GAME PREVIEW: Calgary at Lethbridge – 03.15.25
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (42-15-3-3) play the first of two weekend games tonight as they visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes (41-19-2-2). Game time is 6:00 p.m. at VisitLethbridge.com Arena. The Hitmen ran their point streak to 10 games (9-0-0-1) on Wednesday with a 3-2 victory in Edmonton. Brandon Gorzynski (1g, 1a) and David Adaszynski (2a) led the Calgary attack with two points each while Hunter Aura and Carson Wetsch completed the scoring on a day where the Hitmen built leads of 2-0 and 3-1. Wetsch now has a team leading 10 game winning goals. Goaltender Daniel Hauser was named the first star making 26 saves. Lethbridge played last night dropping a 6-5 home ice overtime decision to Medicine Hat. The ‘Canes raced out to a 4-1 lead but then had to force OT when Miguel Marques scored his second of the night with 6:36 remaining. Final shots were 36-34 Lethbridge.
WHERE THEY STAND: The Hitmen are third in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 90 points, three points ahead of fourth place Lethbridge and two points behind front-running Medicine Hat. Calgary has two games in hand on the Hurricanes and two on the Tigers. Lethbridge has locked up home-ice advantage with 87 points as they sit 10 points ahead of fifth place Saskatoon.
LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the eighth and final regular season meeting between the two Central Division rivals. Calgary leads the season series 5-2 with a record of 2-1 in Lethbridge. Oliver Tulk (4g, 5a) and Ben Kindel (2g, 7a) have led the way with nine points each while Connor Hvidston (1g, 5a) is next with six. Logan Wormald (3g, 5a) and Brayden Edwards (3g, 5a) are the top performing Hurricanes with eight points each while Brayden Yager (4g, 1a) has five.
2024-25 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 29/24 in CGY: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 1…The Hitmen raced out to a 2-0 first period lead.
Oct. 19/24 in CGY: Hitmen 6 Hurricanes 1…Six different Hitmen counted goals in the victory.
Nov. 1/24 in LET: Hitmen 5 Hurricanes 3…David Adaszynski scored twice for Calgary.
Dec. 27/24 in LET: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 1…Tristen Doyle (2g, 1a) led the ‘Canes with three points.
Jan. 25/25 in LET: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 2…Calgary built a 3-0 first period lead on goals from Ben Kindel, Carson Wetsch and Chase Valliant.
Feb. 2/25 in CGY: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 3…Brayden Yager led the ‘Canes with a hat trick.
Feb. 11/25 in CGY: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 2 OT…Oliver Tulk scored the game winner 1:40 into extra time.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 234 LET 160 Power Plays: CGY 5-28 (17.9%) LET 4-22 (18.2%)
STREAKS: Sawyer Mynio (2g, 5a) is riding a four-game point streak…Daniel Hauser has won his last eight starts…Tanner Howe (2g, 6a) saw his three-game point streak end Wednesday in Edmonton.
HAUSER’S HISTORIC CLIMB: Daniel Hauser picked up career victory 121 on Wednesday in Edmonton taking over sole possession of second place on the WHL’s all-time regular season wins list ahead of Tyson Sexsmith and Corey Hirsch. Former Saskatoon Blade Nolan Maier holds the record with 122.
FAST FACTS: For the third week in a row Calgary remains eighth in this week’s CHL-Top 10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott…The Hitmen are 14-9-1-3 against the Central Division…Calgary is +81 in goals for and against while Lethbridge is +36…As a team Calgary is 56.3% on draws this season…Ben Kindel three shots shy of 200. He eclipsed 300 faceoff wins on Wednesday in Edmonton…The Hitmen power play is 17th in the WHL at 21.3% while the penalty kill is eighth at 78.3%.
COUNTDOWN CLOCK: Counting today the Hitmen have five games remaining on their regular season schedule against the following opponents: LET (1), EDM (1), RD (2), MH (1). Those five games will be played over a span of nine days.
40 WIN CLUB: Calgary’s 42 wins is tied for the 11th most in franchise history and hasn’t been accomplished since the 2015-16 season when they also won 42 times but back when the schedule was 72 games.
HAUSER MAKES HISTORY: On Mar. 7 against Swift Current, Daniel Hauser cemented his name in the Hitmen record books when his shutout streak ended at 245 minutes and 25 seconds. He had broken Justin Pogge’s 2006 mark of 228:47 the previous game and in the process also set a new franchise with four straight shutouts, which also tied the WHL record. The previous club record of three straight shutouts was shared by Justin Pogge and Martin Jones
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISION: The Hitmen are 17-11-2-2 on the road and riding a six-game point streak (5-0-0-1) away from Scotiabank Saddledome. Lethbridge is 24-6-2-0 on home ice. Their 50 points at VisitLethbridge.com Arena are the third most in the WHL trailing only Calgary (52) and Everett (51).
WHL LEADERBOARD: Daniel Hauser is tied for second in the WHL with a 2.54 goals against average while his .913 save percentage is tied for third and his five shutouts top the league…The Hitmen have two of the WHL’s Top-6 scorers. Ben Kindel is sixth with 96 points while Oliver Tulk is fifth with 98.
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH: Tanner Howe is in line to play his 250th career regular season game tonight in Lethbridge…Ben Kindel needs one goal to each 50… Carter Yakemchuk (179) is two points behind Michael Stone (181) for third place all-time in franchise scoring by a defenceman…David Adaszynski is two points away from 100 while Sawyer Mynio needs three assists to reach the century mark.
PLAYOFF TICKETS: The Hitmen are heading to the WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien and have clinched home ice advantage in Round 1. Tickets for the first two games of their best-of-seven opening round series at Scotiabank Saddledome are on sale now at HitmenHockey.com/Tickets. Game 1 is Friday, Mar. 28 at 7:00 p.m. with Game 2 on Sunday, Mar. 30 at 2:00 p.m. Calgary’s opponent is yet to be determined.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Oliver Tulk (Lower Body, Day-to-Day).
EVERY CHILD MATTERS JERSEY AUCTION: Fans can bid on the Every Child Matters game worn and game issued jerseys worn last Sunday against Brandon. Designed by Indigenous artists, the sweaters are being auctioned online at elevateauctions.com until Monday, Mar. 17 at 8:00 p.m. MT. Net proceeds will benefit youth programming on Siksika Nation.
ALUMNI HARDWARE: Two former Calgary Hitmen forwards have claimed Canada West Awards this season in CIS Men’s Hockey. Sean Tschigerl of the Alberta Golden Bears was named Rookie of the Year while teammate Josh Prokop was handed the UBC Hockey Alumni Trophy for Sportsmanship and Ability.
UPCOMING GAMES: Calgary returns home tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 16 to face Edmonton in a 2:00 p.m. start at Scotiabank Saddledome. It’s another Sunday Funday presented by Brookfield Residential. In addition to $3 sips and snacks all game long, look for family fun entertainment on the west concourse plus $6 Hitmen Happy Hour food and drink deals throughout the day followed by a post-game family skate.
