The arid, sequin-spackled, glittering neon gulch of Vegas is an unlikely but welcome spot for Western Hockey League execs to gather and conduct their annual meeting later this week.

So, Kelly, bet you can't wait to make a beeline for the cool green felt of the tables at Caesar's or the Bellagio as soon as you've dumped the luggage and tipped the bellman, huh?

"Nope,'' is the instantaneous reply. "Don't gamble.''

Ah, but this might be just the moment to lay down a $10-spot and see what a good dealer can deliver. Because if building a bankroll is anything like building a junior hockey team . . .

Kisio's renowned for caution, for keeping his cards close to the vest. But if ever a guy should be feeling lucky, he, now, is that someone. Fourteen wins in the past 15? Even by pasty-hued, deadeyed casino habitue standards that shapes up as a roll.

Out of the charred remains of a miserable 22nd, and dead last, WHL finish a season ago, Kisio's Calgary Hitmen have risen to unexpected, astounding heights.

Embarking on a three-game road swing Friday at Kootenay, they've fast-tracked up to third in the Eastern Conference, winners, incredibly, of 14 of their past 15 games.

"It's been a strange year,'' acknowledges the Hitmen's tenaciously low-key general manager. "Strange in a good way. I can't say I'm astounded, no. But I do shake my head from time to time at how far they've come in such a short period of time.

"We felt the pieces that we added would be pretty good pieces to help us. A lot of the kids have matured right from the start of the year. It's really grown, the attitude they show.

"A lot of being successful at this level has to do with the mindset of your older guys and what they think they can do with their careers.

"Last year, we couldn't get anything going. This year, we have some guys who really want to be pros. They come to the rink with a pro mentality, a pro work ethic. And once they start getting success, they tend to drag some of the younger guys along with them and make them better players.

"They send a message that 'This is the way we do things around here.' On top of that, I think our coaches are doing a marvellous job, too. Obviously.''

Boss man Mike Williamson is preaching the collective and his players are buying into it. No Hitmen, for instance, rank among the Top 25 in scoring. There's no centrepiece, no Pavel Brendl or Ryan Getzlaf.

"We have no stars,'' says Kisio. "But I think Jimmy Bubnick and (Cody) Sylvester have really shown the way this year, and done a marvellous job leading this team.''

So the Jan. 10 trade deadline came and went and Kisio - famous for pulling off a deal or two to bolster Calgary's lineup - stayed silent, following the off-season acquisitions of Brady Brassart and goaltender Chris Driedger, along with October moves to add defencemen Collin Bowman and Brock Sutherland, along with centre Joey Kornelson.

"Our defence has matured a great deal,'' reckons Kisio. "We've added a couple older guys that have solidified things, but our 18-year-olds from a year ago have come a long ways. We took it on the chin quite often last season just from mistakes. But we let 'em play and it's paying off now.

"In goal, we're happy with (Brandon) Glover and Driedger. Glover's learned how to work and compete. It shows in his play and his wins.''

Last season was the first since he took control of the Hitmen that they failed to reach the postseason. "A long, hard, unhappy year,'' he sighs. "It's a lot more fun this year, for sure.''

Even given his guarded optimism, though, it wasn't until this last run of four straight Ws that the architect began to be convinced that maybe he'd crafted something special.

"To me, it was a breakout weekend for us. As tough a weekend as you're going to find in our league. We came out with eight points'' - 7-2 versus Brandon, 2-0 over Vancouver, 5-2 against Medicine Hat and 4-1 versus Tri City - "in four or five days against top, top opposition.

"That shows we can compete with the best.''

Kisio grunts in amused response when asked if he's ever, at any level, in any position, been part of a 14-in-15 streak before. "Well, I've lost LOST 14 of 15, believe me. Those San Jose days . . . they were special. Oh yes, very special.

"Really, though, we've had some outstanding teams here. Some real good runs. And when I was playing in Red Deer (AJHL) one year, I don't think we lost at home until the last game or so. Darryl Sutter was our captain at that time. But 14 of 15?

"Not to my recollection. "Like I said before, a strange year. A funny team. We weren't expected to do much. We were still in a rebuilding mode. And I don't know if we even now are getting much respect for what we've done.

"We know there's still a long ways to go."

True enough, but with the run he's on at the moment, it's a pity the Vegas-bound Kelly Kisio doesn't gamble.

Having already hit the jackpot for 11 more wins and 20 more points than the entirety of last season, you could say his highrollin' Hitmen are playing with house money from here on in.

George Johnson is the Herald's sports columnist. E-mail him at gjohnson@calgaryherald.com