It’s just one series, but it’s one to get excited about if you’re the Calgary Hitmen. Read More
It’s just one series, but it’s one to get excited about if you’re the Calgary Hitmen. Especially since the franchise hasn’t won a Western Hockey League playoff series in six years. Four second-period goals by the Hitmen led to a first-round series sweep of the Saskatoon Blades in the 2024-25 WHL post-season. “We’re excited,” said
Article content
It’s just one series, but it’s one to get excited about if you’re the Calgary Hitmen.
Article content
Article content
Especially since the franchise hasn’t won a Western Hockey League playoff series in six years.
Article content
Four second-period goals by the Hitmen led to a first-round series sweep of the Saskatoon Blades in the 2024-25 WHL post-season.
Article content
“We’re excited,” said Hitmen head coach Paul McFarland. “I think it’s a great time of year. You work all year, you know, to obviously grow our game and develop players.”
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
And then comes crunch-time to show what you’ve learned.
Article content
Noon News Roundup
Article content
“Give our players all the credit in the world for the time and effort that they put in the season to build the culture and then build the way that we want to play the game,” continued McFarland. “And ultimately, that’s why we’re all excited to be playing games this time of the year.”
Article content
The Game 4 victory — 6-3 over the Blades late Wednesday at SaskTel Centre — means the Hitmen are playing more games.
Article content
At least four more, in fact, as they move on from the Eastern Conference quarterfinal best-of-seven series in the junior hockey playoffs.
Article content
Their playoff opponent is TBD in the conference semifinal — another best-of-seven.
Article content
“What I’m most proud about, to be honest, is it wasn’t just one moment when we knew we’d become a contender,” McFarland said. “It was just the consistency that this team had here for the last — call it — three months. It’s basically been a solid level that we’ve been able to play at.”
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
They were consistent enough through four games to score at least four goals per outing while surrendering no more than two against the Blades.
Article content
Stories You May Like
-
Hitmen goalie Anders Miller making the most of his chance in net
-
Pop-gun playoff resumés not holding back WHL Hitmen
-
Advertisement embed-more-topic
Story continues below
Article content
On Wednesday, it was David Adaszynski, Ben Kindel and Carter Yaremchuk with goals just six minutes apart early in the middle frame to set the Hitmen on their way in Toon Town.
Article content
Goals soon after by Blades Zach Olsen and Hayden Harsanyi cut the lead to one.
Article content
But Kindel’s second of the game — and fourth of the post-season — midway through the period put the Hitmen back on top by a pair at 4-2.
Article content
Oliver Tulk then added extra insurance in the third period with his second goal of the playoffs.
Article content
And Kindel wrapped up scoring with his hat-trick goal late.
Article content
Tanner Howe had three assists for the victors.
Article content
Anders Miller got the win again in the Hitmen crease to finish the series with just six goals surrendered as the goaltender of record. He made 27 saves in Game 4.
Article content
Stay tuned for details on Round 2 of the WHL playoffs.
Article content
Article content
Article content