GAME PREVIEW: Calgary vs Moose Jaw | 02.24.26
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (32-15-7-1) take to Scotiabank Saddledome ice at 11:00 a.m. this morning in the TELUS BE BRAVE #EndBullying Game against the Moose Jaw Warriors (19-31-5-2). Over 17,000 students and teachers will be in attendance to spread the message of acceptance and learn about bullying prevention all while wearing pink in recognition of Pink Shirt Day. Various community partners will activate on the concourse with aligning messages while Canadian bobsleigh athlete, Kenny M’Pindou is the guest speaker this year. Students will join in on a flashmob style dance moment during the game to Golden by KPop Demon Hunters while fans in attendance will have the opportunity to visit the BE BRAVE wall adding their message of kindness on the concourse behind Section 223. In a special message of unity and to stand together against bullying, Hitmen and Warrior players will be intermingled around the centre ice circle for the anthem. Fans are also invited to take advantage of the extended $6 Hitmen Happy Hour from 9:30 a.m. until the end of the game featuring a six-item menu pre-game and three items during the game.
LAST GAME RECAP: The Hitmen head onto the ice for their third game in four days having last played on Sunday when they toppled Red Deer 2-1. With the game tied 1-1 after 40 minutes, Calgary surged in the third, outshooting the Rebels 18-3 and received the game winner from Andrei Molgachev with 5:32 remaining. Hunter Aura, in the second period, also scored for the Hitmen who overcame a 1-0 deficit. Goaltender Aidan Hesse turned in a first-star performance making 31 saves. Moose Jaw has been idle since Saturday then they dropped a 4-2 decision to the visiting Prince George Cougars. Landon McFadden paced the MJ attack with a goal and an assist while goaltender Dylan Mingo turned aside 36 of the 39 shots he faced.
WHERE THEY STAND: Calgary is fourth in the Eastern Conference at 72 points, three points up on fifth place Brandon and five points behind third place Edmonton. The Hitmen have two games in hand on the Wheat Kings and one in hand on the Oil Kings. Moose Jaw is ninth in the conference with 45 points, trialing Red Deer by a single point for the eighth and final playoff spot although the Rebels have one game in hand.
JERSEY AUCTION: On Sunday the Hitmen, together with Siksika Health Services, hosted the 6th annual ‘Every Child Matters Game’ presented by CDN Controls. Calgary once again wore their specially designed orange Every Child Matters jerseys which are now up for bid on DASH Auctions. Bidding closes on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 8:00 p.m. MT at https://fans.winwithdash.com/team/calgaryhitmen/event/6998779939f42f0008bd9dbf There are 27 game worn and game issued jerseys available with net proceeds to benefit youth programming on Siksika Nation.
PLAYOFF BOUND: Former the second season in a row the Calgary Hitmen are playoff bound. They mathematically cemented their berth on Saturday night and now sit sixth overall in the WHL Standings with a .655 winning percentage.
- MOOSE JAW: Today marks the third of four regular season meetings between the two clubs but their first in almost three months. Moose Jaw has won both games by a combined score of 11-4. Calgary went 4-0 against the Warriors last season, including a 2-0 record at the ‘Dome. Hunter Aura Leads the Hitmen with two points (3a) in the season series while Ethan Moore (2g) is next with two. Mathieu Lajoie (2g, 2a), Landen McFadden (2g, 2a) and Aiden Ziprick (4a) are the top performers for Moose Jaw with four points each while goaltender Chase Wutzke has a .935 save percentage. Their final meeting is back in Saskatchewan on Tuesday, Mar. 3.
2025-26 SERIES RECAP
Nov. 5/25 in MJ: Warriors 6 Hitmen 2…Former Rebel Chase Wutzke made 25 saves in his Warriors home ice debut.
Nov. 27/25 in CGY: Warriors 5 Hitmen 2…Chase Wutzke made 44 saves in a first-star performance.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 71 MJ 46 Power Plays: CGY 3-4 (75%) MJ 5-8 (62.5%)
STREAKIN’: Kale Dach (3g,4a) is on a team-leading five-game point streak. Calder Hamilton (1g, 2a) has points in three straight games. Harrison Lodewyk (1g, 3a) saw his three-game point streak snapped Sunday against Red Deer while a two-game streak for Ethan Moore (1g, 1a) was also halted.
FAST FACTS: Calgary has picked up points in eight of their last 10 games (7-2-1-0). Today is Game 4 in a five-game homestand for the Hitmen. Ty Meunier reached the 100-shot mark on Sunday against Red Deer. The Hitmen are 11-4-3-0 against the East Division. Ethan Moore has 69 career goals, placing him in sole possession of 22nd place on the club’s all-time regular season goal scoring list. Moore is just one goal behind Carter Yakemchuk (70) who is 21st.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Three of Calgary’s last four games have all been decided by a single goal. Overall, the Hitmen have played in 24 one-goal games this season picking up points in 18 of those with a total record of 10-6-7-1.
30-GOAL CLUB: The Hitmen have a pair of 30-goal scorers on the roster. Julien Maze has 31 and Kale Dach 30. One season ago Calgary had a trio of 30-goal snipers. Oliver Tulk led the way with 38 followed by Ben Kindel with 35 and Carson Wetsch who tallied 33.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEBOOK: The Hitmen power play, which has scored at least once in 11 straight games, leads the WHL at 33.2%…Of note, Calgary has scored 65 power play goals after scoring 60 goals all of last season with the man advantage. The Hitmen penalty kill third at 81.0%.
HOME & AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 16-8-3-0 at home, with points in 11 of the last 12 games (10-1-2-0) at the ‘Dome. Moose Jaw is 10-15-2-1 on the road where they have dropped their last four games.
WHL REGULAR SEASON MILESTONES: Andrei Molgachev and Keaton Jundt are in line to play career game 50 this morning against the Warriors. Shaun Hildebrandt skated in his 50th career game Sunday against Red Deer on a day where Molgachev also hit the 50-point mark.
PROSPECT WATCH: Walker Filewich, Calgary’s top pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, taken in the second round, 35th overall, is playing U18 Prep in the CSSHL with the Calgary International Hockey Academy. The 15-year-old forward has eight points (4g, 4a) in nine games.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Harrison Lodewyk (Lower Body, TBD), Rylan Ng (Illness, Game Time Decision).
ALUMNI WATCH: Kalem Parker is playing in the NCAA with the Michigan Tech Huskies while majoring in sports and fitness management. The 21-year-old defenceman has 11 points (4g, 7a) in 34 games. Paker joined the Hitmen in November of 2025 during a trade with Moose Jaw and went on to tally 28 points (7g, 21a) in 47 games with Calgary.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: Calgary will enjoy a two-day break before facing Medicine Hat in a home-and-home set beginning Friday, Feb. 27 at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Hitmen then make a return visit to the Gas City on Saturday, Feb. 28. Both are 7:00 p.m. starts.
