NHL Draft-eligible forward Kindel sets Hitmen franchise record in Wednesday Night in the Dub victory
Calgary, Alta.- Ben Kindel’s historic night led the Calgary Hitmen to a 5-1 win over the 2024 WHL Champion Moose Jaw Warriors in Wednesday Night in the Dub Action.
Kindel tallied a trio of assists to set a new franchise record for longest point steak by a Hitmen Player.
The top 2025 NHL Draft prospect has 42 points (14G-28A) in 21 straight games.
Pavel Brendl set the previous mark of 20 games back in 1999.
Not to be outdone, star veteran Oliver Tulk completed a hat trick for the Eastern Conference powerhouse squad.
Despite the disparity between the teams in the standings, the match was tight through the first period.
Hitmen leading scorer Oliver Tulk drew first blood just over a minute into the match on a strong drive to the net from a faceoff.
Oliver Tulk gets the #WHLWednesday Night in The Dub festivities going early!
📺 | https://t.co/nk1CX3biO9 pic.twitter.com/5PeDbObnM3
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 9, 2025
The Hitmen carried a 1-0 lead into the middle frame, despite outshooting the Warriors 20-6.
But Moose Jaw made it interesting with a deceptive powerplay shot from clutch defenceman Aiden Ziprick.
The Russell, Man. product also came up big for the Warriors with the game-winning goal to send the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs packing at the 2024 Memorial Cup.
Aiden Ziprick is an expert at scoring clutch goals.
Just ask his round robin, game-winner at the 2024 #MemorialCup AND tonight's game-tying goal during Wednesday Night in The Dub!
📺 | https://t.co/nk1CX3biO9@MJWARRIORS | #WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/M3LlpW7C7J
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 9, 2025
From there, Calgary opened the floodgates.
David Adazynski fired home the game-winner by converting a Chase Valliant pass as they streaked down the ice on a two-on-one opportunity.
Fresh off of a run with Sweden at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, Calgary Flames prospect Axel Hurtig got in on the action with a powerful one-timer for his third of the season.
With a secondary assist on the play, Ben Kindel broke the Hitmen point streak record.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS ARE FOR BREAKING RECORDS!
With an assist on @NHLFlames prospect Axel Hurtig's goal, 2025 #NHLDraft eligible Ben Kindel has set a @WHLHitmen franchise record for longest point streak.
📺 | https://t.co/nk1CX3biO9 pic.twitter.com/LkWGhq5Ksd
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 9, 2025
Kindel, an alternate captain for the Hitmen, added a primary helper shortly after by wiring a seeing-eye pass to spring Tulk for a short break and a 4-1 lead.
✌️ for Tulk!
📺 | https://t.co/nk1CX3biO9@WHLHitmen | #WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/y3pnJUDLW5
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 9, 2025
Kindel teed up his linemate again in the third period as Tulk completed the hat trick for his 20th goal of the season.
The duo aren’t just neck and neck to lead the Hitmen in points- Kindel and Tulk sit second and third in the WHL points race with 61 points each.
It's a #WHLWednesday Night in The Dub hat-trick for Oliver Tulk!🧢
📺 | https://t.co/nk1CX3biO9 pic.twitter.com/R6lnNig2eC
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 9, 2025
Rookie netminder Anders Miller improved to 9-2-0-0 in his short Calgary tenure with a 23-save performance, while NHL Draft-eligible Matthew Hutchison put forward an admirable effort in his Warriors debut with 48 stops and a .905 save percentage.
The game marks Hutchison’s busiest night of the season.
Calgary pulled off the big victory despite being without key players like Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk (week-to-week) and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Tanner Howe and newly-acquired Vancouver Canucks pick Sawyer Mynio, who are on a brief break after representing Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Hitmen (22-11-3-1) have now won four straight games to remain neck-and-neck with the Medicine Hat Tigers for the top of the Central Division and the Eastern Conference, though the Tigers and Conference-leading Saskatoon Blades own the tiebreaker.
Calgary continues a five-game homestand as they host the Blades (22-12-2-2) on Friday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
Moose Jaw (10-24-3-2) return home for an extended homestand at the Hangar, starting with a rivalry match against the Regina Pats (10-21-4-2) on Friday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. ST.
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