The Calgary Hitmen held serve on the opening night of the W-H-L Playoffs, doubling the Saskatoon Blades 4-2 Friday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. When it looked like the Bridge City Bunch would have a solid shot at opening the scoring and grab some early momentum in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final, a power play chance turned into a short-handed goal for Calgary.
Tanner Howe’s hard forecheck in the Blue and Gold and centering pass to a wide open Ethan Moore got the Hitmen going in front of 3,770 fans. Near the end of the second period, after Grayden Siepmann tied the score, the veteran Blades’ defenceman tried a long, cross-ice pass in his zone that Oliver Tulk intercepted. The 38-goal man from the regular season waltzed and scored to give Calgary a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Hunter Laing scored in the third period for Saskatoon to make the score more respectable, but the Bridge City Bunch were out-shot 44-17 while the Hitmen won 43 of 65 faceoffs. Evan Gardner was solid in goal for the Blue and Gold, making 40 saves and will be needed to have another strong outing Sunday in Game 2 if the Blades are to gain a split before heading home for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday at SaskTel Centre.
Game time Sunday is 2 o’clock with CJWW’s broadcast beginning at 1:45. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interview with head coach Dan Da Silva plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L.
The Hitmen entered the playoffs as the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference, finishing the regular season with a record of 45-17-3-3, good for 96 points. The Blades, on the other hand, were the #6 seed, going 37-23-4-4 for 82 points. This matchup marks the first playoff series between these two teams in 25 years, with Calgary previously winning both of their encounters in 1998 and 2000.
Calgary has a lifetime playoff record of 136-116, including a 24-22 mark all-time in Game 1’s. They have competed in 46 series prior to this one, winning 27 and losing 19. The Hitmen are also 31-24 in post-season overtime games, showcasing their experience in high-pressure situations.
As for the players, Ethan Moore is currently on a five-game point streak, while David Adaszynski has points in three straight games. The Hitmen closed the regular season strong, going 12-2-0-1 in their last 15 games, and outshooting their opponents in each of the last nine games. They also surrendered an Eastern Conference low of 183 goals while scoring 266, ranking second in the conference.
Looking at the individual performances, Oliver Tulk led the Hitmen in the regular season with 38 goals, followed closely by Ben Kindel with 35 and Carson Wetsch with 33. This marks the first time since the 2013-14 season that Calgary has three 30-goal scorers on their roster.
Despite their success, the Hitmen have some injury concerns to address. Daniel Hauser is day-to-day with a lower body injury, while Lukas Hansen is also day-to-day with an upper body injury. These absences could impact their lineup as they move forward in the playoffs.
As for Saskatoon, their hopes rely heavily on the performance of goalie Evan Gardner, who has been a standout in net despite the loss. He stopped 40 out of 44 shots in Game 1, showcasing his ability to keep his team in the game even when the odds are stacked against them.
Looking ahead, the Blades will need to regroup quickly. Game 2 is set for Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Calgary, where they will look to even the series before heading back home for Games 3 and 4. The Hitmen will aim to build on their strong start and take a commanding lead in this best-of-seven series.
The Hitmen's home ice advantage at the Scotiabank Saddledome, where they went 26-6-1-1 during the regular season, will be crucial as they seek to maintain momentum. As the playoffs unfold, both teams will look to their key players to step up and deliver in this high-stakes environment.
Will the Blades bounce back in Game 2, or will the Hitmen continue to assert their dominance? Only time will tell as the action heats up in the WHL Playoffs.
