The Calgary Hitmen kick off their 2026 WHL Playoffs tonight against the Brandon Wheat Kings at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Hitmen, entering as the #4 seed, had a successful regular season, finishing with 85 points (38-21-8-1), while the #5 seeded Wheat Kings ended with 82 points (40-26-2-0). Fans can enjoy a pre-game Hitmen Happy Hour, with discounted food and drinks from 6:00 p.m. The teams have a competitive history, having faced off in the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, with Brandon leading past playoff meetings 4-3. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.

By the Numbers
  • Calgary Hitmen regular season record: 38-21-8-1 (85 points)
  • Brandon Wheat Kings regular season record: 40-26-2-0 (82 points)
State of Play
  • The Hitmen have home-ice advantage in a Best-of-Seven series format.
  • Calgary won 2 out of 4 regular-season matches against Brandon, with all games going to the road winner.
  • This marks the first playoff encounter between these teams in over a decade.
What's Next

If needed, the series will continue with Game 2 at the same venue on March 29. After this round, the winner will advance, stacking against higher seeds in upcoming matches. Stakeholders await updates on player performances and strategies.

Bottom Line

The Hitmen, backed by strong home performance and scoring skills, look to leverage their playoff experience to secure an early lead in the series against the Wheat Kings, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on home advantage.