‘Super-Grateful’ Hometown Hauser Sets WHL All-Time Wins Mark In Front Of Family, Friends
by Chris Wahl
Since breaking into the WHL four years ago, all Daniel Hauser has done is win.
Wednesday at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the 21-year-old puck-stopper took his place in league history, becoming the WHL’s all-time winningest goaltender.
Hauser turned aside 21 shots as the Hitmen knocked off the Red Deer Rebels 5-1, earning his 123rd career regular season victory.
Even more special?
Hauser got to set the mark at home. Raised in Chestermere, and acquired by the Hitmen ahead of this season’s WHL trade deadline, he’s won 20 of 24 games since moving back to Alberta.
And Wednesday, he got to break his WHL record in front of family and friends.
“It’s amazing. I grew up coming to Hitmen games – with some of the guys that are in the stands – it’s super-special to have them here,” Hauser said following the contest. “I owe them a lot for supporting me.
“To have my family here, my parents, the amount they’ve done for me, I can’t even put it into words, the amount of support they’ve shown me and love they’ve shown me.”
Hauser set the new WHL all-time wins mark in career game #175, while former record-holder Nolan Maier needed 216 games played to pass former NHLers Corey Hirsch and Tyson Sexsmith in 2022.
And over a WHL career that has included stops in Manitoba, Washington and back home in Wild Rose Country, Hauser has posted almost half as many shutouts (17) as regular season regulation-time losses (36).
“I could stand here for hours, just listing people I could thank for putting me in this position,” he said. “I’m super-grateful for this team, this organization, every team I’ve been on in the past.
“Just grateful for the position I’m in.”
He owns the Hitmen franchise-record shutout streak, too, a run that ended earlier this month after 245 minutes and 25 seconds with nary a goal against.
And four clean sheets.
Hauser’s net presence has been a welcome one for head coach Paul McFarland’s group, as they continue to fight tooth and nail with the Medicine Hat Tigers for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
“That’s why we brought him in obviously, give a lot of credit to Garry (Davidson) and Cass (Bruni) for that,” McFarland told reporters after Wednesday’s win. “To have a player that’s been to the finals, played in big hockey games; you just watch him – how he handles himself on a daily basis – good game, bad game, he’s the exact same kid.
“He has a lot of confidence, and I think because of him our whole team has a lot of confidence as well.”
And as special as Wednesday’s record-setting night was for Hauser, it was just as memorable for McFarland and the rest of the club, too.
“Incredible achievement for him, personally; we’re just a small piece of that puzzle, but I think a huge credit to his longevity in the league, and obviously consistency,” said McFarland. “To be able to win that many games is an impressive achievement for him individually.
“We’re just very fortunate to have him; as I said to the team after the game, we’re glad that we’re the last piece of it.”
The work’s not done for Hauser and the Hitmen, though, ahead of a WHL playoff campaign set to start Mar. 28 on home ice.
Calgary sits tied with Medicine Hat for top spot in the Eastern Conference – both on 94 points – and wouldn’t you know it, the two sides are set to close out the regular season against each other Sunday night at the ‘Dome.
From there, hopefully a lengthy playoff run.
And that’s where Hauser’s 23 career post-season wins can come in handy. He back-stopped the former Winnipeg ICE to the Eastern Conference final in 2022, and the WHL Championship series the year following.
“The excitement level is through the roof,” Hauser said when asked about the upcoming post-season. “I’ve been pretty fortunate to be a part of some pretty good teams, and this team’s no different.
“I think the sky’s the limit with what we’ve got here. I’m super-grateful to be a part of it.”
