Hitmen forward Molgachev named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Calgary Hitmen forward Andrei Molgachev has been named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Molgachev, a 17-year-old product of Magnitogorsk, Russia, recorded five points (4G-1A) and a plus-1 rating in three games this past week, as the Hitmen went 1-1-1-0.

The first-year WHL forward tallied his fourth goal of the season with an unassisted effort 4:30 into Friday’s road game in Lethbridge. The Hitmen went on to drop a barnburner by a score of 7-6 in overtime.

Back in the friendly confines of the Scotiabank Saddledome, Molgachev exploded for four points (3G-1A), including a hat trick, as the Hitmen dumped the visiting Spokane Chiefs by a 5-0 margin. The 5-foot-9, 181-pound centre opened the scoring 9:37 into the first period, before putting Calgary ahead 2-0 only 2:11 into the second period.  After logging a secondary assist on a third-period goal by Caine Wilke, Molgachev put the icing on the hat trick, giving the Hitmen a commanding 5-0 lead with 8:42 to go in regulation. Molgachev was named the first star of the game.

Selected by the Hitmen in the first round (25th overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft, Molgachev leads Calgary in scoring with 11 points (7G-4A) in nine games.

Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Molgachev was assigned a ‘W’ rating in NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List. Players with a ‘W’ rating are projected sixth- or seventh-round picks in the upcoming NHL Draft.

Through nine games, the Hitmen are 5-3-1-0.

Next up, the Hitmen visit the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday, October 25 (6 p.m. MT) at Marchant Crane Centrium.

Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week

September 22, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
September 29, 2025: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
October 6, 2025: Jacob Kvasnicka, Penticton Vees
October 14, 2025: Carter Casey, Medicine Hat Tigers

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.