2025-26 SERIES RECAP

Sept. 25/25 in RD: Hitmen 2 Rebels 1…Calgary erased a 1-0 deficit to improve to 5-0-1-0 in their last six games with the Rebels.

Oct. 29/25 in CGY: Hitmen 4 Rebels 3 SO…Andrei Molgachev scored the shootout winner.

Nov. 30/25 in CGY: Rebels 4 Hitmen 3…The Rebels jumped out to a 3-0 lead 9:23 into the first period.

Dec. 12/25 in CGY: Hitmen 4 Rebels 1…Wyatt Pisarczyk notched a career high three assists.

Dec. 13/25 in RD: Hitmen 9 Rebels 0…A total of 16 Hitmen recorded at least a point while Eric Tu posted a 26-save shutout.

Jan. 23/26 in RD: Hitmen 5 Rebels 1…After the Rebels opened the scoring the Hitmen struck for five unanswered goals.

Feb. 22/26 in CGY: Hitmen 2 Rebels 1…Andrei Molgachev scored the game winner with 5:32 remaining.

Mar. 14/26 in RD: Hitmen 6 Rebels 5 OT…Hunter Aura scored the game winner helping the Hitmen erase a 5-3 third period deficit.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on Goal: CGY 261   RD 223      Power Plays: CGY 12-30 (40%)   RD 1-21 (4.8%)

FAST FACTS: Calgary is 3-3 in their last six regular season openers with their last opening night win coming one year ago when they skated to a 5-3 victory in Lethbridge over the Hurricanes.  Kale Dach led the charge with a pair of goals while Andre Molgachev (1g, 1a), Hunter Aura (2a) and Luc Trevors (2a) also had multi-point outings.  Anders Miller made 23 saves to pick up the win.

LET’S GO CAMPING: Five Hitmen from the current 27-player roster headed to NHL camps earlier this month: Carter Sanderson (Pittsburgh), Jakob Leander (Calgary), Blake Vanek (Ottawa), Landon Amrhein (Calgary) and Andrei Molgachev (Utah).

OFF-SEASON NOTEBOOK:  On June 8, the Hitmen announced the promotion of Cass Bruni to General Manager from Assistant GM while Garry Davidson moved from the GM’s chair to a Hockey Operations Advisory Role…On June 30 the Hitmen made two picks in the 2026 CHL Import Draft selecting 19-year-old defenceman and Calgary Flames prospect Jakob Leander along with 17-year-old Russian forward Artem Katsuro…On June 29 the Hitmen announced the signing of 19-year-old forward and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Carter Sanderson…On July 27 the Hitmen acquired 19-year-old forward Brennan Brown, a third-round pick in 2027 and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2029 from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for 18-year-old forward Ty Meunier and a seventh-round pick in 2030…On September 11 the Hitmen inked listed prospect 18 year-old defenceman Maden Simard…On September 14 Calgary acquired a fourth-round pick in the 2028 WHL Prospects Draft from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for 18-year-old defenceman Kaden Meyer…Also on September 14, the Hitmen signed 2025 fourth-round pick and 16 year-old goaltending prospect Donagh Esler-Twiss to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.  On Sept. 27 The Hitmen inked 20-year-old forward Charlie Kresl after the product of Denver, CO, attended training camp as a free agent.

2026 PRE-SEASON RECAP: Calgary went 3-1 during their four-game exhibition schedule with two of those victories coming against the Rebels.  Julien Maze (3g, 2a) was the top scorer for the Hitmen with five points while Calder Hamilton (3g, 1a), Hunter Auta (1g, 3a) and rookie Charlie Kresl (1g, 3a) all tallied four points each.  In between the pipes, four goaltenders all saw action.

DID YOU KNOW? Fans are invited to stop at Section 213 on the concourse to take in the Fan Farewell sale featuring a number of vintage Hitmen jerseys.  Returning this season is also the post-game autograph session where tonight goaltender Eric Tu and defenceman Hunter Aura will be at the autograph table behind Section 212.

HOME COOKING: Of Calgary’s first 15 games of the regular season, 10 of them will be played at home.  They include visits from nine different teams with only the Rebels appearing twice.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Forward Caine Wilke is entering his third season in the WHL and second with the Hitmen after September 20, 2025, trade from Everett.  Wilke has 62 career points (22g, 40a) in 115 games.  The 18-year-old was a first-round pick of the Silvertips, 20th overall, in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Last season the Hitmen collected 44 points at home which tied for eighth best in the WHL.  Their overall record was 20-10-4-0 in the ‘Dome.  Red Deer meanwhile went 13-18-1-2 on the road.

MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Rylan Ng (Upper Body, Indefinite).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The Hitmen will enjoy a day off before returning to action on Sunday, Sept. 20 on the road to face the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rogers Place.  Game time is 7:00 p.m. with fans invited to watch the game for FREE on YouTube.  Calgary then returns home to host those same Oil Kings on Friday, Sept. 25 in a 7:00 p.m. start at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Teague McGlynn was a free-agent invite to Calgary Hitmen Training Camp and has been with the team through the preseason. The 17-year-old forward played for the Stillwater High School Ponies in the Minnesota High School League, where he posted 28 points (12G, 16A) in 25 games. He joins Stillwater High School teammate Tate Batchelor on the Hitmen's opening night roster.

"We are thrilled to formally welcome Teague and his family to our organization," said Hitmen General Manager Cass Bruni. "Teague has continued to improve over the course of his three weeks with our team, starting as a free-agent invite, earning a spot on our 50-player list after training camp, and earning a spot on our opening night roster after a strong preseason. We are excited to see his continued progression with our group."

TEAGUE MCGLYNN  – FORWARD

HOMETOWN: Stillwater, Minnesota

DOB:  May 10, 2009

HEIGHT: 5’10

WEIGHT: 180 lbs

SHOOTS: Right

The Calgary Hitmen will kick off the Farewell Season tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome on for their Home Opener vs the Red Deer Rebels. Tickets are available at HitmenHockey.com.

Kresl attended the Calgary Hitmen Training Camp as a free agent and will appear on the opening night roster. Hailing from Denver, Kresl played the 2025-26 season in the NAHL with the Bismarck Bobcats where he finished the year with 66 points (18G, 48A) in 51 games. He is currently committed to the UMass Lowell (NCAA) for the 2027-28 season.

“Throughout training camp and preseason, Charlie has met our high standards we have for our 20-year-old players.” Said Hitmen General Manager Cass Bruni “He is a two-way centreman with competitive edge that brings character and leadership skills off the ice. We are excited to formally welcome Charlie and his family him to our organization.”

CHARLIE KRESL  – FORWARD

HOMETOWN: Denver, Colorado

DOB:  January 27, 2006

HEIGHT: 5’10

WEIGHT: 178 lbs

SHOOTS: Right

The Calgary Hitmen will kick off the Farewell Season at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday, September 18 for their Home Opener vs the Red Deer Rebels. Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit HitmenHockey.com.

Esler-Twiss was drafted by the Calgary Hitmen in the fourth round (86^th overall) in the 2025 WHL Prospect Draft. The 6’4 goaltender from Victoria, BC has played the last three seasons with the Shawnigan Lake School Program and will be returning to Shawnigan U18 Prep team. Esler-Twiss will be an affiliate player for the Hitmen this season.

“We are excited to announce Donagh’s signing as the next stage in his development.” Said General Manager Cass Bruni “Donagh has tools to be a very good goaltender in our league, with size, athletic ability and dedication to his game.”

DONAGH ESLER-TWISS  – GOALIE

HOMETOWN: Victoria BC

DOB:  January 18, 2010

HEIGHT: 6’4

WEIGHT: 180 lbs

CATCHES: Left

The Calgary Hitmen will kick off the Farewell Season at the Scotiabank Saddledome this Friday, September 18 for their Home Opener vs the Red Deer Rebels. Fame time is 7:00 p.m.. Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit HitmenHockey.com.

Listed by the Calgary Hitmen in 2025, Simard played the 2025-26 season with the Selkirk Steelers of the MJHL. The 6’3 defenceman finished the year with 19 points (2G, 17A) in 56 games.

“Maden is a two-way defenseman with great potential given his hockey sense, size and mobility.” Said General Manager Cass Bruni “He continues to progress and grow his game after a strong season in Selkirk. We believe he will be a strong contributor to our defensive group.”

MADEN SIMARD  – DEFENCE

HOMETOWN: Brandon, MB

DOB:  September 8, 2008

HEIGHT: 6’3

WEIGHT: 187 lbs

SHOOTS: Left

The Calgary Hitmen will kick off the Farewell Season at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday, September 18 for their Home Opener vs the Red Deer Rebels. Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit HitmenHockey.com.

Julien Maze opened the scoring just 22 seconds in the game to grab the first goal of the preseason, assisted by fellow returning player Landon Amrhein and Hunter Aura. Red Deer would get on the board less than 10 minutes later with a goal from Calgary native Luke Jamieson.

Teague McGlynn would return the lead to Calgary just over the midway point of the first period. Luc Trevors evened the score for Red Deer once again. With less than two minutes to go in regulation, Julien Maze would play hero scoring his second of the game.