The surging Calgary Hitmen are now tied for first place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference following a 3-2 win over the host Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday.
The game remained scoreless until the second period, when Calgary’s Hunter Aura broke the deadlock with a one-timer from the point for his seventh goal of the season. Brandon Gorzynski then extended the lead, scoring his 15th of the campaign on the power play before an announced crowd of 17,846 at Rogers Place for the Oil Kings’ annual Hockey Hooky game.
Edmonton responded in the third period with a power-play goal from Adam Jecho. But Carson Wetsch answered back, netting his 31st goal of the season.
With under four minutes left, Rylan Roersma brought the Oil Kings back within one, but the Hitmen held on for their fourth consecutive win and ninth in the past 10 games.
Goalie Daniel Hauser earned his eighth straight win, making 26 saves for first-star honours. With 121 career WHL victories, Hauser is now just one win away from equalling Nolan Meier’s record set with the Saskatoon Blades in 2022.
The Hitmen (42-15-3-3) moved into a tie for first in the Eastern Conference with the Medicine Hat Tigers, with one game in hand. They are also just four points behind the league-leading Everett Silvertips.
Calgary has four games left in its regular season, and next faces the fourth-place Hurricanes in Lethbridge on Saturday (6 p.m.) before hosting the Oil Kings on Sunday (2 p.m.). Edmonton is currently fifth in the conference.
Having already secured home-ice advantage to start the playoffs, the Hitmen announced that the first two games of their first-round series at the Scotiabank Saddledome will be held on Friday, March 28 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, March 30 (2 p.m.). Their opponent is yet to be determined.
Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. at HitmenHockey.com/Tickets