Calgary Hitmen – Playoffs – Candice Ward Photography

Unfortunately, as everyone obviously knows by now, the Hitmen were defeated by the Red Deer Rebels in the first round of the playoffs this year 4-1. Here are just a few of my favourite images that I shot from three of the five games.

Game 3

Game 3 was a hard hitting game that did not turn out in the Hitmen’s favour. Most of the images I took already appeared on the team’s website, so here are just a couple of my favourites from that game (and the rest of the games).

Before Game 4 at the Corral, I snapped a few shots of the practice to get a feel for the venue. Here are a couple of my favourites.

Game 4: Stampede Corral

This game was a big deal for the team, not because they needed to win, but also because they were playing in a historic building that will not longer be used after the Calgary Stampede this year. It was an exciting event for the team and fans but posed a number of logistical challenges for the team, such as smaller dressing rooms, smaller benches and no private space for the teams to warm up. Regardless of these challenges, it made for great photos.

Team equipment manager Jason Monnery prepares the Hitmen locker room before game time.

Beck Malenstyn tapes his stick in the stands of the Corral prior to Game 4.

Mark Kastelic tapes his stick in the stands of the Corral prior to Game 4.

Radel Fazleev peeks in on the team warm up prior to Game 4.

Andrew Fyten warms up in the player entry way to the ice prior to Game 4.

Team trainer Sean Hope-Ross leads members of the Hitmen through a ride prior to Game 4.

Starting goalie Cody Porter gets ready to take the ice at the Corral for Game 4.

Radel Fazleev faces off against the Red Deer Rebels at the Corral during Game 4.

Jackson Houck is hit with a hit stick during Game 4.

Matteo Gennaro is tripped up during Game 4.

Game 5:

For Game 5, I travelled up to Red Deer to capture images of what ended up being the Hitmen’s last game of the 2015-16 season. I am only posting a few of my favourite images from this game as most of them ended up in the game gallery on the website.