tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72631682245223989082024-03-18T19:37:30.513-07:00Stanks' SermonDarren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comBlogger1633125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-81978926826160262342024-03-17T22:59:00.000-07:002024-03-18T03:22:05.488-07:00Veteran besties put special cap on Stingers U Sports title win<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Concordia downs Varsity Blues 3-1 in
championship tilt<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfkIBcTN6bmjG-CKfsXe8JYvVQjpA7ED-HQTnXd-dBgmCM9TEapfldBc3imZBvpHF38HqWeYmayPXcJKjed9WULBh_0W_57y-XKnfL4fudbCNwaAKq1jrogvkuNQUqzu_rCTzyW0d64blbhPGDnIIEFHJDF2Y_qZ3aEwGOOCISQXM90uTZU310h4ZSENT/s2498/IMGP0423(1).JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2419" data-original-width="2498" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfkIBcTN6bmjG-CKfsXe8JYvVQjpA7ED-HQTnXd-dBgmCM9TEapfldBc3imZBvpHF38HqWeYmayPXcJKjed9WULBh_0W_57y-XKnfL4fudbCNwaAKq1jrogvkuNQUqzu_rCTzyW0d64blbhPGDnIIEFHJDF2Y_qZ3aEwGOOCISQXM90uTZU310h4ZSENT/w400-h388/IMGP0423(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stingers celebrate winning a U Sports championship.</td></tr></tbody></table>Rosalie Begin-Cyr and Emmy Fecteau added a fairy tale capper
to their U Sports careers.<p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Sunday at Merlis Belsher Place, the pair were on the ice
for a third period power-play as their Concordia University Stingers held a 2-0
lead over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the title game of the U
Sports Women’s Hockey Championship tournament. Fecteau, who is the Stingers
24-year-old captain, got the puck to third-year centre Zoe Thibault.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thibault drove to the net with the puck and made a drop pass
to Begin-Cyr, who wired home a power-play goal through a screen to put the
Stingers up 3-0 at the 5:10 mark of the frame. That tally allowed the Stingers
to cruise to a 3-1 victory to take the Golden Path Trophy as U Sports champions
in a contest played before 1,196 spectators.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzUJOtecTmSaTMZaszr6pqPHIg_XisLHsxnDb3S9qzrtzQIk6muH1hC0GRLBdSkR4f-p6yyQMTWRcftVTofaUGzu6O5gkrFANWFnfiq0ZTzplQDduJcqejUSIS-6mlhRIMQ5bbKzDJptW4-w4BYmY_ss-sjuPeBEBOEC8Pq8dvC6skof2yM9oQcdNZYva/s2499/IMGP0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1954" data-original-width="2499" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzUJOtecTmSaTMZaszr6pqPHIg_XisLHsxnDb3S9qzrtzQIk6muH1hC0GRLBdSkR4f-p6yyQMTWRcftVTofaUGzu6O5gkrFANWFnfiq0ZTzplQDduJcqejUSIS-6mlhRIMQ5bbKzDJptW4-w4BYmY_ss-sjuPeBEBOEC8Pq8dvC6skof2yM9oQcdNZYva/w400-h313/IMGP0398.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stingers raise the Golden Path Trophy.</td></tr></tbody></table>“I think it is the best way to finish your career as a
university (player) and as a senior,” said Begin-Cyr, who is the Stingers star right-winger.
