General Game Notes: WHL – Although Portland outshot Calgary 56 to 37, Calgary won 7-4. Neutral Zone focused on Calgary players we feel are NHL prospects.
| Ethan Buenaventura | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | G | 6’2″ | 197 | Calgary Hitmen | 2019 | Winnipeg, MB | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Buenaventura is a slightly below average sized left catching goalie who was on his game throughout this one stopping 52 of 56 shots. Her did kick out a few rebounds that he would probably like to have back, especially to his blocker side, but he was in control while moving post to post. He gave up a power play goal via a breakaway after the goal scorer attacked through the right dot-lane and cut through the royal road to slid one through the five-hole. The second goal came after Buenaventura was unable to control a floating backhand from the extended right goal line and his defenseman was not able to control the goal scorer’s stick as he popped it through the five-hole. The third goal again originated from the right dot-lane as the goal scorer cut hard laterally into the royal road and beat him low to the far (stick) side. The forth goal came off a broken play from the right dot-lane on a wrist shot that deflected off his defenseman’s stick blade to go short side shelf.
| Dax Hughes-Williams | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 190 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2005 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A
Comments: Williams is a late 2005 left shot defenseman who had the game of his life finishing +4 with 3 assists. He is a slightly below average in height but he showed the core strength and power to win both net front and corner battles. We liked the awareness he showed when setting picks for his linemates and how he moved his feet early to set his gap. He was an animal in winning 12 of 19 loose pucks. At this point we do not see Williams as a potential draft pick but there is no denying the positive impact he had on this game.
| Aleksey Chichkin | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 213 | Calgary Hitmen | 2023 | New Westminster, BC | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: Did not dress
Comments: Chichkin is a 6’4″, 215lbs left shot defenseman who is still adjusting to the WHL after spending the 2022/23 with Merritt in the BCHL. He did not dress for this one.
Here is Neutral Zone’s game report from the 2023 BCHL All-Star Game in Penticton – Aleksey is a strong raw stay-at-home defender that uses his frame and reach to cut down time and space for opponents. Listed at 6’5” and has a balanced stride and strong base. Still improving agility and footwork but moves around the ice fairly well. Closes quickly on forwards in his zone and takes away passing lanes. Stripped pucks and then quickly started the rush the other way. Strong tape-to-tape passing and has the ability to stretch the ice with passes across zones. Does not try to do too much with the puck offensively and plays a strong steady game in his own zone. Grade: B-
| Reese Hamilton | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 168 | Calgary Hitmen | 2022 | Whitewood, SK | 2007 | 2024-2025: B |
Game Grade: B
Comments: The 2007 Hamilton is a slightly below average sized left shot defender who can use his feet or passing skills to play the game with pace. In the defensive zone he owned his ice by arriving there first and lowering his center of gravity to withstand the hard charging forwards. Early in the first period it looked like he was going to get blown up after making a reverse behind his net but some how he had the strength and balance to knock the opposing forward backwards. During offensive transition he understood when to fall off on a hinge versus when to slide up into the dot-lane when a forechecker was trapped below a passing lane. He showed a quick stick on a one-timer from the point as well as having the footwork to easily adjust his route when a pass was heading into his feet.
On the night he finished third among Hitmen defensemen with 22:59 in total ice time including 2:44 on the power play and 2:40 while shorthanded. He finished -1 with 0 points, 1 shot, 1 hit, received 3 hits, 7 giveaways, 8 takeaways and for the season he is winning 44% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Keets Fawcett | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | LW | 5’10” | 167 | Calgary Hitmen | 2023 | Grimshaw, AB | 2006 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Fawcett is undersized left shot forward who finished eleventh among Hitmen forwards with 8:24 in total ice time with 2:20 of that coming on the power play. He showed quick lateral mobility and played with his hands separated from his body which allowed him to use a stutter step to generate space for himself.
