GAME PREVIEW: Calgary vs Brandon – 03.09.25
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (39-15-3-3) wrap up a three-game homestand this afternoon as they welcome the Brandon Wheat Kings (33-21-4-3) to Scotiabank Saddledome. It’s a 2:00 p.m. start in the 5th annual Every Child Matters game presented by the Hitmen and Siksika Health Services in partnership with: Siksika Family Services, YMCA, CDN Controls, Big4 and West Jet. The game is part of a much larger movement of the same name and is a recognition and commitment to action to ensure all children know their importance, and to honour those who attended Residential Schools in Canada, their families, and communities. Together, the Hitmen and Siksika Health Services are working to address stereotypes and racism by advancing inclusion in our communities through the promotion of Indigenous culture, language and history. Special guest Phyllis Webstad, founder of the Orange Shirt Society, will be in attendance while the Hitmen will wear a special Every Child Matters jersey, up for bid at elevateauctions.com until Monday, Mar. 17 at 8:00 p.m. MT. Net proceeds will benefit youth programming on Siksika Nation. Today’s game can be heard in Blackfoot on Nation Station while on the concourse fans can find teachings of Blackfoot culture and traditional Blackfoot cuisine. In game presentation will include traditional Indigenous dancers as well as special video content.
LAST GAME RECAP: The Hitmen are coming off Friday’s 6-2 home ice win over Swift Current on a night where Oliver Tulk (2g, 1a) led the charge with three points while Tanner Howe (2a), Ben Kindel (1g, 1a), Sawyer Mynio (2a) and Carter Yakemchuk (2a) also had multi-point performances. Brandon also played on Friday, dropping a 3-1 decision in Lethbridge. Outshot 34-24, the Wheat Kings received their lone goal from Caleb Hadland.
WHERE THEY STAND: The Hitmen are third in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 86 points, two points ahead of fourth place Lethbridge and four points behind front-running Medicine Hat. Calgary has two games in hand on the Hurricanes and three on the Tigers. Both the ‘Canes and Tigers are idle today. Brandon at 73 points is tied with Saskatoon for fifth in the conference but only one point behind Prince Albert for the East Division lead and second seed.
BRANDON: Today marks the fourth and final regular season meeting between the two clubs. Calgary is 2-0-1-0 against the Wheat Kings. Ben Kindel (5g, 2a) leads Calgary with seven points in the season series. Oliver Tulk (6a) has six. Luke Shipley (3g) and Marcus Nguyen (1g, 2a) have been the top performing Wheat Kings with three points each.
2024-25 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 26/24 in BDN: Wheat Kings 4 Hitmen 3 OT…Brandon overcame a trio of one goal deficits.
Jan. 12/25 in CGY: Hitmen 4 Wheat Kings 2…Carson Wetsch scored twice helping the Hitmen build leads of 1-0 and 3-1.
Feb. 21/25 in BDN: Hitmen 5 Wheat Kings 0…Daniel Hauser posted a 28 save shutout.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 126 BDN 84 Power Plays: CGY 5-13 (38.4%) BDN 1-8 (12.5%)
STREAKS: Kalem Parker (4a) is on a four-game point streak…Daniel Hauser has won his last six starts…Ben Kindel (1g, 5a), Tanner Howe (1g, 4a), Sawyer Mynio (2g, 3a), Oliver Tulk (2g, 3a) and Alex Hurtig (1g, 1a) all have points in back-to-back games.
40 WIN CLUB: Friday’s win over Swift Current pushed Calgary to their 40th victory of the season. It’s the first time since the 2015-16 campaign the Hitmen have reached that lofty total and the 13th time in club history.
HAUSER MAKES HISTORY: Friday 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 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 24-4-1-1 on home ice and riding a six-game winning streak at Scotiabank Saddledome. Their 48 home points are tied with Medicine Hat for second most in the WHL. Brandon is 17-13-0-1 on the road. Today marks the end of their five-game in nine days Alberta road trip with the Wheaties 1-3 on the journey so far.
HAUSER’S HISTORIC CLIMB: Daniel Hauser picked up career victory 119 on Friday against the Broncos pulling him into a tie with former Brandon Wheat King and Swift Current Bronco Jordan Papirny for fourth place on the WHL’s all-time regular season wins list. Hauser is one win behind Tyson Sexsmith and Corey Hirsch who share second place at 120. Nolan Maier leads the way with 122.
FAST FACTS: Calgary remains eighth in this week’s CHL-Top 10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott…The Hitmen are 18-5-1-0 against the East Division…Calgary is +77 in goals for and against while Brandon is +32…Connor Hvidston is one faceoff win shy of 400 this season…Oliver Tulk needs three shots to reach 200…Sawyer Mynio recorded a career-high 12 shots on goal Friday against Swift Current.
WHL LEADERBOARD: Daniel Hauser is second in the WHL with a 2.60 goals against average while his .912 save percentage is tied for second 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. Tulk has notched the most points in a Hitmen season since Brandon Kozun tallied 107 in the 2009-10 campaign.
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH: Ben Kindel needs one goal to each 50…Friday against Swift Current, Oliver Tulk is moved into fifth place all-time in franchise scoring with 257 points, one ahead of Kris Beech (256). Brandon Kozun is fourth with 270. Also on Friday, Tulk took over fifth place on the clubs’ all-time goal scoring list with 111, passing Brandon Segal (110). Boris Protsenko is fourth with 121. Carter Yakemchuk (179) is two points behind Michael Stone (181) for third place all-time in franchise scoring by a defenceman…David Adaszynski is four points away from 100.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Lukas Hansen (Lower Body, Day-to-Day).
JERSEY OFF OUR BACK AUCTION CLOSES TODAY: In celebration of the Calgary Hitmen’s 30th Anniversary Season, the Hitmen are holding a “Jersey Off Our Back” auction. Each winning bidder will receive:
- Two (2) TELUS Club tickets to the final Hitmen home game of the regular season on Sunday, Mar 23 at 5:00PM vs Medicine Hat Tigers.
- A game-worn Calgary Hitmen black jersey, worn by the player in which the fan bids on during the 2024-2025 regular season.
- A post-game on-ice experience with the player, including a personalized autograph of the jersey purchased and commemorative photograph (on-ice experience limited to the winning bidder and one (1) guest).
Proceeds from this jersey auction will benefit the Calgary Hitmen Foundation with the auction to close TONIGHT at 8:00 p.m. MT at elevateauctions.com
UPCOMING GAMES: Calgary hit the road for a pair of games this coming week with stops in Edmonton on Wednesday, Mar. 12 at 11:00 a.m. and Lethbridge on Friday, Mar. 15 at 7:00 p.m. It’s then back home on Sunday, Mar. 14 when the Hitmen host Edmonton at 2:00 p.m. in another Sunday Funday presented by Brookfield Residential.
