Hitmen Report: Mission accomplished

The Calgary Hitmen lost both their games this past week, but also managed to cement a playoff spot that avoids a first round matchup with the powerhouse Prince Albert Raiders.

The Hitmen were chasing for pretty much the entire game, getting down midway through the first period and losing a fairly one-sided contest. Captain Mark Kastelic had the lone Calgary goal. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Trey Fix-Wolansky led the way for Edmonton with three points. Jack McNaughton took the loss for the Hitmen, while Dylan Myskiw got the win for the Oil Kings.

The game opened with Hitmen rookie Sean Tschigerl scoring his first WHL goal. And then the wheels fell off, with the Hurricanes scoring the next five goals en route to a fairly one-sided victory. Riley Fiddler-Schultz, James Malm and Vladislav Yeryomenko had the remaining Calgary goals. Carl Stankowski took the loss for the Hitmen, while Carl Tetachuk got the victory for Lethbridge.

The Hitmen face the Oil Kings twice this week – Friday in Edmonton and Sunday in Calgary – to close out the regular season. The Hitmen are cemented in third place in the Central Division and cannot move in the standings. An Edmonton win in either game will result in them winning the division and the Hitmen facing Lethbridge in the first round. If Lethbridge wins their remaining games and the Hitmen sweep Edmonton, then the Hitmen will face Edmonton in the first round instead.

The WHL playoffs will begin next weekend, with the Hitmen beginning with a pair of weekend road games… somewhere in Alberta.