The Calgary Hitmen are a
major junior
Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally for players between 16 and 21 years of age. Junior hockey leagues in the United States and Canada are considered amateur (with some exceptions) and operate within regions of each cou ...
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...
team based in
Calgary,
Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior h ...
(WHL). They play their home games at the
Scotiabank Saddledome.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a local-born
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
, was a founding owner as well as the inspiration for the team's name. Established in 1994, the team has been owned by the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
hockey club since 1997. They are the third WHL team to represent Calgary, preceded by the
Centennials and
Wranglers.
The Hitmen have finished with the
best record in the WHL four times, and qualified for the playoffs for thirteen consecutive seasons between 1998 and 2010. In 1999, they became the first Calgary team to win the
President's Cup
The Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world minus Europe. Europe competes against the United States in a similar but considerably ...
as league champions, and the first to represent the city in the
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League, a consortium of three major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tournament played between t ...
since the
Calgary Canadians
The Calgary Canadians were a junior ice hockey team that played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1924, they became the first team from Alberta to play for the Memorial Cup, and in 1926, the first to win it.
In 1924, the Canadians won the Western C ...
won the national junior title in 1926. The Hitmen hold numerous WHL attendance records, and in 2004–05 became the first team in
Canadian Hockey League history to average 10,000 fans per game. Thirty-nine former Hitmen players have gone on to play in the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
.
Franchise history
Graham James left his position as coach and general manager of the
Swift Current Broncos to found the Hitmen in 1994. He organized a group of eighteen investors in the club, including star
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
players
Theoren Fleury and
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven Sakic (; born July 7, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He played his entire 21-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. Named captain ...
, along with
Bret Hart
Bret Hart (born July 2, 1957) is a Canadian-American retired professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE under a legend's contract. A member of the Hart wrestling family and a second-generation wrestler, he has an amateur wrestling back ...
, famous for his exploits in the
World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and var ...
.
The
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
, who had just assumed control of the then
Saddledome
Scotiabank Saddledome is a multi-use indoor arena in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Located in Stampede Park in the southeast end of downtown Calgary, the Saddledome was built in 1983 to replace the Stampede Corral as the home of the Calgary Flame ...
and were looking to fill extra dates in the building, were receptive to the new team.
Calgary had been without a WHL team since the
Wranglers moved south to become the
Lethbridge Hurricanes
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team currently members of the Eastern Conference (Central Division) of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team is based in Lethbridge, Alberta, and play their home games at the ...
in 1987. The league's expansion into Calgary was met with scepticism, as the league had previously failed in Western Canada's largest markets of
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
,
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
, Calgary, and
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...
, when in competition with the NHL.
The
Stampede Corral
The Stampede Corral was a multi-purpose venue (ice hockey, professional wrestling, rodeo, tennis) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Located on the grounds of Stampede Park, the arena was completed in 1950 at a cost of C$1.25 million ($ million tod ...
has served as a second home for the odd home game when the Saddledome is unavailable. They used the Corral for regular season home games in 1995–1996 and playoff games in 1998 and 2016.
Controversial beginnings
The club selected its name and logo as an homage to
Bret "The Hitman" Hart. The team's distinctive pink, grey and black jerseys were also modelled after Hart's ring attire. The logo proved immensely popular and Hitmen merchandise sold well at many local retailers. However, the name and logo were also subject to heavy criticism from segments of the public and the business community, who panned both as negative stereotypes of
violence within the sport. Among the chief critics of the new logo was the Flames organization. They had received calls from concerned business people over theme and shared that sentiment. Struggling to attract corporate sponsors, the Hitmen chose to scrap the "
Jason Voorhees
Jason Voorhees () is a character from the ''Friday the 13th'' series. He first appeared in '' Friday the 13th'' (1980) as the young son of camp-cook-turned-killer Mrs. Voorhees, in which he was portrayed by Ari Lehman. Created by Victor Mi ...
"-style logo in favour of an alternate "starburst" logo just two months after it was unveiled. The club went back to the original logo in 1996.
