The Calgary Hitmen secured home-ice advantage to start the 2025 Western Hockey League playoffs with a 4-1 win over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday.
It was the Hitmen’s fifth annual Every Child Matters game, this year celebrating six years of partnership with Siksika Health Services.
The Every Child Matters game is part of a larger movement of the same name, and is a recognition and commitment to action to ensure that all children know their importance, and to honour those who attended residential schools in Canada, their families and communities.
The Hitmen and Siksika Health Services are working in partnership to address stereotypes and racism by advancing inclusion through the promotion of Indigenous culture, language and history.
The Hitmen’s penalty kill played a pivotal role in the victory as they continue their pursuit of first place in the Eastern Conference.
The game started with Calgary serving a four-minute double minor, but it didn’t hold them back with Tanner Howe scoring shorthanded, his 17th goal of the season, just over two minutes in.
The Hitmen extended the lead in the second when Ethan Moore potted his 16th of the season off a rush.
Dax Williams added another goal with under five minutes remaining in the period, driving to the net off the faceoff and picking up his own rebound for his second marker of the campaign.
The Wheat Kings got on the board late in the third period with a goal from Nicholas Johnson.
The Hitmen then served their second double minor of the game with 1:30 left, but held off Brandon’s power play. Moore sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
The Hitmen killed off all five Wheat King power plays.
Daniel Hauser was stellar in net once again, making 30 saves. Since being acquired by the Hitmen from the Wenatchee Wild in early January, Hauser has posted a 17-3 record with a 1.81 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.
Ethan Eskit made 36 saves for the Wheat Kings (33-22-7), who have also clinched a playoff spot and sit sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The Hitmen (41-15-6) are now just two points behind the Medicine Hat Tigers for first place in the East, with two games in hand, and five points back of the league-leading Everett Silvertips. Calgary has six games remaining in the regular season.
The Hitmen hit the road this week with stops in Edmonton on Wednesday for the Oil Kings’ Hockey Hooky game (11 a.m.) and in Lethbridge to take on the Hurricanes Friday (7 p.m.).
Calgary returns to the Saddledome to host the Oil Kings on Sunday (2 p.m.).
