GAME PREVIEW: Calgary vs Edmonton | 01.28.26
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (24-12-6-1) will look to extend their winning streak to three games tonight as they close a two-game homestand against the Edmonton Oil Kings (31-9-3-2). Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome where Calgary will wear their black and pick jerseys featuring the original Hitmen ‘Starburst” logo. Fans are invited to take advantage of the $6 food and drink Hitmen Happy Hour from when doors open at 6:00 p.m. until the opening face-off. Calgary is coming off Saturday’s 6-3 triumph over Regina. Four Hitmen recorded multi-point efforts including Andrei Molgachev who led the way with a goal and two assists while rookie forward prospect Jack Poole scored his first-career WHL goal in just his second game. Calgary was outshot 43-40 but never trailed with goaltender Eric Tu making a season-high 40 saves. Edmonton meanwhile last played on Sunday, posting a 5-1 home ice win over Saskatoon. The Oil Kings fired 39 shots on goal with Canadian World Junior defenceman Ethan MacKenzie leading the charge scoring twice and adding an assist.
WHERE THEY STAND: The Hitmen sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 55 points, two points ahead of Brandon with three games in hand on the Wheat Kings. Edmonton, at 67 points, is third, five points back of second place Medicine Hat but 12 points ahead of the Hitmen.
EDMONTON: Tonight marks just the third eight regular season meetings between the two Central Division rivals and their first in over three months. Calgary leads the season series 2-0 and has outscored the Oil Kings by a combined 9-5. Ethan Moore leads the charge with four points (2g, 2a) while Wyatt Pisarczyk (3a) is next with three. Andrew O’Neill (1g, 1a) and the recently traded Joe Iginla (1g, 1a) have been the top performers for the Oil Kings with two points each. Their next head-to-head meeting is in just over two weeks when the Oil Kings make a return visit to the ‘Dome on Friday, Feb. 13.
2025-26 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 27/25 in CGY: Hitmen 6 Oil Kings 3…Six different Hitmen scored in the win with points from nine different players.
Oct. 26/25 in EDM: Hitmen 3 Oil Kings 2…Brandon Gorzynski scored twice for Calgary.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 61 EDM 54 Power Plays: CGY 1-10 (10%) EDM 0-6 (0%)
STREAKIN’: Andrei Molgachev (3g, 3a) and Rylan Ng (2g, 3a) are both on four-game point streaks. Wyatt Pisarczyk (1g, 3a) is on a three-game point streak. Calder Hamilton (1g, 1a), Keaton Jundt (1g, 1a), Kale Dach (1g, 1a) and Caine Wilke (1g, 2a) all have points in back-to-back games. Axel Hurtig (4a) and Julien Maze (1g, 4a) saw their three-game point streaks end Saturday against Regina while two-game point streaks for Ethan Moore (1g, 1a) and Shaun Hildebrandt (1g, 2a) were also snapped against the Pats.
GAME WORN AND ISSUED JERSEY AUCTION: Last Saturday, the Hitmen hosted their ‘Be a Superhero’ for Children’s Miracle Network game, presented by RE/MAX. Calgary wore custom superhero themed jerseys during the game and donned Hitmen branded capes during warmup. Those 24 game worn and issued jerseys plus two additional capes are now up for bid until tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 8:00 p.m. MT on the online auction site found at HitmenHockey.com: https://fans.winwithdash.com/team/calgaryhitmen Proceeds support the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
WHO’S NEXT? Calgary last 12 goals have been scored by 11 different players in Andre Molgachev (2), Calder Hamilton, Caine Wilke, Kale Dach, Jack Poole, Keaton Jundt, Julien Maze, 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 37 points (18g, 19a) in 37 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 contest to be played on Wednesday, Feb. 18 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: Last Wednesday 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 15 of their last 19 games, posting a record of 12-4-3-0.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEBOOK: The Hitmen power play, which has scored at least once in 12 of the last 15 games, has climbed into third place in the WHL at 30.3%…The Hitmen penalty kill is sixth at 80.2%.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: The Hitmen are 12-7-2-0 on home ice, riding a seven-game point streak (6-0-1-0) at the ‘Dome. Edmonton is 17-6-1-0 on the road. Their 35 road points are second most in the WHL, trailing only Prince Albert which has 40.
WHL REGULAR SEASON MILESTONES: Kale Dach and Ty Meunier are both one point shy of 50…Wyatt Pisarczyk is two games away from 150.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Harrison Lodewyk (Lower Body, Day-to-Day), Ty Meunier (Lower Body, Day-to-Day).
ALUMNI REPORT: Hitmen alumnus Andrew Ladd has been named to the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. He will be formally inducted on July 11. Ladd played two impactful seasons with the Hitmen from 2003-2005 recording 120 points (49g, 71a) in 136 games and has been enshrined in the ‘Forever A Hitmen’ program with a tribute banner in his honour hanging in the rafters in the ‘Dome.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: Calgary opens a stretch of five straight games on the road beginning Friday, Jan. 30 in Lethbridge. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. at VisitLethbridge.com Arena. The Hitmen will then head east to play four games in five days, beginning in Saskatoon on Tuesday, Feb. 3 (7:00 p.m.) before stops in 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 for a 7:00 p.m. start.
