Round 2 Game 2 Preview: Calgary vs Lethbridge – 04.12.25
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen return to home ice tonight for Game 2 of their 2025 WHL Eastern Conference Semi-Final series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Note the 6:00 p.m. start time at Scotiabank Saddledome. The post season is presented by Nutrien and powered by RAM with tonight’s game live on Sportsnet 960 The Fan and streamed live for FREE on Victory+. Be sure to take advantage of the $6 Hitmen Happy Hour from when doors open at 5:00 p.m. up until the opening faceoff. Items include pizza, burgers, hot dogs, 14-ounce beer, highballs and 6-ounce house wine. The Hurricanes grabbed the opener on Thursday night skating to a 4-0 win. Jackson Unger made 33 saves to record the shutout while Brayden Edwards (1g, 1a), Logan Wormald (1g, 1a), Noah Chadwick (1g, 1a) and Miguel Marques (2a) all had multi-point performances for the visitors. Calgary outshot Lethbridge 33-24 but trailed 2-0 after the first period and 3-0 after 40 minutes.
2025 WHL Playoffs: Round 2 Schedule:
The Hitmen and Hurricanes second round playoff series is a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
| Game | Visitor | Home | Date/Result | Time/Series | |
| 1 | Lethbridge | @ | Calgary | Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 0 | LET leads series 1-0 |
| 2 | Lethbridge | @ | Calgary | Saturday, Apr. 12 | 6:00 p.m. |
| 3 | Calgary | @ | Lethbridge | Tuesday, Apr. 15 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 4 | Calgary | @ | Lethbridge | Wednesday, Apr. 16 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 5 * | Lethbridge | @ | Calgary | Friday, Apr. 18 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 6 * | Calgary | @ | Lethbridge | Saturday, Apr. 19 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 7 * | Lethbridge | @ | Calgary | TBD | TBD |
*If necessary
GAME 1 STATS: Ben Kindel led all Hitmen with eight shots on goal Thursday night. Carson Wetsch was next with six while Carter Yakemchuk notched four shots. Logan Wormald topped the Hurricanes with six shots. Noah Chadwick was next with four. In the face-off circle, Calgary went a combined 25-48 on draws, clicking at 52.1%. Connor Hvidston (8-10) and Lukas Hansen (4-5) were both 80 percent each for Calgary.
BOUNCE BACK ABILITY: Dating back to the regular season Calgary is 13-2-1-2 in games after a loss.
POST SEASON EXPERIENCE: The Hitmen have a combined 297 games of playoff experience. Sawyer Mynio leads the way with 45 games while Daniel Hauser has 38 followed by Lukas Hansen with 36.
LETHBRIDGE: The Hitmen and Hurricanes met eight times during the regular season with Calgary posting a 6-2 record, including a 3-1 mark on home ice. Ben Kindel (2g, 8a) led the way with 10 points while Oliver Tulk (4g, 5a) was next with nine. Brayden Edwards (3g, 6a) was the top performing Hurricane with nine points. Logan Wormald (3g, 5a) recorded eight.
2024-25 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 29/24 in CGY: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 1…The Hitmen raced out to a 2-0 first period lead.
Oct. 19/24 in CGY: Hitmen 6 Hurricanes 1…Six different Hitmen counted goals in the victory.
Nov. 1/24 in LET: Hitmen 5 Hurricanes 3…David Adaszynski scored twice for Calgary.
Dec. 27/24 in LET: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 1…Tristen Doyle (2g, 1a) led the ‘Canes with three points.
Jan. 25/25 in LET: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 2…Calgary built a 3-0 first period lead on goals from Ben Kindel, Carson Wetsch and Chase Valliant.
Feb. 2/25 in CGY: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 3…Brayden Yager led the ‘Canes with a hat trick.
Feb. 11/25 in CGY: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 2 OT…Oliver Tulk scored the game winner 1:40 into extra time.
