2026 WHL Graduates: Calgary Hitmen
Over the month of August, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2025-26 season in a 23-part, team-by-team series.
Today, we continue with the graduating players from the Calgary Hitmen.
Axel Hurtig (D)
Hometown: Högås, Sweden
WHL Career Stats: 119 GP – 11 G-24 A – 35 points
NHL Draft: 2023 – Seventh Round, 208th Overall (Calgary Flames)
CHL Import Draft: 2023 – First Round, 33rd Overall (Calgary Hitmen)
Originally selected 33rd overall by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2023 CHL Import Draft, Swedish-born blueliner Axel Hurtig wasted little time finding his footing in Western Canada.
Hurtig made his WHL debut with the Hitmen on September 28, 2024 against the Edmonton Oil Kings. And, four games later, the looming defenceman picked up his first WHL point – an assist against the visiting Vancouver Giants.
Yet, Hurtig’s selection by the Hitmen wasn’t the last time the Swede would hear his name called by a Calgary-based club. Hurtig was also selected by the Calgary Flames with the 208th-overall selection in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Hurtig’s rookie season in the Western League was one the blueliner won’t soon forget, as he collected 16 points (5 G-11 A) in 55 games while also representing Sweden at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
His second season in Calgary brought another step forward, both on and off the ice.
During the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season, Hurtig posted a career-high of 19 points (6 G-13 A) and a plus-21 rating across 64 appearances. He also took on a larger leadership role, becoming the 33rd captain in Hitmen franchise history and the first European player to serve as the Club’s captain.
Then, his NHL dream moved one step closer to reality.
On April 1, 2026, the Flames inked Hurtig to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Hurtig finished his WHL career with 35 points (11 G-24 A) in 119 regular season games, adding six points (2 G-4 A) in 19 postseason appearances.
From a first-round CHL Import selection to a WHL captain and Calgary Flames prospect, Hurtig now turns his attention to the next chapter of his hockey career.
Harrison Lodewyk (F)
Hometown: Red Deer, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 284 GP – 45 G-59 A – 104 points
WHL Draft: 2020 – Second Round, 37th Overall (Prince Albert Raiders)
Harrison Lodewyk spent more than four seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders before making his way to Calgary for the final season of his WHL career.
Selected 37th overall by the Raiders in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, the Red Deer product made his Western Hockey League debut on October 1, 2021, against the Regina Pats.
Lodewyk went on to appear in 233 games with Prince Albert, collecting 68 points (28 G-40 A) before the 2025-26 season. During his time with the Raiders, the forward also emerged not only as a strong, two-way player but a strong academic. Following the 2021-22 WHL Season, Lodewyk was named a finalist for the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the WHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year.
On October 2, 2025, the veteran forward was acquired by Calgary, making his Hitmen debut on October 4, 2025 against the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Between Prince Albert and Calgary, Lodewyk recorded 40 points (18 G-22 A) in 55 regular season games during the 2025-26 campaign, establishing career highs in goals, assists and points.
During the 2026 WHL Playoffs, Lodewyk appeared in seven games as Calgary reached the second round for a second consecutive season. In total, Lodewyk was featured in 28 postseason games between the Raiders and Hitmen, collecting eight points (4 G-4 A).
Lodewyk closes out his Western League career with 108 points (46 G-62 A) in 284 appearances.
Ethan Moore (F)
Hometown: Okotoks, Alta.
WHL Career Stats: 260 GP – 72 G-75 A – 147 points
WHL Draft: Listed (Calgary Hitmen)
From going undrafted in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft to becoming the first WHL player since 1996 to score four game-winning goals in single playoff series, Ethan Moore’s rise through the Western Hockey League’s ranks was nothing short of inspirational.
And, it all started when the Okotoks, Alta., product signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Hitmen on November 8, 2021. He then made his WHL debut on December 30, 2021, against the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Moore spent his entire five-season WHL career in Calgary, steadily developing into a dependable offensive contributor. He broke through with his first 20-goal campaign in the 2024-25 WHL Season before finishing the regular season with 36 points (23 G-13 A) in 68 games before adding seven points in 11 appearances during the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
His final season with the Hitmen proved to be his most productive.
Moore registered 54 points (25 G-29 A) in 66 regular season games during the 2025-26 campaign, establishing career highs in goals, assists and points.
But, it was in the 2026 WHL Playoffs where Moore truly etched his name into the Hitmen record book.
During Calgary’s first-round series against the Brandon Wheat Kings, Moore scored the game-winning goal in each of the Hitmen’s four victories, including the longest 1-0 playoff game in the WHL’s Internet Era.
He finished the 2026 WHL Playoffs with nine goals and 11 points in eight appearances, bringing his career postseason totals to 20 points in 24 games.
After five seasons and 260 regular season games with his hometown club, Moore closes out his WHL career with 147 points (72 G-75 A).
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