Hitmen netminder Hauser named WHL Goaltender of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Calgary Hitmen netminder Daniel Hauser has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending Sunday, March 2, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

This marks the second straight week the veteran has earned the weekly award as he plays his way into the WHL history book.

Hauser went 2-0-0-0 on the week without allowing a goal. His four straight shutouts have set a new franchise record for consecutive clean sheets.

The Chestermere, Alta. product backstopped Calgary to a 3-0 win over the Swift Current Broncos in front of more than 17,000 fans at the Scotiabank Saddledome on February 26. Hauser made 23 saves and held the Broncos scoreless on four power-play opportunities. One of his biggest moments came late in the third period when he denied Luke Mistelbacher at point blank range. Hitmen veteran David Adaszynski snagged the rebound and quickly sprung 2025 NHL Draft-eligible Ben Kindel for a breakaway goal. Hauser was named first star of the night with his third straight shutout.

The 5-foot-11, 166-pound netminder dominated in his next outing by blanking the Kelowna Rockets 7-0. Hauser stopped all 23 shots he faced, including four power-play opportunities, to pick up first star again in the historic victory.

Hauser has now set two Hitmen franchise records.

His four straight shutouts beat the previous record of three, first set by Justin Pogge in 2005-06 and then matched by Martin Jones in 2009-10. Hauser has not allowed a goal in 243:23, surpassing Pogge’s mark of 228:47 in 2006.

Hauser is now tied for first in consecutive shutouts by a WHL netminder, matching Chris Worthy’s four-game run from 1967-68. His 243:23-minute run is just shy of Worthy’s 265:13 WHL record.

Might need a couple days to dry out Hauser’s equipment 😂 pic.twitter.com/VZUdH3F5RL

— x – Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) March 3, 2025

The veteran Hauser is 15-3-0-0 since being traded to the Hitmen from Wenatchee in January and sports an overall record of 23-12-2-1.

Hauser has put up a 2.62 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and five shutouts this season. He leads all WHL netminders in clean sheets, sits second in GAA and save percentage and fifth in wins.

His numbers are even more eye-popping when you isolate his time with the Hitmen, which sees his goals-against average improve to a paltry 1.85 and his save percentage shoot up to .926.

The 21-year-old has been an important part of Calgary’s most successful season in nearly a decade and brings essential experience to the Hitmen’s upcoming playoff run.

Hauser backstopped the Winnipeg ICE to appearances in the Eastern Conference Championship in 2022 and the WHL Championship Series in 2023 while making the WHL East Division First All-Star Team in back-to-back years.

He’s the WHL’s active wins leader with a 118-35-8-1 career record, a 2.60 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage and 17 clean sheets. Hauser is two wins away from moving into a tie for second in all-time wins by a WHL netminder as he chases the 120-win mark set by Tyson Sexsmith (Medicine Hat Tigers, Vancouver Giants) and Corey Hirsch (Kamloops Blazers). Saskatoon Blades great Nolan Maier owns the all-time wins record with 122 regular-season victories.

Hauser will join the NCAA’s University of Wisconsin upon the completion of his WHL eligibility.

Calgary (39-15-3-3) is on a 6-0-0-1 run to sit second in the Central Division and third in the Eastern Conference.

The Hitmen will continue to chase history as they host the Swift Current Broncos on Friday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. MST.

2024-25 WHL Goaltender of the Week
September 23, 2024: Koen Cleaver, Lethbridge Hurricanes
September 30, 2024: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
October 7, 2024: Spencer Michnik, Victoria Royals
October 15, 2024: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
October 21, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades (Columbus Blue Jackets)
October 28, 2024: Jesse Sanche, Everett Silvertips
November 4, 2024: Carson Bjarnason, Brandon Wheat Kings (Philadelphia Flyers)
November 11, 2024: Nathan Preston, Tri-City Americans
November 18, 2024: Dawson Cowan, Spokane Chiefs
November 25, 2024: Alex Worthington, Edmonton Oil Kings
December 2, 2024: Anders Miller, Calgary Hitmen
December 9, 2024: Raiden LeGall, Everett Silvertips
December 16, 2024: Jackson Unger, Lethbridge Hurricanes
December 23, 2024: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
December 30, 2024: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
January 6, 2025: Burke Hood, Vancouver Giants
January 13, 2025: Jayden Kraus, Victoria Royals
January 20, 2025: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
January 27, 2025: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
February 3, 2025: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
February 10, 2025: Johnny Hicks, Victoria Royals
February 18, 2025: Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle Thunderbirds (Buffalo Sabres)
February 24, 2025: Daniel Hauser, Calgary Hitmen

 

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 offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 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 close to 60 years. The WHL is also a 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.

 

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