“We had a great team, and I think it was like we expected from the beginning.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We wanted to finish better than last year, so it was
perfect.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fecteau was pleased to Begin-Cyr score her power-play goal
in the third period as the two have been basically forever hockey teammates
dating back before their time with the Stingers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m very happy,” said Fecteau, who is a star centre for the
Stingers. “It has been 15 years that I have been playing with Rosalie
(Begin-Cyr).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOQJcVT4Q49QGOiJFCIDN2CxhHckcVBaxUsZ_rHlyERzZYL3pwXRHoZxhYfj-CnsAdFOSheZ12_QrRzsnRHZfjTcLc0kfJPp29Oi2JFapQEkZur11FF4XH-E5vAKsvcRbww5xTEnem0SFdwFfQDtJlVFXQaCYGWrnila9Q25nvgNaFhIuS7n0OBBG5e-K/s1938/IMGP0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="1938" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOQJcVT4Q49QGOiJFCIDN2CxhHckcVBaxUsZ_rHlyERzZYL3pwXRHoZxhYfj-CnsAdFOSheZ12_QrRzsnRHZfjTcLc0kfJPp29Oi2JFapQEkZur11FF4XH-E5vAKsvcRbww5xTEnem0SFdwFfQDtJlVFXQaCYGWrnila9Q25nvgNaFhIuS7n0OBBG5e-K/w400-h331/IMGP0320.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosalie Begin-Cyr had a goal and an assist for the Stingers.</td></tr></tbody></table>“She is also my roommate. We’ve been living together for
seven years, so I was really pumped for her.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Stingers appeared in the U Sports title for the third straight
year on Sunday. The Stingers won the championship in 2022 downing the Nipissing
Lakers 4-0 in the event’s final, when the tournament was held in Charlottetown,
P.E.I. Last year, the Stingers fell 4-3 in overtime in the U Sports title game
to the Mount Royal Cougars, when the tournament was held in Montreal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Begin-Cyr, who is 25-years-old, and Fecteau were part of the
winning experience in 2022 and the disappointment in 2023. Playing in their
final campaign with the Stingers, they did not want to repeat the experience
from a year ago.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg181o9ZVm_ffx10xMh1ed2gkSa6OMtejcXk182zjBPvLnQ5cfLKjsuOdWhNfsBnBR3gNO_YLAJGd-7MggDMe3SN_eHAwD_UvfVJ5vQ82hqALks1Ngv_jE9RYSkykQj71ssukBDTCXMzakCaDQKGB5a5eNcWEPOupzTyZHW-tZHH-js8IHjRMN85bcEsfOp/s1984/IMGP0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="1984" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg181o9ZVm_ffx10xMh1ed2gkSa6OMtejcXk182zjBPvLnQ5cfLKjsuOdWhNfsBnBR3gNO_YLAJGd-7MggDMe3SN_eHAwD_UvfVJ5vQ82hqALks1Ngv_jE9RYSkykQj71ssukBDTCXMzakCaDQKGB5a5eNcWEPOupzTyZHW-tZHH-js8IHjRMN85bcEsfOp/w400-h340/IMGP0328.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmy Fecteau had an assist for the Stingers.</td></tr></tbody></table>Begin-Cyr exhausted her U Sports eligibility playing her fifth-year
in 2023-24. Fecteau is in her fourth-year of eligibility, but she will be
completing her teaching English as a second language program and is planning to
move on to the next step in her life whether it be with the PWHL or the working
world.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Both players said the loss to the Cougars helped drive the
team to return to the U Sports title game and win it this season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was a good motivation,” said Begin-Cyr, who had an assist to go along with her goal. “From the
beginning of the year, it was really like our motivation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was a tough loss.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPmOiGwqxzzcn5qqhM_CsY8p9WxbYCViucBagZF-5H4I_DaGItQPb-UWrLx4Zf_IFRHrH4E-h0092UY4-KOAp8E7Ki3SHPkoxDtLzjnimTnxdIFn4eadpF2x6TA8b-XhtVVdgdabLV3bVnNic_Bj27lKZdnsaNxB_gFi4OJ0GNhKk4L0vQGH-pJU8k8Tn/s2009/IMGP0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="2009" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPmOiGwqxzzcn5qqhM_CsY8p9WxbYCViucBagZF-5H4I_DaGItQPb-UWrLx4Zf_IFRHrH4E-h0092UY4-KOAp8E7Ki3SHPkoxDtLzjnimTnxdIFn4eadpF2x6TA8b-XhtVVdgdabLV3bVnNic_Bj27lKZdnsaNxB_gFi4OJ0GNhKk4L0vQGH-pJU8k8Tn/w400-h313/IMGP0309.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emilie Lussier scored the Stingers first goal on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“I think we wanted to show who Concordia is, and we worked