The Hitmen entered their first season playing in the newly formed Central Division, and were predicted to finish as high as third in the five-team division. Instead, they finished as the second-worst regular season team in the league, posting an 18–51–3 record. The Hitmen lost
CAD$250,000 in their first season and saw their season ticket base halved to 700 for the
1996–97 season. The losses led to questions about the viability of the club.
Citing personal reasons, James stunned the organization when he resigned as coach and general manager on , 1996. Two days later, the
Calgary Police Service
Calgary Police Service (CPS) is the municipal police service of the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is the largest municipal police service in Alberta and third largest municipal force in Canada behind the Toronto Police Service and the Mont ...
revealed that James was being investigated on allegations he
sexually abused
Sexual abuse or sex abuse, also referred to as molestation, is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of another. Molestation often refers to an instance of sexual assau ...
two former players while he was with the
Swift Current Broncos. James was charged, and in pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. Upon James' conviction, and sentencing to 3½ years in prison, the Hitmen attempted to distance themselves from their former coach.
The Hitmen struggled on the ice as well, again missing the playoffs after falling to a record of 15–53–4.
The spectre of the Graham James scandal hurt the franchise.
The original investors, many of whom played for or were otherwise associated with James, sold the team to the Flames for approximately in . It was widely speculated that the new owners would change the team name, possibly to the ''Junior Flames'', however they chose to retain the name although they adopted a new colour scheme and updated the logo.
First championship
Dean Clark took over as head coach shortly after James' resignation, and led the
1997–98 Hitmen to a remarkable turnaround. The team improved to a 40–28–4 record and first-place finish in the Central Division, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
They defeated the
Saskatoon Blades
The Saskatoon Blades are a major junior ice hockey team playing in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League, formerly the Western Canadian Hockey League (WCHL). They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195-seat SaskTe ...
and
Swift Current Broncos to reach the Eastern Conference final before falling to the
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They are members of the Western Hockey League (WHL) since joining the league in the 1967–68 season. Previously, they played in the Manitoba Junior Hocke ...
. Clark was awarded the
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy The Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Coach of the Year in the Western Hockey League. It was named in honour of Dunc McCallum, who coached the Brandon Wheat Kings from 1976–81, compiling a 251–123–41 record during that ...
as the WHL's top coach, and also won the
Canadian Hockey League's
Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award. Calgary improved to 51–13–8 in
1998–99, finishing one point ahead of the
Kamloops Blazers
The Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team plays in the B.C. Division of the Western Conference, is based out of Kamloops, British Columbia, and play home games at Sandman Centre.
The Blazers o ...
for the
regular season title.
Led by
Brad Moran,
Pavel Brendl and goaltender Alexandre Fomitchev, the Hitmen lost just five games in the playoffs en route to their first
league championship. They won the title at home before a WHL playoff record crowd of 17,139.
They became the first Calgary-based team to qualify for the
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League, a consortium of three major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tournament played between t ...
since the
Calgary Canadians
The Calgary Canadians were a junior ice hockey team that played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1924, they became the first team from Alberta to play for the Memorial Cup, and in 1926, the first to win it.
In 1924, the Canadians won the Western C ...
won the
1926 title.
In the
1999 Memorial Cup
The 1999 Memorial Cup took place from May 15–23 at the Ottawa Civic Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was the 81st annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). P ...
, the Hitmen opened their tournament with a 5–3 victory over the
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overa ...
's
Belleville Bulls
The Belleville Bulls were a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 and based in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The team played in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. The team moved to Hamilton, Ontario ...
, followed by a 4–3 loss to the host
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67's are a major junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, that plays in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Established during Canada's centennial year of 1967 and named in honour of this, the 67's currently play their h ...
. They followed with a 3–1 win over the
Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (french: Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec; abbreviated ''QMJHL'' in English, ''LHJMQ'' in French) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The ...
. Finishing atop the round robin standings, the Hitmen earned a bye into the championship game, and a rematch against the 67's. The championship game was a back-and-forth affair. Ottawa held 4–1 and 6–5 leads, while Calgary led 5–4 at one point and tied the game late to send it to overtime.
The Hitmen fell short of winning the title however, as Ottawa's
Matt Zultek
Matt Zultek (born March 12, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. The Kings had acquired this selection from the St. Louis ...
scored the winning goal 1:58 into overtime. Brendl and Matt Kinch were named to the Memorial Cup All-Star team.
