Hitmen open Saddledome farewell season with shootout win over Red Deer

The Calgary Hitmen opened their Farewell Season at the Scotiabank Saddledome with a dramatic 3-2 shootout victory over the Red Deer Rebels on Friday night. Calgary jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead behind goals from Charlie Kresl and Brennan Brown, but Red Deer answered with two goals early in the third period to force overtime. Neither team scored in the extra frame, sending the season opener to a shootout.

Russian import Artem Katsuro scored the lone shootout goal, while Hitmen goaltender Eric Tu stopped all three Red Deer shooters after making 35 saves through regulation and overtime. The result gave Calgary its first win of the 2026-27 WHL season and Tu first-star honours. Kresl’s opener was his first WHL goal, while Brown’s power-play marker was his first goal as a Hitmen player.

The victory carries added significance because this season marks the Hitmen’s final campaign at the Saddledome, making every home date part of a season-long farewell to the building. Calgary now heads north to face the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday, with the club trying to turn an emotional opening-night victory into early momentum.