Calgary Hitmen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calgary Hitmen |
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| City | Calgary, Alberta |
| League | Western Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Home arena | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| Colours | Black, Red, Copper, White |
| Owner(s) | Calgary Sports and Entertainment |
| General manager | Garry Davidson |
| Head coach | Paul McFarland |
| Championships | Ed Chynoweth Cup 2 (1999, 2010) Conference Championships 3 (1998–99, 2008–09, 2009–10) |
The Calgary Hitmen are a Canadian junior ice hockey team. They are based in Calgary, Alberta. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Their home games are held at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The team was started in 1994. Bret "Hitman" Hart, a famous professional wrestler from Calgary, was one of the first owners. The team's name was inspired by him. Since 1997, the team has been owned by the Calgary Flames hockey club. The Hitmen are the third WHL team to be based in Calgary.
The Hitmen have won four regular season titles. They made it to the playoffs for 13 years in a row, from 1998 to 2010. In 1999, they won the President's Cup. This made them the first Calgary team to win the league championship. They were also the first to play in the Memorial Cup since 1926. The team won a second league championship in 2010. The Hitmen also hold many WHL attendance records. In 2004–05, they were the first team in Canadian Hockey League history to have 10,000 fans per game. Many former Hitmen players have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.
Contents
The Hitmen Story: From Start to Now
How the Hitmen Team Began
The Calgary Hitmen team was founded in 1994. A group of 18 investors helped start the team. These investors included famous hockey players like Theoren Fleury and Joe Sakic. Bret Hart, a well-known wrestler, was also part of this group. The Calgary Flames team, who owned the Saddledome arena, welcomed the new team. The Hitmen sometimes played at the Stampede Corral if the Saddledome was busy.
Before the Hitmen, Calgary had not had a WHL team since 1987. Some people were unsure if a new team would do well. This was because other junior hockey teams had struggled in big cities like Calgary.
In their first season, the Hitmen did not play well. They finished as the second-worst team in the league. The team lost money and sold fewer season tickets. This made people wonder if the team would last.
In 1996, the team faced a difficult time. The original owners, many linked to the team's first coach, sold the team. The Calgary Flames bought the Hitmen in 1997. Many thought the Flames would change the team's name. But they decided to keep the name "Hitmen."
Winning Their First Championship
After a tough start, Dean Clark became the head coach in 1996. He helped the team turn things around in the 1997–98 season. The Hitmen finished first in their division and made the playoffs for the first time. They reached the Eastern Conference final. Clark won awards for being the best coach in the WHL and CHL.
In the 1998–99 season, the Hitmen played even better. They had the best regular season record in the league. Led by players like Brad Moran and Pavel Brendl, they won their first President's Cup. They won the championship at home in front of a huge crowd of 17,139 fans. This was a record for a WHL playoff game.
The Hitmen then went to the 1999 Memorial Cup tournament. They played well and reached the championship game. They faced the Ottawa 67's in a very close game. The game went into overtime, but Ottawa scored the winning goal. Even though they lost, it was a great season for the Hitmen.
The team had high hopes for the 1999–2000 season. They had another amazing regular season, winning the league title again. They set new team records for wins and points. However, they were upset in the Eastern Conference final by the Kootenay Ice.
New Century, New Records
The Hitmen went through a rebuilding phase in the early 2000s. They still made the playoffs but didn't win many series. In the 2004–05 season, they got a new goalie, Justin Pogge. His great play, along with forward Andrew Ladd, helped the team win a playoff series.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Hitmen became very popular. Many hockey fans came to watch their games. The Hitmen set a new league attendance record. They were the first team in the Canadian Hockey League to average over 10,000 fans per game. This was the highest attendance for any hockey team in North America that year.
In the 2005–06 season, the Hitmen had another strong year. They finished with 101 points, their best since 2000. Goalie Justin Pogge was named the WHL's player of the year. The team reached the Eastern Conference final in 2006–07.
The Hitmen were expected to be strong contenders in the 2007–08 season. They won their division and had the best record in the East. They also broke the league's single-game attendance record. Over 19,305 fans watched them win a game. They made it to the Eastern Conference finals for the second year in a row.
Winning Their Second Championship
Many top players left after the 2007–08 season. People thought the Hitmen would need to rebuild. But in the 2008–09 season, they surprised everyone. They won their third Scotty Munro Trophy for the best regular season record. The team broke 21 franchise records, including most wins (59) and points (122). Joel Broda scored 53 goals, and Brandon Kozun and Brett Sonne had over 100 points each.
In the playoffs, the Hitmen won 12 games in a row. They swept three teams to reach the WHL finals. But in the finals, they lost to the Kelowna Rockets. Sonne was named WHL Player of the Year.