The Hitmen entered the
1999–2000 season with a strong squad, along with expectations at making another run to the Memorial Cup.
The club finished the regular season with a record of 58–12–2–2, once again winning the regular season title.
The team set franchise records for victories (58) and points (120), which stood until the 2008–09 year.
After sweeping the
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The Warriors play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Moose Jaw Events Centre ...
and Saskatoon Blades, the Hitmen were upset by the
Kootenay Ice
The Kootenay Ice (officially stylized as ICE) were a major junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia, and competed in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team played its home games at Western Financial Place. The franchise w ...
in the Eastern Conference final, falling four games to one.
2000s
The Hitmen went through a rebuilding period and finished third or fourth in the Central Division between 2001 and 2004, winning only one playoff series during that time. The Hitmen acquired goaltender
Justin Pogge from the
Prince George Cougars
The Prince George Cougars are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team currently members of the B.C. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team is based in Prince George, British Columbia, and plays its home ...
during the
2004–05 season. Pogge's goaltending, along with the offensive leadership of forward
Andrew Ladd
Andrew Joseph Ladd (born December 12, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Winn ...
, saw the Hitmen win their first playoff series in four years.
They could not follow up on their victory over the
Lethbridge Hurricanes
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team currently members of the Eastern Conference (Central Division) of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team is based in Lethbridge, Alberta, and play their home games at the ...
, however, losing their second round series against the
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They are members of the Western Hockey League (WHL) since joining the league in the 1967–68 season. Previously, they played in the Manitoba Junior Hocke ...
in seven games.
The Hitmen were heavily marketed by the Flames during the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
's
2004–05 lock-out
A lockout is a work stoppage or denial of employment initiated by the management of a company during a labour dispute. In contrast to a strike, in which employees refuse to work, a lockout is initiated by employers or industry owners.
Lockouts ...
. As a result, the Hitmen averaged 10,062 fans per game and set a new league attendance record. The season total of 362,227 fans smashed the old record by over 45,000. The Hitmen became the first
Canadian Hockey League team to average over 10,000 fans per game, having the highest average attendance of any hockey team—junior or professional—in North America that year.
The
2005–06 Hitmen battled the
Medicine Hat Tigers
The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) who play in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Divis ...
for the top spot in the Western Hockey League for most of the season. Calgary finished with 101 points, their best total since
1999–2000, however, finishing two points behind Medicine Hat for the best record in the league.
The team again disappointed in the playoffs, falling to the
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The Warriors play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Moose Jaw Events Centre ...
in the Eastern Conference semi-final.
Pogge's performance during the season earned him honours as both the WHL
player of the year
Several sports leagues honour their best player with an award called Player of the Year (POY) . In the United States, this type of award is usually called a Most Valuable Player award.
Association football
In association football, this award is he ...
and CHL
goaltender of the year.
Calgary fell to third in the Central Division in
2006–07.
In the playoffs, they upset the
Kootenay Ice
The Kootenay Ice (officially stylized as ICE) were a major junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia, and competed in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team played its home games at Western Financial Place. The franchise w ...
, who finished 19-points ahead of Calgary in the regular season. The Hitmen then defeated the East Division champion Brandon Wheat Kings to reach the Eastern Conference final for the fourth time in franchise history, where they were subsequently defeated by the Tigers.
The Hitmen entered the
2007–08 season with expectations of being strong contenders, voted the pre-season pick to finish atop the Eastern Conference by the league's coaches and general managers. The team lived up to expectations, winning the Central Division, and finishing with the best record in the East for the first time since 2000. During a late season game, Calgary broke the league's single-game attendance record, as an announced crowd of 19,305 watched Calgary defeat Kootenay by a score of 6 goals to 1. In the playoffs, the Hitmen defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors and
Swift Current Broncos in six games apiece, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive season.
Second championship
Following the graduation of several players, including
Karl Alzner, who was named both WHL player of the year and CHL
defenceman of the year, the
2008–09 Hitmen were expected to enter a rebuilding period. Instead, they captured the franchise's third Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the regular season champion, earning the top seed in the playoffs. The team tied or broke 21 franchise records during the regular season, including wins (59), points (122) and goals for (330).
