Round 2 Game 5 Preview: Calgary vs Lethbridge – 04.18.25
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen are back home in the friendly confines of Scotiabank Saddledome tonight for Game 5 of their 2025 WHL Eastern Conference Semi-Final series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Be sure to take advantage of the $6 Hitmen Happy Hour from when doors open at 6:00 p.m. up until the opening faceoff. Items include pizza, burgers, hot dogs, 14-ounce beer, highballs and 6-ounce house wine. at VisitLethbridge.com Arena. 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+. The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2 after the Hitmen took Game 4 with a 3-2 overtime victory on Wednesday night. Ben Kindel scored the game winner 6:08 into the extra session. Oliver Tulk and Brandon Gorzynski also scored for the Hitmen who never trailed building leads of 1-0 and 2-1 while David Adaszynski chipped in a pair of assists including the primary helper on Kindel’s winner. Goaltender Anders Miller was exceptional between the pipes making 32 saves on a night where Calgary was outshot 34-24.
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 | Hurricanes 2 Hitmen 1 | LET leads series 2-0 |
| 3 | Calgary | @ | Lethbridge | Hitmen 5 Hurricanes 3 | LET leads series 2-1 |
| 4 | Calgary | @ | Lethbridge | Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 2 OT | Series tied 2-2 |
| 5 | Lethbridge | @ | Calgary | Friday, Apr. 18 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 6 | Calgary | @ | Lethbridge | Saturday, Apr. 19 | 7:00 p.m. |
| 7 * | Lethbridge | @ | Calgary | Wednesday, Apr. 23 | 7:00 p.m. |
*If necessary
GAME 4 STATS: Ben Kindel led all Hitmen with six shots on goal Wednesday night while Brayden Edwards topped the Hurricanes with six shots as well. In the face-off circle, Lethbridge held the advantage, going a combined 30-51 on draws, clicking at 58.8% and were led by Brayden Yager who went 12-18 (66.7%).
SERIES TRENDS: The road team has won all four games…The team holding the lead on the shot clock has lost all four games…The team scoring first is 4-0…The Hurricanes have held the lead for 80 minutes and 28 seconds while the Hitmen have led for 39 minutes and 39 seconds.
SERIES LEADERS: Calgary is led in scoring by Carson Wetsch (3g), Ben Kindel (2g, 1a) and David Adaszynski (3a) who have three points each. Anders Miller is 2-2 with a 2.28 goals against average and .922 save percentage. Noah Chadwick (2g, 3a) tops the Hurricanes in points with five while Miguel Marques (4a) has four. Jackson Unger is 2-2 with a 1.71 goals against average and .938 save percentage.
SERIES RECAP: The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2. Lethbridge has outscored Calgary by a combined 11-9.
Game 1 in CGY: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 0…Jackson Unger posted a 33 save shutout.
Game 2 in CGY: Hurricanes 2 Hitmen 1…Lethbridge scored the game winner just 49 seconds after the Hitmen had tied the game with 3:04 left.
Game 3 in LET: Hitmen 5 Hurricanes 3…After a scoreless first period, Carson Wetsch scored a hat-trick for Calgary.
Game 4 in LET: Hitmen 3 Hurricanes 2 OT…Ben Kindel scored the winner on Calgary’s third shot of the extra session.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 114 LET 114 Power Plays: CGY 1-7 (14.3%) LET 4-10 (40%)
STREAKS: David Adaszynski (1g, 2a), Brandon Gorzynski (1g, 1a) and Kalem Parker (2a) are all riding two-game point streaks. Goaltender Anders Miller has won his last two starts stopping 58 of 63 shots for a .921 save percentage.
FAST FACTS: Calgary is 18-4-0-1 in their last 22 games…During the regular season the Hitmen surrendered an Eastern Conference low 183 goals while scoring 266 goals, second most in the conference.
POST SEASON EXPERIENCE: The Hitmen have a combined 353 games of playoff experience. Sawyer Mynio leads the way with 48 games while Lukas Hansen is next with 39. Kalem Parker (3g, 10a), Tanner Howe (4g, 9a) and Connor Hvidston (3g, 10a) all have a team leading 13 career playoff points each.
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: Goaltender Anders Miller is second in the WHL post season with a 1.84 goals against average and is third with a .928 save percentage…A total of 15 Hitmen have at least a point in the playoffs and are led by Ben Kindel (7g, 4a), who at 11 points, is tied for 18th in the scoring race. A total of 11 different players have counted goals…The Hitmen are ninth on the power play (4-18) at 22.2% while the penalty kill (18/23) is third at 78.3%.
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 144-118. The Hitmen have competed in 47 series prior to this one. They have won 28 and lost 19. Calgary is 32-24 all-time in post-season overtime games.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Daniel Hauser (Upper Body, Day-to-Day), Tanner Howe (Lower Body, TBD).
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen/Hurricanes series shifts back to Lethbridge tomorrow, Saturday, Apr. 19 for Game 6 at VisitLethbridge.com Arena in a 7:00 p.m. start.
