Hitmen open 2025-26 season with win over Hurricanes

The Calgary Hitmen in action against the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday night in Lethbridge.

The Calgary Hitmen launched a new season with a victory Friday night, defeating the Hurricanes 5-3 in Lethbridge.

Thirteen players made their Western Hockey League debuts in the game and three of them scored their first career goals to help lead the Hitmen.

Penguins prospect Kale Dach opened the scoring for the Hitmen -- his first WHL goal -- and Rylan Ng added another to send Calgary into the first intermission up 2-0.

In the second period, Lethbridge fought back, led by a pair of goals from Hudson Kibblewhite, who scored a power play goal and then shorthanded to even things up at two apiece heading to the third.

Andrei Molgachev scored his first two WHL goals ever to give the Hitmen a 4-2 lead, before Carsen Olsen scored for the Hurricanes to make it a one-goal game.

Shaun Hildebrandt found the empty net for his first WHL goal to lock down the victory for Calgary.

The win was that much more impressive as Calgary has three of its top players, Ben Kindel (Penguins), Brandon Gorzynski (Stars) and Alex Hurtig (Flames) at NHL training camps.

Lethbridge and Calgary face off again Saturday night at the Saddledome, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. There’s a jersey blowout sale at the CGY Team Store (Section 212) and post-game autograph session behind Section 212.