2025 WHL Graduates: Calgary Hitmen

Over the summer, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2024-25 season in a 22-part, team-by-team series. 

Today, we continue with the graduating players from the Calgary Hitmen.

Daniel Hauser (G)
Hometown: Chestermere, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 176 GP – 2.58 GAA-0.910 SV% – 123 Wins
WHL Draft: 2019 – 6th round, 120th Overall (Winnipeg ICE)

When it comes to Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.) status, Daniel Hauser might be leading the goaltending department. And, while the netminder exits the WHL as a newly-minted graduate, his name will not soon be forgotten. After all, he departs the WHL as the all-time winningest goaltender in League history. Originally selected in the sixth round (120th overall) of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft by the Winnipeg ICE, Hauser wasted no time in logging his first – of many – wins at the WHL level. The netminder recorded his first ‘Dub’ in his League debut, a 14-save win against the Swift Current Broncos on March 15, 2021. Hauser went on to win his next five starts with the ICE, and concluded his inaugural season with a near-perfect record of 7-0-1-0. Hauser would stick to his winning ways through his entire five-season, junior hockey tenure. In 151 career games with the Winnipeg ICE/Wenatchee Wild franchise, Hauser boasted a record of 103-32-8-1. And, let’s not forget about his trip to the 2022 Eastern Conference Championship Series and 2023 WHL Championship Series with Winnipeg. In January 2025, Hauser was acquired by the Calgary Hitmen, as the Club from Cowtown looked to load up for a post-season push. It was with the Hitmen where Hauser wrote new chapter in the history books. On March 19, the 21-year-old goaltender logged his 123rd career win following a 5-1 triumph over the Red Deer Rebels. The product of Chestermere, Alta., surpassed the previous WHL record of 122 wins, established by former Saskatoon Blades netminder Nolan Maier in April 2022. Hauser concluded his WHL career with an all-time regular season record of 123-36-8-1 in 176 career starts.

HISTORY FOR HAUSER!

With his 123rd regular season victory, Daniel Hauser is the WHL’s NEW all-time wins leader.

📝 | https://t.co/xUOOE1HmdR@WHLHitmen | @WHLwild_ pic.twitter.com/7K9dFCtRvM

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 20, 2025

Connor Hvidston (F)
Hometown: Tisdale, Sask.
WHL Career Stats: 238 GP – 80 G-132 A – 212 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 7th Round, 133rd Overall (Swift Current)

Nabbed in the seventh round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft by the Swift Current Broncos, Connor Hvidston graduates from the WHL as what’s known as a ‘WHL Draft steal.’ Taking the 139th-overall selection to heart, the Tisdale, Sask., local proved to be an immediate producer for the Broncos organization – logging an assist in his WHL debut. Hvidston went on to post 32 points (13 G – 19 A) in 58 appearances during his rookie season, finishing seventh in club scoring. The forward’s offensive touch didn’t go unnoticed by NHL clubs either, as the then-17-year-old was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Hvidston returned to Swift Current following the NHL Draft, spending a total of three full seasons in Speedy Creek before being acquired by the Calgary Hitmen during the 2024 offseason. Now, a League veteran, Hvidston spent his final season of WHL eligibility as a bottom-six stalwart for Calgary. New role in hand, Hvidston quickly became an elite, depth scoring for Calgary, boasting 56 points (19 G-37 A) in 68 appearances. With over 200 games of Western League experience in hand, Hvidston is set to continue his education at Colorado College starting during the 2025-26 season.

That was quick! 😱

Connor Hvidston has his first goal in a @WHLHitmen uniform just 15 seconds into the game. pic.twitter.com/Afbt491Q0w

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) October 6, 2024

Kalem Parker (D)
Hometown: Clavet, Sask.
WHL Career Stats: 286 GP – 24 G-122 A – 146 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 2nd Round, 32nd Overall (Victoria)

2004-born defenceman Kalem Parker is one of a handful of 2025 graduates who departs the Western League as a WHL Champion. Parker, a product of Clavet, Sask., hoisted the Ed Chynoweth Cup as a member of the 2024 WHL Championship-winning club, the Moose Jaw Warriors. And, while Parker’s hardware was captured with Moose Jaw, his career neither started or ended in the Friendly City. It was the Victoria Royals who originally called Parker’s name with the 32nd-overall pick in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. Parker spent parts of four seasons as a member of the Royals, earning 64 points (8 G-56 A) in 157 games with Victoria. In October 2023, Parker was dealt, alongside teammate Brayden Schuurman, to Moose Jaw in exchange for five WHL Draft selections. Parker’s stint with Moose Jaw can be summed up as ‘short and sweet,’ having spent only 82 regular season appearances with ‘The Jaw. In his final season of WHL eligibility, Parker was moved for the second – and final – time in his junior hockey career, landing on a talented, Calgary Hitmen defence core. Patrolling the blue line with the likes of Ottawa Senators prospect, Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Flames prospect, Axel Hurtig, and Vancouver Canucks prospect, Sawyer Mynio, Parker’s production ramped up exponentially. In 47 regular season skates with Calgary, the 20-year-old racked up 28 points (7 G-21 A). Parker wrapped up his WHL career as a staple in Calgary’s 2025 WHL Playoffs run that stretched until Game 7 of second round against Lethbridge.

Stop him once, shame on you…

If you stop him, you can't stop him again.

Kalem Parker adds to the @WHLHitmen lead on Sunday afternoon!@mnwild | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/kEBhZoLsJw

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 30, 2025