After playing at under a point per game pace during his bantam draft season Fawcett went undrafted in the WHL Bantam Draft. Then last season while playing for Edge School U18 Prep he blossomed into having 39 points in 28 games. At this point we do not see Fawcett as a potential NHL draft pick but we do see him as a player who will provide offense as his gains more Western League experience. We also feel that he is player to watch as he continues to gain maturity and experience.
| Carson Wetsch | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 165 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | North Vancouver, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Wetsch is a slightly below average sized right shot right wing who played a high energy impactful game. He led the Hitmen with four hits and we liked how after each he moved his feet to beat his man into the open ice. With 4:10 remaining in the first he showed nice separational speed as he forced a turnover while killing a penalty and then pulled away from his opponents to go in a on a breakaway. And with 16:20 to go in the second he again showed separational speed as he jumped on a loose puck in the neutral zone and split the defenders to go in on a breakaway. He did not score on either but these are the types of plays that can lead to a career as a penalty killer in the NHL.
On the night he finished third among Hitmen forwards with 18:09 in total ice time including being third among forwards in power play ice time with 3:05 and fifth among forwards with 1:56 while shorthanded. He finished even with 0 points, 2 shots, 2 grade ‘A’ opportunities, 2 PIMs, team high 4 hits, received 3 hits, 6 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 42% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Tyson Galloway | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 214 | Calgary Hitmen | Kamloops, BC | 2003 | 2020-2021: C+ |
Game Grade: A
Comments: The 6’4′, 220lbs left shot defenseman is a former 2021 round 5 #145 overall draft pick by the St. Louis Blues who is the captain of the Hitmen after serving as the assistant captain for the previous two seasons. Tonight he was a monster as he logged 23:19 in total ice time including 1:44 on the power play and an 5:15 while shorthanded. He scored a goal on a beautiful quick release snapshot through a screen that caught the goalie leaning as he fired it short side high. He also had two assists with the first coming at the end of a power play where he fired a 6′ snapshot from the blueline that generated a rebound and the second coming after a slick 8′ backhand pass from below his goal line to a curling center who then went end to end. He played with the type of confidence and poise that made him an impact player.
| Carter Yakemchuk | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 188 | Calgary Hitmen | 2020 | Fort McMurray, AB, AB | 2005 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Yakemchuk is an athletic confident right shot defenseman with NHL frame and an easy skating style that always made him appear to be in control. His passes were hard flat and on time. He did not need to stick handle the puck before making a play after he pulled the puck off the wall or had to handle a pass that was in his feet. He had the secondary assist on a second period power play goal after he cleanly handled a bouncing puck up the wall and then fired a perfect tape to tape pass to his partner along the blueline. Yakemchuk liked to initiate contact on the way to the puck showing the consistent strength to knock his opponent off stride and then earn possession. He showed a quick curl and drag snapshot that generated secondary scoring opportunities. Defensively he ended the cycle by hitting and pinning his man to the wall and we liked the power strength combination he showed when he needed to throw his opponent into the wall from about four feet off the wall. Yakemchuk is the type of right shot no-nonsense defender that NHL teams are consistently looking for.
On the night he totaled a team high 25:44 in ice time including 3:11 on the power play and 2:50 while shorthanded. He finished +2 with 1 assist, 2 shots, 4 grade ‘A’ opportunities, 3 hits, received 4 hits, had 4 shots blocked, 6 giveaways, 5 takeaways and for the season he is winning 52% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Fraser Leonard | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 187 | Saskatoon Blades | 2023 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Leonard is an average sized right shot defender who finished sixth among Hitmen defensemen with 10:53 in total ice time. He did not play on either special team’s unit. On the night he finished -2 with 0 points, 0 shots, 0 hits, received 2 hits, 1 giveaway, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 49% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Leonard began the season with the Saskatoon Blades. He was traded with a second-round pick in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft (via Spokane), a sixth-round pick in 2026 and a second-round pick in the 2027 Prospects Draft in exchange for Grayden Siepmann on October 10, 2023.
| Chase Valliant | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 181 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | Surrey, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Valliant is a slightly below average sized right shot forward who took three face-offs and won 2 of them. He showed good straight line speed and a fearlessness when heading into contact. Defensively it was easy to tell he was thinking about where he needed to be and he was going to be there no matter what the situation was. He was detailed and worked to stick to the system. At this point Neutral Zone does not view him as a potential draft pick but he played like he will wear a letter at some point in his WHL future.
For the night he finished tenth among Hitmen forwards with 10:20 in total ice time including being second among Hitmen forwards with 3:22 on the power play. he did not kill penalties. He finished -1 with 0 points, 2 shots, 1 grade ‘A’, 2/3 on face-offs, 1 hit, received 2 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 3 giveaways, 1 takeaways and for the season he is winning 43% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images