6 reasons to pick the Calgary Hitmen for your hockey-viewing pleasure

Jan 12 2018, 11:56 am

Everybody knows the Scotiabank Saddledome is home to the Calgary Flames.

But it’s also home to another hockey team – the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen.

While the raw talent level of the Flames roster may be higher than the Hitmen, there are still plenty of reasons to choose the Calgary’s junior hockey team for a night out.

1. Tickets are cheap

Probably the biggest advantage to seeing the Hitmen at the Saddledome is the affordability aspect of it.

There’s value to be found by watching the stars of tomorrow instead of the stars of today. The best seats to a Hitmen game cost just $25.69 a ticket for adults. That cost is even lower for kids and students.

2. Autographs!

After every game, the Hitmen get one of their players to sign autographs at the Booster Club table on the Saddledome concourse behind section 212.

You can check the schedule to see when your favourite Hitmen player will be signing autographs, and plan accordingly.

3. Birthday parties and group deals

What better way to celebrate a birthday than by watching the great game of hockey with your friends?

The Hitmen make this a realistic option with their three birthday packages.

You get a total of 10 tickets – two for adults and eight for children – for as low as $150, and you can add additional tickets if you want to make the party bigger.

The birthday kid will have their special day announced on the Energy Board during the game and also receive a birthday card signed by the members of the Hitmen.

4. Goals, goals, goals

It’s true, the average Calgary Hitmen game has more goals than your typical NHL contest.

Hitmen games in the last two seasons have averaged just under seven goals-per-game.

It means you’ll likely see the red light go off one or two more times watching the Hitmen. Generally, more goals = more fun.

5. Less structured, free flowing hockey

In connection with more goals being scored, the style of play you’ll see at Hitmen games is usually more open than the tight-checking nature of the NHL.

On top of that, the skill gap is larger in junior hockey, which can result in insane plays you wouldn’t see at the pro level. You’ll see players have an easier time pulling off dekes and using speed to burn past guys at Hitmen games.

6. Chance for rare stories

Imagine being able to say you saw Ryan Getzlaf play before he was in the NHL? Well if you went to any Hitmen games from 2001-2005, you probably did.

That’s an extreme example, but the Hitmen have produced 44 players that went on to play at least one NHL game. The Hitmen have been around for 23 seasons, so on average each Hitmen team had two players that went on to the NHL.

Another example: if you were at the Saddledome on January 25, 2008, you would have seen Martin Jones’ first WHL shutout.

There will surely be plenty more Hitmen players that go on to great NHL careers, giving you the chance to see them before their stardom.

See also
Bailey MeadowsBailey Meadows

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