Joel Broda
Joel Broda (born November 24, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He was selected by the Washington Capitals in the 5th round, 144th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Playing career
On May 7, 2010, Broda won the Ed Chy ...
led the league with 53 goals, while
Brandon Kozun and
Brett Sonne
Brett Sonne (born May 16, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He is a former prospect of the St. Louis Blues organization, having been selected by the Blues in the third round, 85th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He ...
finished second and third in league scoring with 108 and 100 points respectively; it was only the second time in franchise history that two players topped the 100-point mark in the same season. In the playoffs, the Hitmen won 12 straight games, sweeping the
Edmonton Oil Kings,
Lethbridge Hurricanes
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team currently members of the Eastern Conference (Central Division) of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team is based in Lethbridge, Alberta, and play their home games at the ...
and
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They are members of the Western Hockey League (WHL) since joining the league in the 1967–68 season. Previously, they played in the Manitoba Junior Hocke ...
to reach the WHL finals for the first time since 1999. In the finals, they were stunned by the
Kelowna Rockets
The Kelowna Rockets are a major junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The Rockets play in the Western Hockey League (WHL), out of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). They play their home games at Prospera Place.
The R ...
, losing the first three games of the series before winning the next two to extend the series to a sixth game. The Hitmen lost game six in overtime, and the series 4–2, to end their season. Sonne was named WHL Player of the Year, while General Manager
Kelly Kisio
Kelvin Wade Kisio (born September 18, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who currently serves as a scout for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kisio played 761 games in the NHL as a centre for th ...
was named Executive of the Year for the second time in recognition of the Hitmen's season.
Calgary again finished with the best record in the regular season with 107 points on the strength of Kozun's CHL leading 107 points and the goaltending of
Martin Jones, who was named goaltender of the year in the WHL.
The Hitmen's playoffs nearly ended quickly as they lost three of the first four games in their opening round playoff series against the Warriors before winning three consecutive games to take the series in seven. They then beat the Tigers and Wheat Kings in six and five games respectively to reach the WHL championship series for the second consecutive year. Entering the final against the
Tri-City Americans
The Tri-City Americans are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League, based in Kennewick, Washington. The team plays its home games at Toyota Center. Every game is broadcast locally on the Tri-City Americans' flagship radio ...
, the 11 players who returned from the 2009 finals lost vowed not to suffer a repeat of their disappointing finish to the previous season. Named the playoff MVP, Jones allowed only seven goals against in the final as the Hitmen defeated the Americans in five games to win their second Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history. The victory, in front of a home crowd of over 15,000 fans, earned the Hitmen a berth in the
2010 Memorial Cup
The 2010 Memorial Cup was a four-team round-robin format tournament played during May 14–23, 2010 in Brandon, Manitoba. It was the 92nd annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey Lea ...
tournament. At the tournament, Calgary posted a 2–1 record in the round robin, defeating the QMJHL's
Moncton Wildcats
The Moncton Wildcats are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1995–96 season, known as the Moncton Alpines for one season, and as the Wildca ...
and the host Brandon Wheat Kings, but lost the semi-final in overtime, also against Brandon.
Following the graduation of many of the team's top scorers, the Hitmen fell to last place the WHL in
2010–11
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. ...
, at one point tying a franchise record with 12 consecutive losses. As part of the
2011 Heritage Classic
The 2011 Heritage Classic was a regular season outdoor National Hockey League (NHL) game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames. The game was played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on February 20, 2011. The Flame ...
, the Hitmen hosted the Regina Pats in an
outdoor game at
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society.
The stadium is between the downtown core and the University of Calgary, north ...
on February 21, 2011. Regina won 3–2 before 20,888 fans, setting new WHL and CHL attendance records, and proving the highest attended junior game of all-time.
In 2019, the Hitmen hosted the Corral Series, a three-game series paying tribute to former teams that used to play in the Corral.
