| Calgary Hitmen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Calgary,Alberta |
| League | Western Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | 1994 (1994) |
| Home arena | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| Colours | Black, Red, Copper, White |
| Owner(s) | Calgary Sports and Entertainment |
| General manager | Garry Davidson |
| Head coach | Dustin Friesen |
| Website | chl |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 4 (1998–99,1999–2000,2008–09,2009–10) |
| Playoff championships | Ed Chynoweth Cup 2 (1999,2010) Conference Championships 3 (1998–99,2008–09,2009–10) |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
TheCalgary Hitmen are a Canadianjunior ice hockey team based inCalgary, Alberta. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of theWestern Hockey League (WHL), hosting their home games at theScotiabank Saddledome.Bret "Hitman" Hart, aprofessional wrestler and Calgary native, was a founding owner and the inspiration for the team's name. Established in 1994, the team has been owned by theCalgary Flames hockey club since 1997. They are the third WHL team based in Calgary, after theCentennials andWranglers.
The Hitmen have won four regular season titles, and the team qualified for the playoffs for thirteen consecutive seasons between 1998 and 2010. In 1999, they became the first Calgary team to win thePresident's Cup as league champions, and the first to represent the city in theMemorial Cup since theCalgary Canadians won the national junior title in 1926. The team won a second league championship in 2010. The Hitmen hold numerous WHL attendance records, and in 2004–05 became the first team inCanadian Hockey League history to average 10,000 fans per game. Thirty-nine former Hitmen players have gone on to play in theNational Hockey League.
Graham James left his position as coach and general manager of theSwift Current Broncos to found the Hitmen in 1994.[1] He organized a group of eighteen investors in the club, including former Broncos and starNational Hockey League playersTheoren Fleury andJoe Sakic, along withBret Hart, who made a career in theWorld Wrestling Federation.[2] The Calgary Flames, who had just assumed control of the Saddledome and were looking to fill extra dates in the building, were receptive to the new team.[3] When scheduling conflicts occurred, the Hitmen used theStampede Corral as a secondary venue—including for the first seven games in club history.[4]
Calgary had been without a WHL team since the Wranglers moved south to become theLethbridge Hurricanes in 1987.[5] The league's expansion into Calgary was met with skepticism, as the league had historically struggled in Western Canada's largest markets ofVancouver,Edmonton, Calgary, andWinnipeg, when in competition with the NHL.[3]
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.[6] Instead, they finished as the second-worst regular season team in the league, posting an 18–51–3 record.[7] The Hitmen lost $250,000 in their first season and saw their season ticket base halved to 700 for the1996–97 season. The losses led to questions about the viability of the club.[8]
James stunned the organization when he resigned as coach and general manager onSeptember 5, 1996.[9] Two days later, theCalgary Police Service revealed that James was being investigated on allegations hesexually abused two former players while he was with the Swift Current Broncos.[10] James was charged, and inJanuary 1997 pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault.[11] Upon James' conviction and sentencing to prison, the Hitmen attempted to distance themselves from their former coach.[12]
The Hitmen struggled on the ice as well, again missing the playoffs after falling to a record of 15–53–4.[13] The spectre of the Graham James scandal hurt the franchise.[2] The original investors, many of whom played for or were otherwise associated with James, sold the team to the Flames for approximately$1.5 million inJune 1997.[14] It was widely speculated that the new owners would change the team name, possibly to the Junior Flames; however, they ultimately chose to retain the name.[2]
Dean Clark took over as head coach shortly after James' resignation, and led the1997–98 Hitmen to a significant 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.[13] They defeated theSaskatoon Blades and Swift Current Broncos to reach the Eastern Conference final before falling to theBrandon Wheat Kings.[15] Clark was awarded theDunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as the WHL's top coach, and also won theCanadian Hockey League'sBrian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award.[16] Calgary improved to 51–13–8 in1998–99, finishing one point ahead of theKamloops Blazers for theScotty Munro Memorial Trophy for best regular season record.[17] Led byBrad Moran,Pavel Brendl, and goaltender Alexandre Fomitchev, the Hitmen lost just five games in the playoffs en route to their firstPresident's Cup. They won the title at home before a WHL playoff record crowd of 17,139.[17] They became the first Calgary-based team to qualify for the Memorial Cup since the Calgary Canadians won the 1926 title.[18]
