Calgary Hitmen defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 6:1 in the Western Hockey League on Friday evening. The home side ended their opponents' perfect start to the campaign, snapping a one-game winning streak that had seen the visitors take third place in the standings.
Both teams had played a single match prior to this encounter. Calgary had opened with a 4:3 victory over Edmonton on 20 September, while the Oil Kings had beaten Red Deer Rebels 3:1 on the same date. This result reverses that earlier outcome and shifts the momentum between the Alberta rivals.
Edmonton's recent form showed mixed results: they had won against Calgary's former opponents Lethbridge Hurricanes 4:2 on 13 September, but lost 2:4 to Red Deer Rebels a day later. Their season opener was a comfortable 8:1 victory over Prince George Cougars on 6 September.
Calgary entered the match with more variety in their recent record. They had beaten Red Deer Rebels 3:2 on 6 September and 3:2 on 19 September, won 7:3 against Lethbridge Hurricanes on 13 September, and lost 2:4 to Edmonton on the same date. Their opening night victory over the Oil Kings 4:3 on 20 September was their only win before tonight.
Both sides remain with 0 points in the standings despite having played one game each. The result does not alter their positions — Calgary hold sixth place and Edmonton third — but it ends a run of success that the visitors had built from their opening fixture.