Community impact
The Hitmen are active within the community, supporting numerous programs and charities. They host an annual
teddy bear toss each December. The 13th annual ''
Petro Canada
Petro-Canada is a retail and wholesale marketing brand subsidiary of Suncor Energy. Until 1991, it was a federal Crown corporation (a state-owned enterprise). In August 2009, Petro-Canada merged with Suncor Energy, with Suncor shareholders rec ...
Teddy Bear Toss'', held on , 2007, saw what the Hitmen claim to be a
world record
A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...
26,919 bears tossed on to the ice by 17,341 fans. The bears are donated to charities throughout the
Calgary area. A few of the bears are personally delivered by the players to the
Alberta Children's Hospital, an event highly anticipated by patients attending the hospital.
The Hitmen are also partners with the Calgary Board of Education and their ''Read On! Literacy for Life'' program.
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Alberta, Canada, located midway on the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor. Red Deer serves central Alberta, and key industries include health care, retail trade, construction, oil and gas, hospitality, manufacturing and education ...
author
Sigmund Brouwer has released numerous
young adult
A young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages of human development significantly influencing the definition of ...
-oriented
mystery novel
Mystery is a fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains mysterious until the end of the story. Often within a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a re ...
s about the team and fictitious Hitmen players.
The ninth book in the series, titled ''Hitmen Star'', was published in 2008. Copies of the books are distributed to sixth grade students throughout Calgary and southern
Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
schools; with Hitmen and former
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
players helping to encourage students to take an active interest in reading.
Current roster
Season-by-season record
''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''
NHL alumni
Thirty-eight players have been selected from the Hitmen roster at the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
's
entry drafts.
Of those, nine players were selected in the first round. The highest drafted players in club history were
Pavel Brendl (
1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shoot ...
) and
Andrew Ladd
Andrew Joseph Ladd (born December 12, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Winn ...
(
2004). Both players were selected fourth overall.
Forty-four former Hitmen players have gone on to play in the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
. The first was
Ryan Bast
Ryan Bast (born August 27, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Undrafted, he played two games in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1998–99 season.
Bast concluded his 11-year professio ...
, who played two games with the
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Well ...
in
1998–99.
Andrew Ladd
Andrew Joseph Ladd (born December 12, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Winn ...
has gone on to win two
Stanley Cup championships since graduating: with the
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ...
in 2006 and the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...
in 2010. His former Hitmen teammate,
Ryan Getzlaf
Ryan Getzlaf (born May 10, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Getzlaf played his entire NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks and is the franchise's all-time leading scorer. A first-round selection, 19th overall, at the 200 ...
won the Cup with the
Anaheim Ducks in 2007, and former
New York Islanders teammate
Johnny Boychuk has one as a member of the 2011
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...
.
Head coaches
Dean Clark has thus far been the most successful coach for the Calgary Hitmen. He led the team between 1996 and 2001, and in that time won more WHL games than any other coach. He was named coach of the year in both the WHL and CHL in 1998. Clark led the Hitmen to three division titles, two regular season titles, one
league championship, and coached the Hitmen to their first
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League, a consortium of three major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tournament played between t ...
final.
Kelly Kisio
Kelvin Wade Kisio (born September 18, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who currently serves as a scout for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kisio played 761 games in the NHL as a centre for th ...
is the team's former head coach from the
2004–05 season to the end of the
2007–08 season, a role he shared with
Dean Evason
Dean Clement Evason (born August 22, 1964) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is the current head coach for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Evason was selected by the Washington Capitals in t ...
in his first year at the helm of the Hitmen. Kisio stepped down as coach in 2008, naming former assistant
Dave Lowry, as head coach for the
2008–09 season. Lowry was promoted to an assistant with the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
after leading the Hitmen to a 122-point season in his rookie year. He was replaced by
Mike Williamson, who led the team to a WHL championship in 2010 but left the team in 2014. He was followed by
Mark French
Mark French (born 13 October 1984) is a retired Australian sprint track cyclist. He started cycling competitively relatively late, at the age of 15, in 1999.
Drug scandal
French is most recognised for the 2004 scandal where he was accused of ...
.
Individual records
;Season
* Most
goals
A goal is an objective that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.
