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Forty targets for Oliver Tulk has a pleasant ring to it.
The achievement wouldn’t solely put the Calgary Hitmen centre in elite firm with the highest scorers in franchise historical past, however might put the Western Hockey League staff in place to make the playoffs.
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The 19-year-old Tulk has a team-leading 38 targets this season heading into an important Friday evening contest towards the host Edmonton Oil Kings (7 p.m.).
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“He’s a professional purpose scorer,” mentioned Hitmen head coach Steve Hamilton. “His shot is difficult to include.”
Tulk has delivered in a giant method through the playoff push, recording seven targets and 11 factors within the final six video games.
The Hitmen sit 5 factors behind the Lethbridge Hurricanes for the eighth and last playoff spot within the Jap Convention, with the seventh-place Prince Albert Raiders tied on factors with Lethbridge. Every staff has 5 video games remaining within the common season.
Tulk, who’s now in his third marketing campaign with the Hitmen, confirmed flashes of his potential final season, lighting the lamp 24 occasions and including 36 assists in 68 video games.
This season, Tulk has taken his recreation to the subsequent degree as he has secured his first point-per-game marketing campaign with 74 factors in 61 video games. The rising star has additionally developed right into a power-play wiz for the Hitmen, potting 11 markers with the person benefit.
Regardless of the breakout final season, Tulk was stunned by what he has been capable of obtain this marketing campaign.
“I wish to say that was the purpose firstly of the 12 months,” he mentioned. “However I didn’t suppose I might come this shut.”
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He has come that shut, two targets away from a milestone that not many gamers can say they achieved of their Hitmen profession.
For the reason that 1994-95 season, 14 gamers have scored 40-plus targets for the Hitmen. The final to take action was Mark Kastelic, who netted 47 in 2018-19.
“I believe I’d be completely happy for anybody to attain 40 targets or come near it,” mentioned Tulk.
His offensive explosion has been huge for the Hitmen, who traded captain Tyson Galloway to the Swift Present Broncos and main scorer Sean Tschigerl to the Lethbridge Hurricanes earlier within the season.
These strikes had been the start of a rebuild, and catapulted Tulk into the highlight. He has risen to the event because the trades, recording 16 snipes and 15 apples in 25 video games.
Tulk credited his teammates for serving to set him up. However he has been greater than a goal-scorer. because the Gibsons, B.C. native has added 36 assists this season, whereas additionally taking part in an all-around recreation and posting a plus-12 score.
Whether or not you consider plus-minus is an effective metric of defensive prowess, Tulk is on the very least proving that he’s a optimistic participant throughout five-on-five play.
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“What I respect about Oliver is that his 200-foot recreation has come a great distance,” mentioned Hamilton. “He’s been an actual optimistic work in progress away from the puck.”
Tulk credit his enhancing defence to being mentored by former captain Riley Fiddler-Schultz, who showcased his elite defensive potential whereas gathering 189 factors in 246 video games over 5 seasons with the Hitmen from 2018-23.
“Riley Fiddler-Schultz might be one of the best two-way participant I’ve ever seen,” defined Tulk. “I used to be tremendous pleased with how he handled me and simply watching him helped me develop my recreation.”
Regardless of not being drafted by a Nationwide Hockey League squad throughout his eligibility, the 21-year-old Fiddler-Schultz secured a two-year contract with the American Hockey League’s Rochester People.
This might be the same route for Tulk, who was not chosen within the 2023 NHL Draft. However the WHL veteran understands that he must stick with it to earn that chance.
“It’s only a course of right here,” Tulk mentioned. “I’ve obtained to simply hold going and get on the grind.”
If the Hitmen wish to make floor on the Raiders and Hurricanes for that last playoff spot, the staff will want Tulk to be at his goal-scoring finest of their last 5 video games.
mkaake@postmedia.com
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