Mar. 15/25 in LET: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 1…Ethan Moore scored twice for Calgary while Daniel Hauser made 24 saves.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 260 LET 185 Power Plays: CGY 5-29 (17.2%) LET 5-24 (20.8%)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: This is the sixth time in WHL history and first time in six years the Hitmen and Hurricanes are meeting in the playoffs. Calgary has won four times.
2005: CGY 4 LET 1 Rd 1– Hitmen were led by Ryan Getzlaf (1g, 7a), Andrew Ladd (1g, 6a) and Justin Pogge (1.29 GAA).
2006: CGY 4 LET 2 Rd 1 – Hitmen were led by Freddie Pettersson (3g, 4a), Craig Lineker (7a), Brodie Dupont (3g, 3A) and Justin Pogge (2.97 GAA).
2008: LET 4 CGY 0 Rd 3 – ‘Canes were led by Mitch Fadden (1g, 6a), Zach Boychuk (4g, 2a), Carter Bancks (4g) and Juha Metsola (1.73 GAA).
2009: CGY 4 LET 0 Rd2 – Hitmen were led by Brandon Kozun (3g, 4a), Kyle Bortis (7a), Joel Broda (3g, 2a) and Martin Jones (1.00 GAA).
2019: CGY 4 LET 3 Rd1 – Hitmen were led by Mark Kastelic (5g, 2a), Carson Focht (4g, 3a), Dakota Krebs (1g, 6a) and Jack McNaughton (3.63 GAA).
PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK: So far in the post season the Hitmen have scored first in four of the five games and have led for 160 minutes and 13 seconds while trailing for 55 minutes and 35 seconds. A total of 15 Hitmen have at least a point in the playoffs and led by Tanner Howe (2g, 7a) who is tied for 13th in the WHL post-season scoring race. A total of 10 different players have counted goals…The Hitmen are ranked 11th on the power play (3-15) at 20% while the penalty kill (14/17) is second at 82.4%.
STREAKS: Goaltender Anders Miller has won his first four career playoff games…Dating back to the regular season, Ben Kindel (6g, 3a) saw his five-game point streak end in Game 1 against Lethbridge while a four game point streak for Tanner Howe (2g, 7a) was also halted as was a two-game goal scoring streak for David Adaszynski (2g) and a two-game point streak for Carter Yakemchuk (1g, 2a).
ALL-STARS: Four Hitmen have received Eastern Conference All-Star nods this season. Forwards Oliver Tulk and Ben Kindel were both named first-team all-stars while defenceman Carter Yakemchuk and goaltender Daniel Hauser are second-team all-stars.
HITMEN AWARD NOMINEES: goaltender Daniel Hauser is one of six nominees for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy given annually to the WHL Goaltender of the Year. GM Garry Davidson is one of six nominees for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy given to the WHL Executive of the Year. Forward Oliver Tulk is one of six nominees for the Brad Hornung Trophy handed to the league’s Most Sportsmanlike Player and is also up for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy given to the WHL Player of the Year.
PLAYOFF RECORD: Calgary has a lifetime playoff record of 142-117. The Hitmen have competed in 47 series prior to this one. They have won 28 and lost 19. Calgary is 31-24 all-time in post-season overtime games.
FAST FACTS: Calgary is 16-3-0-1 in their last 20 games…The Hitmen have outshot their opponent in each of the last 14 games…During the regular season the Hitmen surrendered an Eastern Conference low 183 goals while scoring 266 goals, second most in the conference. Dating back to the regular season, the Hitmen are 28-7-1-1 at Scotiabank Saddledome while Lethbridge is 19-15-1-2 on the road.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: None.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen/Hurricanes series shifts to Lethbridge this week for Games 3 and 4 with Game 3 on Tuesday, Apr. 15 followed by Game 4 the next night on Wednesday, Apr. 16. Both are 7:00 p.m. starts at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
