GAME PREVIEW: Calgary at Lethbridge | 01.30.26
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (25-12-6-1) open a stretch of five straight games on the road tonight as they put their three-game winning streak on the line in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes (14-33-0-1). Game time is 7:00 p.m. at VisitLethbridge.com Arena. Fans can watch the game for FREE on Victory+. Calgary is coming off Wednesday’s 5-2 home ice win over Edmonton. Trailing 2-1 after 40 minutes, the Hitmen rallied, getting the tying goal from Axel Hurtig with 8:12 remaining followed by the game winner from Julien Maze with 4:29 left on the clock. Andrei Molgachev and Maze would then add empty net tallies to complete the comeback. The Oil Kings outshot Calgary 34-29, but goaltender Eric Tu made 32 saves to record the victory. Lethbridge meanwhile also last played Wednesday stretching their winning streak to two games with a 5-2 home ice triumph over Saskatoon. The Hurricanes overcame a 2-0 second period deficit and received a 36 save first-star performance from Koen Cleaver to grab the two points. Five different ‘Canes accounted for the goals while Carsen Adair chipped in a pair of assists.
WHERE THEY STAND: The Hitmen sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 57 points, two points ahead of Brandon with three games in hand on the Wheat Kings. Lethbridge, at 29 points, is 10th, seven points back of both Red Deer and Regina who are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot.
LETHBRIDGE: Tonight marks the seventh of eight regular season meetings between the two clubs and the second this month. The Hitmen are 4-1-1-0 against Lethbridge and have held the ‘Canes to three goals or less in four of their six games. Calgary is led by Ethan Moore (4g, 3a), Kale Dach (2g, 5a) and the departed Brandon Gorzynski (3g, 4a) who all have seven points each in the season series. All three of the ‘Canes top point producers have been traded in Logan Wormald (2g, 5a), Luke Cozens (4g, 2a) and Shane Smith (4a). Their final meeting is not until the final weekend of the regular season when the Hitmen host Lethbridge on Saturday, Mar. 21.
2025-26 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 19/25 in LET: Hitmen 5 Hurricanes 3…The Hitmen raced out to a 2-0 first period lead.
Sept. 20/25 in CGY: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 0…Koen Cleaver made 28 saves for the shutout while Luc Cozens and Shane Smith tallied two points each.
Oct. 5/25 in CGY: Hitmen 5 Hurricanes 2…Calgary scored four unanswered goals after Lethbridge built a 1-0 lead.
Oct. 17/25 in LET: Hurricanes 7 Hitmen 6 OT…Lethbridge overcame a 6-1 second period deficit.
Dec. 6/25 in LET: Hitmen 4 Hurricanes 1…Nine different Hitmen recorded at least a point, and Aidan Hesse made 21 saves in the win.
Jan. 11/26 in CGY: Hitmen 5 Hurricanes 1…Ethan Moore scored twice for Calgary.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 191 LET 164 Power Plays: CGY 6-20 (30%) LET 2-20 (10%)
STREAKIN’: Andrei Molgachev (4g, 4a) is on a four-game goal scoring streak. Wyatt Pisarczyk (1g, 4a) is on a four-game point streak. Keaton Jundt (1g, 2a) and Kale Dach (1g, 3a) are riding three-game point streaks while Calder Hamilton (1g, 1a), Hunter Aura (2a) and Ben MacBeath (2a) have points in back-to-back games. Rylan Ng (2g, 3a) saw his three-game point streak end Wednesday against Edmonton while a two-game streak for Caine Wilke (1g, 2a) was also halted.
WHO’S NEXT? Calgary’s last 17 goals have been scored by 13 different players in Andre Molgachev (3), Julien Maze (3), Axel Hurtig, Landon Amrhein, Calder Hamilton, Caine Wilke, Kale Dach, Jack Poole, Keaton Jundt, Wyatt Pisarczyk, Blake Vanek, Ethan Moore and Rylan Ng.
HOLY MOLY: Hitmen forward Andrei Molgachev is the reigning Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week. The rookie centre notched five points (3g, 2a) in three games last week to earn the nod for the second time this season. Calgary traded up in the 2025 CHL Import Draft to select Molgachev in the first round, 28th overall. The 17-year-old is third in team scoring with 39 points (19g, 20a) in 38 games.
NHL DRAFT COUNTDOWN: NHL Central Scouting has released its midterm rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft. Three Hitmen are on the list of the top 225 North American skaters. Defenceman Ben MacBeath is #20, forward Landon Amrhein is #85 and forward Andrei Molgachev is #199.
HEADING WEST: Two Hitmen have been named to Team East for the WHL’s inaugural Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Both Defenceman Ben MacBeath and forward Landon Amrhein will play in the Wednesday, Feb. 18 contest at the home of the Vancouver Giants, the Langley Events Centre. All 23 WHL Clubs are represented in the event with each roster consisting of 22 players. NHL Central Scouting worked with the WHL to determine player selection.
TRANSACTIONS: On Jan. 21, the Hitmen recalled 16-year-old prospect Jack Poole, adding him to the roster as an affiliate player. He has played two games since becoming the 34th player to appear in at least one Hitmen game this season. The forward from North Vancouver, BC was selected by Calgary in the fourth-round of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. Poole has 24 points (15g, 9a) in 21 games with the U18 Prep North Shore Warriors of the CSSHL.
FAST FACT: Calgary has picked up points in 16 of their last 20 games, posting a record of 13-4-3-0.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEBOOK: The Hitmen power play, which has scored at least once in 12 of the last 16 games, has climbed into a tied for third place in the WHL with Prince Albert at 29.9%…The Hitmen penalty kill is in a three-way tie for fourth with Medicine Hat and Everett at 80.7%.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: The Hitmen are 12-5-4-1 on the road, including a 7-3-3-0 run in their last 13 games away from Scotiabank Saddledome. Lethbridge is 9-15-0-1 at home but have posted back-to-back wins in VisitLethbridge.com Arena over Saskatoon and Regina.
WHL REGULAR SEASON MILESTONES: Wyatt Pisarczyk is in line to play his 150th career game in the WHL tonight in Lethbridge. The 18-year-old defenceman is in his third season after joining Calgary as a second-round pick, 29th overall, in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. Ty Meunier is one point shy of 50 while Kale Dach eclipsed the 50-point mark Wednesday at home against Edmonton.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Harrison Lodewyk (Lower Body, Day-to-Day)
ALUMNI REPORT: Hitmen graduate Sean Tschigerl is playing NCAA Hockey with the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The 22-year-old centre has 12 points (5g, 7a) in 25 games. Tschigerl, who played part of six seasons with the Hitmen, is tied for 15th on Calgary’s all-time points list with Kenton Smith at 193.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The Hitmen will enjoy the weekend off before heading east to play four games in five days, beginning in Saskatoon on Tuesday, Feb. 3 (7:00 p.m.). The trip then heads to Prince Albert on Wednesday, Feb. 4 (7:00 p.m.), Brandon on Friday, Feb. 6 (7:00 p.m.) and Regina on Saturday, Feb. 7 (6:00 p.m.). Calgary is then back home on Wednesday, Feb. 11 to welcome the Swift Current Broncos to Scotiabank Saddledome in a 7:00 p.m. start.
