The 2026 WHL Playoffs opened in historic fashion on Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, with the Calgary Hitmen delivering a thrilling triple overtime victory in game one of their first-round series with the Brandon Wheat Kings.
After a tightly contested and scoreless 60 minutes of regulation, the game extended to a third extra frame to determine the winner. Goaltender Eric Tu was outstanding in his first career playoff start, turning aside 49 shots to record the shutout. His performance included a crucial stop on a penalty shot in the second overtime period, preserving the deadlock.
ERIC TU WITH THE BIG SAVE ON A PENALTY SHOT IN DOUBLE OT!! 😮@WHLHitmen | #WHLPlayoffs
📺| @victoryplustv
🔗| https://t.co/7aGiXyvkDr pic.twitter.com/3YvJsL2bLU— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 28, 2026
The breakthrough finally came at the 5:11 mark of the third overtime period, when Ethan Moore scored the game winning goal off a feed from Caine Wilke. The game marks the second longest game in Hitmen history, with the record belonging to the game four league final between Calgary and Kamloops on May 5, 1999. Shots finished 65-49 in favour of the Hitmen.
🎥 HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT 🎥
Triple OT? No MOORE! 🚨#WHLHoN | @WHLHitmen | #FeedingtheFuture | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/07mIqHm7b7
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 28, 2026
Calgary returns to the Scotiabank Saddledome to host the Brandon Wheat Kings for Game two on Sunday, March 29th. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at HitmenHockey.com/Tickets.
SERIES SCHEDULE: The Hitmen have home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference Quarter Final with the Best-of-Seven Round 1 series a 2-3-2 format.
| Game 2 | Sunday, March 29 | 7:00 p.m. | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary | |
| Game 3 | Tuesday, March 31 | 6:00 p.m. | Tundra Oil & Gas Place, Virden | |
| Game 4 | Thursday, April 2 | 6:00 p.m. | Tundra Oil & Gas Place, Virden | |
| Game 5* | Friday, April 3 | 6:30 p.m. | Tundra Oil & Gas Place, Virden | |
| Game 6* | Sunday, April 5 | 5:00 p.m. | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary | |
| Game 7* | Tuesday, April 7 | 7:00 p.m. | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary | |
*Indicates if necessary