Goal may also refer to:
Sport
* Goal (sports), a method of scoring in many sports, or the physical structure or area where scoring occurs
** Goals, the goal frame in ...
, 73,
Pavel Brendl,
1998–99
* Most
assists, 72,
Brad Moran,
1999–2000
* Most
points, 134, Pavel Brendl, 1998–99
* Most
penalty minutes: 302, Ryan Andres,
1997–98
* Best
goals against average
Goals against average (GAA) also known as "average goals against" or "AGA" is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (depending ...
, 1.72,
Justin Pogge,
2005–06
* Most
shutouts
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
, 11, Justin Pogge, 2005–06
* Most games played, goaltender: 60, Alexandre Fomitchev, 1997–98
* Most saves, goaltender: 1,481, Alexandre Fomitchev, 1997–98
;Career
* Most
goals
A goal is an objective that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.
Goal may also refer to:
Sport
* Goal (sports), a method of scoring in many sports, or the physical structure or area where scoring occurs
** Goals, the goal frame in ...
: 204, Brad Moran, 1995–00
* Most
assists: 246, Brad Moran, 1995–00
* Most
points: 450, Brad Moran, 1995–00
* Most
penalty minutes: 704, Mike Egener, 2000–04
* Most games played, individual: 357, Brad Moran, 1995–2000
* Best
goals against average
Goals against average (GAA) also known as "average goals against" or "AGA" is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (depending ...
: 1.92, Justin Pogge, 2004–06
* Most
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
s: 16,
Martin Jones, 2006–10
* Most games played, goaltender: 179, Dan Spence, 2004–08
* Most saves, goaltender: 3390, Chris Driedger, 2011–14
Team records
Awards and honours
The Calgary Hitmen have captured numerous awards during the franchise's tenure.
Hitmen players have been named the WHL's most outstanding player four times. Defenceman
Karl Alzner won the
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy The Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the Western Hockey League's Player of the Year.
The trophy is named in honour of four members of the Swift Current Broncos who were killed on December 30, 1986 in the Swift Current Broncos b ...
in 2007–08, also named the
defenceman of the year, and
Brett Sonne
Brett Sonne (born May 16, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He is a former prospect of the St. Louis Blues organization, having been selected by the Blues in the third round, 85th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He ...
won the trophy in 2008–09. Goaltender
Martin Jones captured numerous awards in Calgary's championship season of 2009–10, including being named the top goaltender of the Memorial Cup, and
Brandon Kozun led the entire Canadian Hockey League in scoring.
As a whole, the Hitmen have won the Central Division six times,
and four times have been the
regular season champions.
Brad Moran, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, had his number 20 retired in 2005, the first player to be so honoured. Following the lead of the Calgary Flames, the team introduced a new program in 2015 to honour former players. Called "Forever a Hitmen", the team named
Ryan Getzlaf
Ryan Getzlaf (born May 10, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Getzlaf played his entire NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks and is the franchise's all-time leading scorer. A first-round selection, 19th overall, at the 200 ...
the first inductee.
Ed Chynoweth Cup
The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honou ...
''Western Hockey League champions''
*
1998–99,
2009–10
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
''Regular season champions''
*
1998–99,
1999–2000,
2008–09,
2009–10
Central Division titles
*
1997–98,
1998–99,
1999–2000
*
2007–08,
2008–09,
2009–10
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy The Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the Western Hockey League's Player of the Year.
The trophy is named in honour of four members of the Swift Current Broncos who were killed on December 30, 1986 in the Swift Current Broncos b ...
''Player of the year''
*
Brad Moran:
1999–2000
*
Justin Pogge:
2005–06
*
Karl Alzner:
2007–08
*
Brett Sonne
Brett Sonne (born May 16, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He is a former prospect of the St. Louis Blues organization, having been selected by the Blues in the third round, 85th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He ...
:
2008–09
Bob Clarke Trophy
''Top scorer''
*
Pavel Brendl:
1998–99
*
Brad Moran:
1999–2000
*
Brandon Kozun:
2009–10
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy
''Scholastic player of the year''
*
Chris Nielsen:
1998–99,
1999–2000
Brad Hornung Trophy The Brad Hornung Trophy is awarded annually to the most sportsmanlike player of the Western Hockey League. First presented in 1967, it was later renamed in honour of former Regina Pats player Brad Hornung who was paralyzed during a game on March 1, ...
