Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Calgary Hitmen netminder Daniel Hauser is the all-time winningest goaltender in WHL history. Hauser established a new WHL record for wins Wednesday evening, collecting the 123rd victory of his WHL career with a 5-1 triumph over the Red Deer Rebels.
“It feels awesome,” Hauser said Wednesday night. “I could stand here for hours listing the people I can thank for putting me in this position. I’m super grateful for this team, this organization, and every team I’ve been on in the past.
“To share (the record) with this group – these guys play so well in front of me every night. They made it special for me tonight and it was awesome.”
Hauser, who turned 21 years old January 29, set the WHL record by turning aside 21 shots.
The product of Chestermere, Alta., surpassed the previous WHL record of 122 wins, established by Saskatoon Blades netminder Nolan Maier in April 2022. Hauser equaled Maier’s mark Saturday, March 16, when he made 24 saves in a 3-1 road win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Hauser’s first career WHL win came March 15, 2021, when he made 14 stops for the Winnipeg ICE in a 6-4 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. The 5-foot-11, 166-pound puckstopper went on to enjoy a record-setting start to his WHL career, going 20-0-2 before suffering his first regulation loss. The 22-game stretch established a new CHL record for consecutive games started in a career without a regulation loss.
As he finishes out his WHL career with his hometown team, Hauser is piecing together an outstanding final chapter, going 20-4-0-0 with 1.94 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and five shutouts since being acquired by the Hitmen from the Wenatchee Wild. From February 17 through March 15, Hauser strung together an impressive nine-game winning streak.
“I grew up coming to Hitmen games with some of the guys in the stands,” Hauser said with a laugh post-game. “It’s super special to have them here. I owe them a lot for supporting me. To have my family here – my parents – the amount they’ve done for me, I can’t put it into words the amount of support they’ve shown me and the love they’ve shown me. To have them here is special.”
Hauser was acquired by the Hitmen in a blockbuster trade on January 2, 2025. He won back-to-back WHL Goaltender of the Week honours (March 3 and February 24) and was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for February.
“Incredible achievement for him,” said Paul McFarland, Head Coach of the Hitmen. “We’re just a small piece of that puzzle, but huge credit to his longevity in the league and consistency. To be able to win that many games is an impressive achievement for him individually. We’re very fortunate to have him, and as I said to the team after the game, we’re glad we’re the last piece of it.
“To see his excitement when he first got here after we traded for him – being a Calgary kid, coming to Flames games growing up – it was a huge deal for him to be walking around in the bottom of the building. It’s great for him to (set the record) in front of friends and family. It’s a huge achievement for him – it’s not every day these types of records are broken.”
Selected by the ICE in the sixth round (120th overall) of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Hauser has enjoyed a stellar WHL career, including five consecutive seasons with a winning record. In 175 career WHL outings, Hauser owns a record of 123-36-8-1 with a 2.59 GAA, .910 SV% and 17 shutouts.
Hauser is also a two-time member of the WHL’s East Division First All-Star Team (2021-22, 2022-23).
Backed by Hauser, the Hitmen have clinched a berth in the 2025 WHL Playoffs. They will open the first round of the WHL Playoffs at home with Games 1 and 2 scheduled for Friday, March 28, and Sunday, March 30, respectively.
“The excitement level is through the roof,” Hauser said of his team’s push to the WHL Playoffs. “I’ve been pretty fortunate to be part of some pretty good teams. This team is no different – sky’s the limit with what we’ve got here and I’m super grateful to be a part of it.”
Hauser and the Hitmen continue to chase the Medicine Hat Tigers for first place in the WHL’s Central Division and Eastern Conference. The Hitmen will wrap up the 2024-25 WHL Regular Season with two games this weekend – Saturday at Red Deer and Sunday versus Medicine Hat.
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
