Calgary Hitmen aim higher as fast, hungry group opens Saddledome farewell season

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeSportsHockey Calgary Hitmen aim higher as fast, hungry group opens Saddledome farewell season The stride to bigger and better begins Friday when the Hitmen open their Western Hockey League schedule at home against the Rebels. Author of the article: By Todd Saelhof Published Sep 17, 2026 Last updated 1 day ago 6 minute read Join the conversation The Calgary Hitmen celebrate a goal by forward Andrei Molgachev (8) during their first-round playoff sweep of the Brandon Wheat Kings last March. Molgachev and defenceman Calder Hamilton (4) have returned to the club, while Landon Amrhein (17) advanced to the Calgary Flames’ main training camp.Gavin Young/Postmedia PHOTO BY GAVIN YOUNG /Postmedia Article content The Calgary Hitmen plan to do more than just bid a fond farewell to the Dome this winter. Article content The city’s junior hockey heroes want to go out with a bang, hoping to end their time in the grand ol’ rink with a proper championship celebration. Article content Article content Not just for Scotiabank Saddledome memories but for themselves. Article content “We definitely want to take a step from last year,” said Hitmen head coach Dustin Friesen. “My focus for them is just coming to the rink and getting better every day.” Article content Article content That stride to bigger and better begins Friday when the Hitmen open their 68-game Western Hockey League schedule at home against the Red Deer Rebels (7 p.m.). Article content Noon News Roundup Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content In particular, they want to improve on their 2025-26 finish of 38-21-8-1 for 85 points, which placed third in the Central Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference and moved them with confidence into the playoffs, in which they swept the Brandon Wheat Kings in Round 1 before being swept by the Medicine Hat Tigers in Round 2. Article content “Yeah … we’re excited,” continued Friesen. “I mean … it’s been a hard training camp and a hard pre-season. You work your way down through the players that you have at camp, and guys are earning time to be here longer and guys are trying to crank it up pretty well. So it’s always a process of seeing…