''Most sportsmanlike player''
* Matt Kinch:
1998–99,
2000–01
Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy The Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the defenceman of the year in the Western Hockey League. It is named after one of the league's founders, Bill Hunter, who was the driving force behind the creation of the WHL. Hunter served as ...
''Defenceman of the year''
*
Brad Stuart
Bradley Stuart (born November 6, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in over 1,000 career games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Det ...
:
1998–99
*
Karl Alzner:
2007–08
CHL Defenceman of the Year
The CHL Defenceman of the Year Award is given out annually to the top defenceman in the Canadian Hockey League. It is chosen from the winners of the league trophies, the Max Kaminsky Trophy of the Ontario Hockey League, the Bill Hunter Memorial T ...
*
Brad Stuart
Bradley Stuart (born November 6, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in over 1,000 career games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Det ...
:
1998–99
*
Karl Alzner:
2007–08
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy The Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the Western Hockey League player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition. The award is named after Jim Piggott who was the founder of the Saskatoon Blades, as well as ...
''Rookie of the year''
*
Pavel Brendl:
1998–99
CHL Top Draft Prospect Award
*
Pavel Brendl:
1998–99
Del Wilson Trophy The Del Wilson Trophy is presented annually to the Western Hockey League's goaltender judged to be the best at his position. The award is named after Del Wilson for his many years of service to both the Regina Pats and the League. Wilson was an own ...
''Goaltender of the year''
*
Justin Pogge:
2005–06
*
Martin Jones:
2009–10
CHL Goaltender of the Year
*
Justin Pogge:
2005–06
Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
''Top goaltender at the Memorial Cup''
*
Martin Jones:
2010
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy The Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Coach of the Year in the Western Hockey League. It was named in honour of Dunc McCallum, who coached the Brandon Wheat Kings from 1976–81, compiling a 251–123–41 record during that ...
''Coach of the year''
*
Dean Clark:
1997–98
Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award
''CHL coach of the year''
*
Dean Clark:
1997–98
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
''Executive of the year''
*
Kelly Kisio
Kelvin Wade Kisio (born September 18, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who currently serves as a scout for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kisio played 761 games in the NHL as a centre for th ...
:
2003–04,
2008–09
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
''Humanitarian of the year''
*
Chris Nielsen:
1999–2000
*
Cody Sylvester:
2012–13
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
WHL Playoff MVP
*
Brad Moran:
1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shoot ...
*
Martin Jones:
2010
WHL Plus-Minus Award The Plus-Minus Award is given annually to the player who finishes with the top plus/minus in the Western Hockey League. It has been awarded since 1987.
List of winners
See also
*AutoPro Plaque - Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec M ...
''Top plus-minus''
*
Pavel Brendl:
1998–99
* Kenton Smith:
1999–2000
*
Andrew Ladd
Andrew Joseph Ladd (born December 12, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Winn ...
:
2003–04
*
Clark Smith:
2004-05
*
Paul Postma
Paul Edward Postma (born February 22, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for EC KAC of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL). He was drafted 205th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers ...
:
2008–09
St. Clair Group Trophy
''Top marketing/public relations department''
* Mark Stiles:
2003–04
* Kip Reghenas:
2007–08
See also
*
List of ice hockey teams in Alberta
This is a list of ice hockey teams in Alberta. It features the leagues they have played for, and championships won.
Since hockey was introduced to Alberta, Canada, in the 1890s, teams at all levels have come and gone. While the professional ran ...
*
Ice hockey in Calgary
Ice is water frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius or Depending on the presence of impurities such as particles of soil or bubbles of air, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaqu ...
Notes
References
* Standings and team records –
* Roster –
External links
Official website of the Calgary Hitmen
{{Featured article
1995 establishments in Alberta
Bret Hart
Calgary Flames minor league affiliates
Ice hockey clubs established in 1995
Ice hockey teams in Alberta
Hitmen, Calgary
Western Hockey League teams
Calgary Sports and Entertainment