Penguins prospect Dach named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month for December

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Pittsburgh Penguins prospect and Calgary Hitmen forward Kale Dach has been named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month for December.

Over the course of December, the 18-year-old product of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., recorded 14 points (8G-6A) in nine games, helping the Hitmen go 6-2-2-0. Of his eight goals, three were game winners.

Selected by the Penguins in the seventh round (201st overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft, Dach registered points in seven of the nine games he played in December, including five multi-point outings.

On Saturday, December 6, Dach struck for the game-winning goal along with an assist, as the Hitmen stymied the Lethbridge Hurricanes by a 4-1 score.

Friday, December 12, saw Dach back on the scoresheet as he found the back of the net 14 seconds into the third period to notch his second game-winning goal of the month, in this a 4-1 triumph over the Red Deer Rebels.

The following night, Dach was once again the author of the game-winning tally, opening the scoring on a power play as the Hitmen thumped the Red Deer Rebels by a 9-0 score Saturday, December 13. Dach found the back of the net for a second time, once again on a power play, early in the second period. He finished the night with two tallies and was named first star of the game.

Dach logged a three-point outing (2G-1A) Wednesday, December 17, as the Hitmen thumped the Swift Current Broncos by a 9-2 score at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Midway through the second period, he scored at even strength to give the Hitmen a 4-1 lead. Late in the third period, he registered a penalty shot goal to conclude the scoring for the Hitmen.

Returning from the holiday break, Dach was back up to his old tricks, securing three points (1G-2A) Saturday, December 27, as the Hitmen fell to the Kamloops Blazers by a 9-5 score. Dach’s lone goal in the contest represented his 20th of the campaign.

As the Hitmen continued their swing through the WHL’s B.C. Division, Dach logged two assists Tuesday, December 30, in a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Giants. He provided the primary helper on a first period marker from Landon Amrhein, which went on to stand as the eventual game-winning goal. Dach

With 42 points (21G-21A) in 34 games, the Penguins prospect leads the Hitmen in scoring. His 21 goals are tied for seventh across the entire WHL.

Originally selected by the Hitmen in the fifth round (95th overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Dach signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Hitmen on January 24, 2025.

Heading into the weekend, the Hitmen (18-10-5-1) are sixth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference, having gone 6-2-2-0 in their past 10 games.

Next up, Dach and the Hitmen visit the B.C. Division leading Prince George Cougars (23-11-2-0) Saturday, January 3 (7 p.m. MT), at CN Centre.

Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month

September / October: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
November: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers

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 consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the 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.