In the1999 Memorial Cup, the Hitmen opened the tournament with a 5–3 victory over theOntario Hockey League'sBelleville Bulls, followed by a 4–3 loss to the hostOttawa 67's. They followed with a 3–1 win over theAcadie-Bathurst Titan of theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League.[19] Finishing atop the round robin standings, the Hitmen earned a bye into the championship game, a rematch against the 67's.[20] The final was a back-and-forth affair with Ottawa holding 4–1 and 6–5 leads; Calgary tied the game late to send it to overtime.[21] Ottawa'sMatt Zultek scored the winning goal 1:58 into overtime to give the 67's the championship.[22] Brendl and Matt Kinch were named to the Memorial Cup All-Star team.[23]
The Hitmen entered the1999–2000 season with expectations of making another Memorial Cup run.[21] The club finished the regular season with a record of 58–12–2–2, once again winning the regular season title.[24] The team set franchise records for victories (58) and points (120), which stood until the 2008–09 year.[13] After sweeping theMoose Jaw Warriors and Saskatoon Blades, the Hitmen were upset by theKootenay Ice in the Eastern Conference final, falling four games to one.[24]
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.[25] The Hitmen acquired goaltenderJustin Pogge from thePrince George Cougars during the2004–05 season.[26] Pogge's goaltending, along with the offensive leadership of forwardAndrew Ladd, saw the Hitmen win their first playoff series in four years.[13] They could not follow up on their victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes, losing their second round series against the Brandon Wheat Kings in seven games.[27]
The Hitmen were heavily marketed by the Flames during the NHL's2004–05lock-out. 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 easily beat the old record by over 45,000.[28] 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.[29]
The2005–06 Hitmen battled theMedicine Hat Tigers for the top spot in the Western Hockey League for most of the season.[30] Calgary finished with 101 points, their best total since 1999–2000, finishing two points behind Medicine Hat for the best record in the league.[31] The team disappointed in the playoffs, falling to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Eastern Conference semi-final.[31] Pogge's performance during the season earned him honours as both the WHLplayer of the year and CHLgoaltender of the year.[32] Calgary fell to third in the Central Division in2006–07.[13] In the playoffs, they upset theKootenay Ice, 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 defeated by the Tigers.[33]
The Hitmen entered the2007–08 season with expectation of being contenders, voted the pre-season pick to finish atop the Eastern Conference by the league's coaches and general managers.[34] 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.[35] 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 6–1.[36] 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.[37]
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Following the graduation of several players, includingKarl Alzner, who was named both WHL player of the year and CHL defenceman of the year, the2008–09 Hitmen were expected to enter a rebuilding period. Instead, they captured the franchise's third Scotty Munro Trophy as the regular season champions, earning the top seed in the playoffs.[38] The team tied or broke 21 franchise records during the regular season, including wins (59), points (122) and goals scored (330).Joel Broda led the league with 53 goals, whileBrandon Kozun andBrett Sonne 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.[39] In the playoffs, the Hitmen won 12 straight games, sweeping theEdmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, and Brandon Wheat Kings to reach the WHL finals for the first time since 1999. In the finals, they were stunned by theKelowna Rockets, losing the first three games of the series before winning the next two to extend the series to a sixth game.[40] The Hitmen lost game six in overtime, and the series 4–2, to end their season.[41] Sonne was named WHL Player of the Year, while General ManagerKelly Kisio was named Executive of the Year for the second time in recognition of the Hitmen's season.[42]
The following 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 ofMartin Jones, who was named goaltender of the year in the WHL.[43][44] 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.[45] 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.[46] Entering the final against theTri-City Americans, the 11 players who returned from the 2009 finals loss vowed not to suffer a repeat of their disappointing finish to the previous season.[47] 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.[48] The victory, in front of a home crowd of over 15,000 fans, earned the Hitmen a berth in the2010 Memorial Cup tournament. At the tournament, Calgary posted a 2–1 record in the round robin, defeating the QMJHL'sMoncton Wildcats and the host Brandon Wheat Kings, but lost the semi-final in overtime, also against Brandon.[49]
Following the graduation of many of the team's top scorers, the Hitmen fell to last place the WHL in2010–11, at one point tying a franchise record with 12 consecutive losses.[50][51] As part of the2011 Heritage Classic, hosted by the Flames, the Hitmen hosted theRegina Pats in anoutdoor game atMcMahon Stadium on February 21, 2011. Regina won 3–2 before 20,888 fans, setting new WHL and CHL attendance records.[52]
In 2019, the Hitmen hosted the Corral Series, a three-game series paying tribute to former teams that used to play in the Corral.[53][54]
