Hitmen forward Moore becomes first WHL player since 1996 to score four game-winning goals in single playoff series
Calgary, Alta. – Dating back to the 1996, no WHL player had ever scored all four game-winning goals in a best-of-seven playoff series.
Calgary Hitmen forward Ethan Moore made modern WHL history Thursday night when he became the first WHL player to do exactly that.
The 21-year-old product of Okotoks, Alta., was a Wheat King killer in the Hitmen’s first-round series against Brandon, recording the game-winning goal in all four games as Calgary swept its way into the second round of the 2026 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.
The 6-foot-1, 177-pound right winger completed the impressive feat Thursday in Virden, Man., registering his fifth goal of the playoffs with 8:12 remaining in regulation, putting the bow on a third period comeback by the Hitmen as they erased a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Wheat Kings by a 4-2 score.
Moore’s historic start to the 2026 WHL Playoffs began in Game 1 when he scored the lone goal in a nail-biter 1-0 triple overtime victory for the Hitmen back on Friday, March 27 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.
On Sunday, March 29, the veteran forward once again scored the overtime-winning goal, this time only needing 10:04 worth of extra time to stake out a 6-5 victory for the Hitmen on home ice.
Moore’s heroics continued as the series shift east to Virden, Man., and Tundra Oil & Gas Place. On Tuesday, March 31, Moore registered his fourth goal of the post-season 14:37 into the second period, giving the Hitmen a 2-0 advantage. After Luke Mistelbacher pulled Brandon within one, the Hitmen held off the Wheat Kings and 2026 NHL Draft-eligible forward Landon Amrhein tallied an empty-net goal to give Calgary a 3-1 victory, meaning Moore’s second-period strike stood up as the game winner.
This isn’t Moore’s first clutch effort. During the 2025 WHL Playoffs, he registered game-winning goals in back-to-back contests, propelling the Hitmen to victory in Games 1 and 2 of a first-round sweep of the Saskaton Blades.
Moore was undrafted into the WHL, signing a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Hitmen on November 8, 2021. Over four full seasons with the Hitmen, the Alberta native has recorded 147 points (72G-75A) in 260 career regular season games, adding another 15 points (9G-6A) in 20 career WHL Playoff games.
Moore’s six career WHL Playoff game-winning goals match the six regular season game-winning goals he has notched since 2021.
There have been plenty of players over the WHL’s internet era (1996-present) to score four game-winning goals in a playoff season but never accomplishing the task in one playoff series.
Over the course of Calgary Hitmen history, only three players have ever registered four game-winning goals in a single playoff season:
2015 WHL Playoffs – Adam Tambellini
In 2015, thanks in part to Tambellini’s efforts, the Hitmen advanced to the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship, eventually falling in five games to the Brandon Wheat Kings. Tambellini, a product of Edmonton, Alta., went on to an 11-season pro career, most recently spending the 2025-26 season with HC Davos in Switzerland. He also represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Tambellini was selected by the New York Rangers in the third round (65th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.
2009 WHL Playoffs – Brett Sonne
In 2009, with four game-winning markers from Sonne, the Hitmen advanced to the WHL Championship Series before suffering defeat in six games at the hands of the Kelowna Rockets. Sonne, who hails from Maple Ridge, B.C., was named WHL Player of the Year in 2009. He went on to a nine-season pro career, including 271 career AHL games. Sonne was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round (85th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft.
2007 WHL Playoffs – Derek LeBlanc
In 2007, the Hitmen advanced to the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship, with help from LeBlanc’s four game-winning markers. A product of Brandon, Man., LeBlanc went on to play five seasons of professional hockey upon graduating from the WHL.
When taking a broader look across the WHL, there’s a long list of players to score four game-winning goals in a single playoff, including some impressive names from some impressive teams – many of which advanced to WHL Conference Championships and WHL Championship appearances.
Will Moore and the Hitmen etch themselves further into the WHL history books? Time will tell. For now, they await a second-round opponent.
The first round of the 2026 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien continue Friday, April 3, streaming FREE on Victory+.
WHL Players to Score 4+ Game-Winning Playoff Goals since 1996
2024 – Lynden Lakovic* (Moose Jaw Warriors), Egor Sidorov (Saskatoon Blades)
2022 – Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers)
2019 – Dante Hannoun* (Prince Albert Raiders), Noah Gregor* (Prince Albert Raiders), Brett Leason* (Prince Alberrt Raiders)
2018 – Glenn Gawdin* (Swift Current Broncos), Giorgio Estephan* (Swift Current Broncos), Morgan Geekie (Tri-City Americans)
2017 – Reid Gardiner (5, Kelowna Rockets), Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
2016 – Nolan Patrick* (Brandon Wheat Kings)
2015 – Adam Tambellini (Calgary Hitmen), Tyson Baillie* (5, Kelowna Rockets)
2014 – Brett Pollock* (5, Edmonton Oil Kings), Jaedon Descheneau (Kootenay ICE), Chad Butcher (Medicine Hat Tigers)
2013 – Henrik Samuelsson (5, Edmonton Oil Kings), Ty Rattie* (Portland Winterhawks)
2011 – Matt Fraser* (Kootenay ICE), Cody Eakin* (Kootenay ICE)
2010 – Kruise Reddick (Tri-City Americans)
2009 – Brett Sonne (Calgary Hitmen)
2008 – Ondrej Roman* (Spokane Chiefs)
2006 – Gilbert Brule* (Vancouver Giants)
2005 – Eric Fehr (5, Brandon Wheat Kings), Andrew Ladd (Calgary Hitmen), Lauris Darzins* (Kelowna Rockets)
2004 – Clarke MacArthur* (Medicine Hat Tigers)
2003 – Jesse Schultz* (Kelowna Rockets), Cam Paddock* (Kelowna Rockets)
2002 – Chuck Kobasew (Kelowna Rockets)
2000 – Matt Walker* (Kootenay ICE), Zdenek Blatny* (Kootenay ICE)
1998 – Stefan Cherneski (5, Brandon Wheat Kings)
1996 – Jarome Iginla (5, Kamloops Blazers)
* = won WHL Championship
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