RECAP: Calgary Picks Up Point on 4-3 OT Loss to Royals
Victoria, BC – The Calgary Hitmen opened the new year by continuing their B.C. Division road trip Thursday night in Victoria, earning a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Royals.
Calgary opened the scoring with Harrison Lodewyk netting his 10th goal of the season, redirecting a shot pass from Hunter Aura. Victoria responded with Roan Woodard tying the game just over the halfway point of the first. Ty Meunier restored the Hitmen lead with a point-blank shot over the shoulder of Jake Pilon to make it 2-1, but the advantage was short-lived with Heath Nelson scoring less than five minutes later to even the score.
He didn’t pick a corner; he claimed it. 🏒🎯
Ty Meunier wires it home to give the @WHLHitmen the lead. pic.twitter.com/Nc9Iqyolqq
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 1, 2026
In the second period, the Royals were awarded a penalty shot, with Woodard collecting his second of the game to give Victoria its first lead of the night. With the third period going scoreless, Kale Dach tied the game for Calgary, driving to the net to score his 21st of the season and force overtime. Timofei Runso played the hero for Victoria, scoring the game winner at the 3:55 mark of the extra frame.
Just what the Dach ordered! 🧑⚕️ pic.twitter.com/g6TJUNXnuK
— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) January 2, 2026
Calgary’s record now stands at 18-10-5-1, placing them sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The Hitmen have one game remaining on their B.C. road trip with the final stop in Prince George on Saturday, Jan. 7. Game time is 6:00 p.m. PST/7:00 p.m. MST at CN Centre. Calgary will then return home to welcome the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday, Jan. 10 in a 6:00 p.m. start at Scotiabank Saddledome. The night is presented by Vallen and will see the Hitmen team up with Dungeon Wrestling to raise support and awareness for prostate cancer.