The club selected its name and logo as an homage to Bret "Hitman" Hart, and the team's original pink, grey, and black jerseys were modelled after Hart's ring attire.[55] The logo proved popular and Hitmen merchandise sold well.[56] However, the name and logo were subject to criticism from segments of the public and the business community, who panned both as negative stereotypes ofviolence within the sport.[57] Among the chief critics of the new logo was the Flames organization, who received calls from concerned business people who shared that sentiment.[58] Struggling to attract corporate sponsors, the Hitmen chose to scrap the "Jason Voorhees"-style logo in favour of an alternate "starburst" logo just two months after it was unveiled.[59] The club went back to the original logo in 1996.[60]
When the Calgary Flames purchased the team in 1997, they adopted a new colour scheme and updated the logo.[2]
The Hitmen support numerous programs and charities. They host an annualteddy bear toss in December. The 13th annualPetro Canada Teddy Bear Toss, held onDecember 2, 2007, saw what the Hitmen claim aworld record 26,919 bears tossed on to the ice by 17,341 fans.[61] The bears are donated to charities throughout the Calgary area. A few of the bears are personally delivered by the players to theAlberta Children's Hospital, an event highly anticipated by patients at the hospital.[62]
The Hitmen are also partners with the Calgary Board of Education and theirRead On! Literacy for Life program.Red Deer, Alberta authorSigmund Brouwer has released numerousyoung adult-orientedmystery novels about the team and fictitious Hitmen players.[63] The ninth book in the series, titledHitmen Star, was published in 2008.[64] Copies of the books are distributed to sixth grade students throughout Calgary and southern Alberta schools; with Hitmen and former National Hockey League players helping to encourage students to take an active interest in reading.[63]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | 72 | 18 | 51 | 3 | – | 222 | 359 | 39 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 1996–97 | 72 | 15 | 53 | 4 | – | 199 | 360 | 34 | 4th Central | Did not qualify |
| 1997–98 | 72 | 40 | 28 | 4 | – | 265 | 232 | 84 | 1st Central | Lost Eastern Conference final |
| 1998–99 | 72 | 51 | 13 | 8 | – | 319 | 187 | 110 | 1st Central | WonChampionship;LostMemorial Cup final |
| 1999–2000 | 72 | 58 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 313 | 182 | 120 | 1st Central | Lost Eastern Conference final |
| 2000–01 | 72 | 37 | 27 | 5 | 3 | 284 | 250 | 82 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2001–02 | 72 | 33 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 271 | 281 | 72 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2002–03 | 72 | 27 | 36 | 7 | 2 | 240 | 260 | 63 | 4th Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2003–04 | 72 | 34 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 220 | 187 | 82 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2004–05 | 72 | 34 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 200 | 183 | 83 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2005–06 | 72 | 47 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 195 | 155 | 101 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2006–07 | 72 | 39 | 26 | 3 | 4 | 251 | 205 | 85 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference final |
| 2007–08 | 72 | 47 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 259 | 166 | 99 | 1st Central | Lost Eastern Conference final |
| 2008–09 | 72 | 59 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 330 | 159 | 122 | 1st Central | Lost Final |
| 2009–10 | 72 | 52 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 269 | 177 | 107 | 1st Central | WonChampionship;LostMemorial Cup semifinal |
| 2010–11 | 72 | 20 | 47 | 3 | 2 | 171 | 271 | 45 | 6th Central | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | 72 | 44 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 273 | 221 | 91 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2012–13 | 72 | 46 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 266 | 204 | 97 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference final |
| 2013–14 | 72 | 48 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 287 | 207 | 103 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2014–15 | 72 | 45 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 289 | 203 | 95 | 1st Central | Lost Eastern Conference final |
| 2015–16 | 72 | 42 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 246 | 219 | 88 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2016–17 | 72 | 30 | 32 | 8 | 2 | 215 | 282 | 70 | 4th Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2017–18 | 72 | 24 | 37 | 9 | 2 | 226 | 276 | 59 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 2018–19 | 68 | 36 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 255 | 240 | 78 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
| 2019–20 | 64 | 35 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 219 | 201 | 75 | 4th Central | Cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | 21 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 72 | 79 | 23 | 3rd Central | No playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021–22 | 68 | 25 | 34 | 7 | 2 | 183 | 229 | 59 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 68 | 31 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 220 | 224 | 70 | 3rd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal |
| 2023–24 | 68 | 28 | 31 | 8 | 1 | 250 | 255 | 65 | 5th Central | Did not qualify |
| 2024–25 | 68 | 45 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 266 | 183 | 96 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference semifinal |