The next season, 2009–10, Calgary had another great regular season. Brandon Kozun led the league in points. Goalie Martin Jones was named WHL Goaltender of the Year. In the playoffs, the Hitmen had a tough first round. They were down 3-1 but came back to win the series. They then beat two more teams to reach the WHL championship for the second year.
In the final, they played the Tri-City Americans. The Hitmen, especially the players who lost the previous year, were determined to win. Martin Jones played incredibly well. The Hitmen defeated the Americans in five games. They won their second Ed Chynoweth Cup in front of over 15,000 home fans. This win sent them to the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament. At the Memorial Cup, they had a good record but lost in the semi-final.
After many top players left, the Hitmen struggled in the 2010–11 season. They even lost 12 games in a row. In 2011, the Hitmen played an outdoor game against the Regina Pats. It was part of the 2011 Heritage Classic and held at McMahon Stadium. Over 20,888 fans watched, setting new attendance records.
In 2019, the Hitmen held the Corral Series. This was a special three-game series to honor old teams that used to play in the Corral arena.
Team Look: Logos and Jerseys
The team's name and first logo were a tribute to Bret "Hitman" Hart. Their original pink, grey, and black jerseys looked like Hart's wrestling outfits. The logo was popular, and team merchandise sold well.
However, some people thought the name and logo promoted violence in hockey. The Calgary Flames organization also had concerns. To attract sponsors, the Hitmen changed their logo to a "starburst" design for a short time. But in 1996, they brought back the original logo.
When the Calgary Flames bought the team in 1997, they changed the team's colors. They also updated the logo.
Giving Back: Community Impact
The Hitmen are involved in many community programs and charities. Each December, they host a special event called the teddy bear toss. Fans throw stuffed animals onto the ice after the Hitmen score their first goal. In 2007, fans threw a world record 26,919 bears onto the ice! These bears are given to charities in Calgary. Hitmen players also visit the Alberta Children's Hospital to deliver bears to patients.
The Hitmen also work with the Calgary Board of Education. They support the "Read On! Literacy for Life" program. Author Sigmund Brouwer has written mystery novels about the team and its players. Copies of these books are given to sixth-grade students. Hitmen players help encourage students to read more.
Who Coached the Hitmen?
Dean Clark coached the team from 1996 to 2001. He won more games than any other WHL coach during his time. He was named coach of the year in both the WHL and CHL in 1998. Clark led the Hitmen to division titles and their first league championship.
Kelly Kisio coached the team from 2004 to 2008. He stepped down in 2008, and Dave Lowry became the head coach. Lowry led the team to an amazing season in his first year.
Lowry then became an assistant coach for the Calgary Flames. Mike Williamson took over as head coach. He led the team to a WHL championship in 2010. After Williamson, Mark French, Dallas Ferguson, and Steve Hamilton coached the team. In 2024, Paul McFarland became the new head coach.
Hitmen Stars: NHL Alumni
Many Hitmen players have gone on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). So far, 44 former Hitmen players have played in the NHL.
Some former Hitmen have even won the Stanley Cup. Andrew Ladd won two Stanley Cups, with the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks. His former Hitmen teammate, Ryan Getzlaf, won the Cup with the Anaheim Ducks. Johnny Boychuk also won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins.
The Hitmen have also had many players chosen in the NHL Entry Draft. This is where NHL teams pick young players. Pavel Brendl and Andrew Ladd were both picked fourth overall in their drafts.
Team Records and Awards
The Calgary Hitmen have won many awards over the years. Four Hitmen players have been named the WHL's most outstanding player. These include Brad Moran, Justin Pogge, Karl Alzner, and Brett Sonne.
Brad Moran, who scored the most points in Hitmen history, had his jersey number 20 retired in 2005. This means no other player on the team will wear that number. In 2015, the team started a new program called "Forever a Hitmen." Ryan Getzlaf was the first player honored in this program.
Some other awards won by Hitmen players and staff include:
- Top Scorer: Pavel Brendl, Brad Moran, Brandon Kozun
- Scholastic Player of the Year: Chris Nielsen (twice!)
- Most Sportsmanlike Player: Matt Kinch (twice!)
- Defenceman of the Year: Brad Stuart, Karl Alzner
- Rookie of the Year: Pavel Brendl
- Goaltender of the Year: Justin Pogge, Martin Jones
- Coach of the Year: Dean Clark
- Executive of the Year: Kelly Kisio (twice!)
- Humanitarian of the Year: Chris Nielsen, Cody Sylvester
- Playoff MVP: Brad Moran, Martin Jones
Images for kids
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Jaynen Rissling scored Calgary's first goal in the Hitmen's outdoor game; the Regina Pats ultimately won 3–2.
