GAME PREVIEW: Calgary vs Everett | 02.16.26
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (30-15-6-1) are at home for a Family Day Monday matinee today as they welcome the Everett Silvertips (45-6-2-1) to Southern Alberta. Game time is 1:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome. Be sure to take advantage of the $6 food and drink Hitmen Happy Hour from when doors open at Noon up until the opening faceoff while Ben MacBeath and Landon Amrhein will be at the post-game autograph table behind Section 212. Fans can also watch the game for FREE on Victory+ while the Hitmen will wear their black and pink third jersey featuring the original “Starburst” logo. Calgary is coming off a weekend split with Edmonton. After beating the Oil Kings 5-3 at home on Friday, Calgary dropped a 4-3 decision in the return visit on Saturday. Blake Vanek scored twice for Calgary with Axel Hurtig adding a single as the Hitmen were unable to overcome a 4-0 deficit. Everett meanwhile also last played on Saturday, posting a 4-3 overtime triumph in Medicine Hat. Zackary Shantz scored the winner 2:54 into the extra session.
WHERE THEY STAND: Calgary is fourth in the Eastern Conference at 67 points, four points up on fifth place Brandon and eight points behind third place Edmonton. The Hitmen have two games in hand on the Wheat Kings and one game in hand on the Oil Kings. Everett leads the Western Conference and the overall WHL Standings 93 points, sitting 17 points ahead of Penticton for the conference lead and six points up on Prince Albert for the league lead.
EVERETT: Today marks the lone regular season meeting between the two clubs and their first in just over 15 months. Last season they met in Everett on Nov. 9, 2024, with the Silvertips skating to a 5-3 victory. The ‘Tips raced out to a hot start, building a 3-1 lead after outshooting Calgary 24-8 in the opening period. Ethan Moore scored a pair of goals for Calgary with Ben Kindel adding a single. Tyler MacKenzie (2g, 1a) and Kaden Hammell (1g, 2a) led Everett with three points each. The last time Everett Alberta visit was Nov. 3, 2023, when the Silvertips won 6-4. The clubs combined for 86 shots with Carter Yakemchuk (2g, 2a) recording four-points for Calgary while Carter Bear (2g) and Austin Roest (2g, 1a) both scored twice for the ‘Tips. The Hitmen are looking for their first win over Everett in three tries with their last victory coming on Nov. 13, 2022, in Everett by a score of 6-3. Powered by a four-goal third period, the Hitmen erased a one-goal deficit. Zac Funk (2g, 1a) led the way with three points while Tyson Galloway (1g, 1a) and Billal Noori (1g, 1a) added multi-point efforts.
STREAKIN’: Caine Wilke (7a) is on a career high tying five-game point streaks. Kale Dach (2g, 2a), Hunter Aura (2a) and Ben MacBeath (2a) are all on a two-game point streaks. Goaltender Eric Tu has won his last five starts. Ethan Moore (4g, 5a) saw his six-game point streak end Saturday in Edmonton while a four-game point streak for Andrei Molgachev (3g, 3a) was also halted.
HOME COOKING: This afternoon kicks off a five-game homestand for the Hitmen, their longest remaining ‘Dome run of the regular season. It’s a stretch where Calgary faces five different teams in Everett, Saskatoon, Red Deer, Moose Jaw and Medicine Hat.
FAMILIAR FACES: Two Hitmen are meeting their former teammates for the first time today since arriving in Calgary via trade. It was back on Sept. 20, 2025, when 17-year-old forward Caine Wilke joined the club from the Silvertips in exchange for a second-round pick in 2028 and a fifth-round pick in 2026 both in the WHL Prospects Draft. In 48 games since joining the Hitmen, Wilke has 37 points (13g, 24a). The second transaction happed just prior to the 2026 WHL Trade Deadline when Calgary acquired 18-year-old defenceman Jakub Seidl from the ‘Tips in return for a second-round pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft. Seidl has one assist in the 16 games since joining the Hitmen. Calgary’s Julien Maze also has ties to Everett as he was originally drafted by the Silvertips in the first-round, 20th overall, in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. In addition, the Everett roster features former Hitmen goaltender Anders Miller who was traded to the ‘Tips on Oct. 13, 2025, in exchange for a third-round pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2029, both in the WHL Prospects Draft. Miller played 25 career games with the Hitmen after joining the club last season from the AJHL. Off the ice, the hockey operations department of both teams feature personnel who have worked on the opposite side as Hitmen General Manager Garry Davidson is a former GM of Everrett and Silvertips Head Coach Steve Hamilton is a former bench boss of the Hitmen.
DID YOU KNOW? Hitmen defenceman Ben MacBeath and Everett rearguard Landon Dupont were teammates and defence partners two seasons ago as members of Edge School in U-18 Prep. MacBeath recorded 29 points (6g, 23a) as a 15-year-old and Dupont 62 points (19g, 43a) as an underage 14-year-old.
30-GOAL CLUB: Hitmen forward Julien Maze reached the 30-goal mark Friday night against Edmonton for the first time in his WHL career. Teammate Kale Dale is just one goal shy of 30 after scoring twice last night. One season ago Calgary had three 30-goal scorers on their roster. Oliver Tulk led the way with 38 followed by Ben Kindel with 35 and Carson Wetsch who tallied 33.
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 contest this coming Wednesday at the Langley Events Centre with MacBeath to serve as an Alternate Captain. All 23 WHL Clubs are represented with each roster consisting of 22 players. NHL Central Scouting worked with the WHL to determine player selection.
FAST FACTS: Today is the fourth game in a stretch of six days for the Hitmen while Everett faces their fifth game in seven days…Calgary is 3-2-0-0 against the U.S. Division…Hitmen forward Kale Dale is the reigning Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week. The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect recorded seven points (4g, 3a) in four games. Ethan Moore’s third period power play marker Wednesday against Swift Current was his 68th career goal, moving him into a tie with Carson Wetsch for 22nd place on the club’s all-time regular season goal scoring list. Moore is now two goals behind Carter Yakemchuk (70) who sits 21st.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEBOOK: The Hitmen power play, which has scored at least once in eight straight games, leads the WHL at 32.2%…Of note, Calgary has scored 59 power play goals after scoring 60 goals all of last season with the man advantage. The Hitmen penalty kill is ranked fourth at 80.6%.
HOME & AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 14-8-2-0 at home, with points in eight of the last nine games (8-1-1-0) at the ‘Dome. Everett is 23-3-0-0 on the road where they have won their last eight games.
WHL REGULAR SEASON MILESTONES: Caine Wilke is in line to play his 100th career game in the WHL today against Everett while Eric Tu is one appearance away from 50. Andrei Molgachev needs two points to reach 50.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Wyatt Pisarcyzk (Upper Body, Day-to-Day).
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: Calgary will enjoy a full four-day break before hosting Saskatoon on Saturday, Feb. 21 in a 6:00 p.m. start at the ‘Dome. Red Deer then stops in for a visit the next day on Feb. 22 in a 2:00 p.m. puck drop. It’s another Sunday Funday presented by Brookfield Residential where fans can enjoy $6 food and drink deals all game long, $3 sips and snacks plus Face Painting, the Fun Zone on the West Concourse and a Post-Game Family Skate.