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Thirty-eight players have been selected from the Hitmen roster at the National Hockey League'sentry draft, including nine players selected in the first round.[65] The highest drafted players in club history werePavel Brendl (1999) andAndrew Ladd (2004)—both players were selected fourth overall.[65]
Forty-four former Hitmen players have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.[66] The first wasRyan Bast, who played two games with thePhiladelphia Flyers in1998–99.[67] Andrew Ladd has gone on to win twoStanley Cup championships, with theCarolina Hurricanes in 2006 and theChicago Blackhawks in 2010.[68] His former Hitmen teammate,Ryan Getzlaf, won the Cup with theAnaheim Ducks in 2007, andJohnny Boychuk has one as a member of the 2011Boston Bruins.[69]
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Dean Clark coached the team between 1996 and 2001, winning more games than any other WHL coach.[70] He was named coach of the year in both the WHL and CHL in 1998.[71] He led the Hitmen to three division titles, two regular season titles, one league championship, and coached the Hitmen to their first Memorial Cup final.[72]
Kelly Kisio was head coach from the2004–05 season to the end of the2007–08 season, a role he shared withDean Evason in his first year with the Hitmen.[73] Kisio stepped down as coach in 2008, naming former assistantDave Lowry as head coach for the2008–09 season.[74]
Lowry was promoted to an assistant with the Calgary Flames after leading the Hitmen to a 122-point season in his first year. He was replaced byMike Williamson, who led the team to a WHL championship in 2010 before leaving the team in 2014.[75] He was followed byMark French,[76]Dallas Ferguson, and Steve Hamilton.[77]
In 2024, the team hiredPaul McFarland who spent the three previous seasons as assistant coach of theSeattle Kraken.[78]
| # | Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graham James | 1995–1996 | Resigned prior to 1996–97 season |
| 2 | Jim Currie | 1996 | Interim head coach |
| 3 | Dean Clark | 1996–2001 | 1998 WHL, CHLCoach of the Year |
| 4 | Richard Kromm | 2001–2004 | |
| 5 | Dean Evason | 2004–2005 | Co-coach with Kelly Kisio |
| 6 | Kelly Kisio | 2004–2008 | |
| 7 | Dave Lowry | 2008–2009 | |
| 8 | Mike Williamson | 2009–2014 | |
| 9 | Mark French | 2014–2017 | |
| 10 | Dallas Ferguson | 2017–2018 | |
| 11 | Steve Hamilton | 2018–2024 | |
| 12 | Paul McFarland | 2024–present |
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| Statistic | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Most points | 122 | 2008–09 |
| Most wins | 59 | 2008–09 |
| Fewest points | 34 | 1996–97 |
| Fewest wins | 15 | 1996–97 |
| Most goals for | 330 | 2008–09 |
| Fewest goals for | 171 | 2010–11 |
| Fewest goals against | 155 | 2005–06 |
| Most goals against | 282 | 2016–17 |
| Statistic | Player | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most goals | Pavel Brendl | 73 | 1998–99 |
| Most assists | Brad Moran | 72 | 1999–2000 |
| Most points | Pavel Brendl | 134 | 1998–99 |
| Most penalty minutes | Ryan Andres | 302 | 1997–98 |
| Most saves (goalie) | Alexandre Fomitchev | 1,481 | 1997–98 |
| Best GAA (goalie) | Justin Pogge | 1.72 | 2005–06 |
| Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played | |||
| Statistic | Player | Total | Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most goals | Brad Moran | 204 | 1995–2000 |
| Most assists | Brad Moran | 246 | 1995–2000 |
| Most points | Brad Moran | 450 | 1995–2000 |
| Most penalty minutes | Mike Egener | 704 | 2000–2004 |
| Most games played | Brad Moran | 357 | 1995–2000 |
| Most games (goalie) | Dan Spence | 179 | 2004–2008 |
| Most shutouts (goalie) | Martin Jones | 16 | 2006–2010 |
The Calgary Hitmen have captured numerous awards during the franchise's tenure.[32] Hitmen players have been named the WHL's most outstanding player four times. DefencemanKarl Alzner won theFour Broncos Memorial Trophy in 2007–08—he was also named thedefenceman of the year[79]—andBrett Sonne won the trophy in 2008–09. GoaltenderMartin Jones captured numerous awards in Calgary's championship season of 2009–10, including being named the top goaltender at the Memorial Cup, whileBrandon Kozun led the entire Canadian Hockey League in scoring.[80][81]
Brad Moran, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, had his number 20 retired in 2005, the first player to be so honoured.[82] 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 namedRyan Getzlaf the first inductee in 2015.[83]
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Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
Player of the year
Bob Clarke Trophy
Top scorer
Doc Seaman Trophy
Scholastic player of the year
Brad Hornung Trophy
Most sportsmanlike player
Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
Defenceman of the year
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
Rookie of the year
Del Wilson Trophy
Goaltender of the year
Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
Top goaltender at the Memorial Cup
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
Coach of the year
Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award
CHL coach of the year
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
Executive of the year
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
Humanitarian of the year
WHL Plus-Minus Award
Top plus-minus
St. Clair Group Trophy
Top marketing/public relations department
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