Hitmen forward Kale Dach makes smooth transition from BCHL to WHL

Kale Dach’s arrival is helping spur the Calgary Hitmen to a great start to the season.

After playing three seasons with the Sherwood Park Crusaders, Kale Dach made the decision to join the Calgary Hitmen this season.

That decision has been a winner for both Dach and the Hitmen. Dach says it was time for a new challenge.

“I just felt it was the best opportunity for my development,” said Dach.

“It’s a great league the WHL so with the new rule (NCAA) I felt like it was a good opportunity for me.”

Leads team in scoring

The 18-year-old Dach was a big scorer with the Crusaders in the BCHL last season. He had 22 goals and added 65 assists in 54 games.

Despite the WHL being a step up, Dach hasn’t lost any of that scoring touch. He leads the Hitmen with 10 goals and 10 assists and says he’s enjoyed playing in the WHL.

“It’s definitely different,” he said.

“It’s a faster pace and maybe a bit of a heavier game but honestly it’s pretty similar to last year. I feel comfortable out there.”

High hockey IQ

Despite having many new faces this season, the Hitmen are off to a 12-4-2 start and Dach has played a big role in the good start.

Saturday night in Saskatoon, in the final game of a six-game road trip, Dach racked up his first natural hat trick to lead the Hitmen to a 4-1 win over the Blades.

Head Coach Dustin Friesen says Dach has a high hockey IQ.

“I just think he sees the game really well,” said Friesen.

“Position-wise he knows how to support his teammates. In the defensive zone or coming up through the neutral zone with or without the puck he just makes really smart plays. I think that definitely helps out group and it rubs off on our group as well making other guys better.”

Memories with linemate

Brandon Gorzynski is Dach’s linemate. He wasn’t at practice on Wednesday because he wasn’t feeling well.

Dach and Gorzynski actually met each other back in 2017. Dach says who knew they would be linemates years later?

“It was at the Team Brick tournament,” said Dach.

“At the end of the tournament everyone goes onto the ice and exchanges jerseys. We just happened to exchange jerseys. He was playing with Team California and I was playing for Team Alberta. We exchanged jerseys and noticed a couple of years later when he signed with the Hitmen and I was with the Hitmen. It was pretty funny.”

Dach and the Hitmen are back in action on Friday night when they take on the Saskatoon Blades at the Scotiabank Saddledome.