so hard to be here today in the final of the championship and to win,” said
Fecteau. “We worked for each other.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was team first all the way, and it paid off.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Stingers posted a perfect 25-0 record in the regular
season in 2023-24 and captured the Reseau du Sport Etudiant du Quebec title. They
entered the U Sports championship tournament as the top seed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the title tourney, the Stingers blanked the host and
eighth seeded U of Saskatchewan Huskies 4-0 in a quarter-final on Thursday and
slipped past the OUA champion and fourth seeded University of Waterloo Warriors
3-1 in a semifinal on Saturday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ9ZGWC9EPlzECuDbZaluiNSPrDSrJFJgcOkoABERL8pE6aGJfvNODuKVvAbzUCkoJrP76cmvNBYyEQjS3baPD1-FrFyQXjA0z65ufMhrXK0pjLE30qSjafhuH-brmoTruROhrTdIhHJLP_zLu9qQtILVIGsMlLH5Vy69VoJtZAE46zXEgcavrMmUn8L2/s2525/IMGP0267(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="2525" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ9ZGWC9EPlzECuDbZaluiNSPrDSrJFJgcOkoABERL8pE6aGJfvNODuKVvAbzUCkoJrP76cmvNBYyEQjS3baPD1-FrFyQXjA0z65ufMhrXK0pjLE30qSjafhuH-brmoTruROhrTdIhHJLP_zLu9qQtILVIGsMlLH5Vy69VoJtZAE46zXEgcavrMmUn8L2/w400-h275/IMGP0267(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessymaude Drapeau (#15) banks home the Stingers second goal.</td></tr></tbody></table>In Sunday’s final, the Stingers got out to a hot start. Just
69 seconds into the opening frame, Stingers first-year left-winger Emilie
Lussier collected the rebound of her own shot at the left side of the Varsity
Blues goal. She quickly tucked home a second shot to give the Stingers a 1-0
lead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 8:19 mark of the First, Stingers third-year
left-winger Jessymaude Drapeau skated just below the icing line at the right
side of the Varsity Blues net. Drapeau, who would be named tournament MVP,
deflected the puck from that spot off the pads of Varsity Blues netminder Erica
Fryer into the Toronto net to push the Stingers lead out to 2-0.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlVT08AcXqphF7_TwSoJrtJX7MCUHseQrE_1TC32GTOrHd0zKz3fKj1oHZutdEyyTg3JHgNBFyygLwN0Y5T2lz-GH9jEkuM-DAATIb_UmjUEldrcjTDOortrA0JgMBhrzOkzW1LUkeMPwUd55nRkTLZLXMW-QRu7cu-KWUeVNTp89E9HhKo8f4EixaBVn/s2002/IMGP0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1821" data-original-width="2002" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlVT08AcXqphF7_TwSoJrtJX7MCUHseQrE_1TC32GTOrHd0zKz3fKj1oHZutdEyyTg3JHgNBFyygLwN0Y5T2lz-GH9jEkuM-DAATIb_UmjUEldrcjTDOortrA0JgMBhrzOkzW1LUkeMPwUd55nRkTLZLXMW-QRu7cu-KWUeVNTp89E9HhKo8f4EixaBVn/w400-h364/IMGP0268.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessymaude Drapeau celebrates scoring for the Stingers.</td></tr></tbody></table>Varsity Blues head coach Vicky Sunohara thought the Stingers
game speed at the start might caught her squad a little off guard.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think that we were pretty surprised with the pace,” said
Sunohara, whose squad was playing their third game in three days. “I thought
that we had a slower start, which we talked about that they are a strong team,
a fast team, and they transition well and that we need to go from the drop of
the puck.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Playing three games in three days is tough. Our team was
ready, but I thought that we were back on our heels a little bit for the first
few shifts.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the second, the Stingers had a glorious chance to
increase their lead while working on the power play. Lussier received a
backdoor feed at the right side of the Varsity Blues goal, but Fryer slid
across the crease to rob the Concordia forward.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqI8hw_Dj2i2b-g0azn1D9DvyCE_RgfYfi-uTFx7U4Uj7WR9eF6WqxACLCQvGjGIytplZPOEob_wpRRIdzbxV8IAHT5WjAEjI9RLDpPU4gq8MHywfUplSWQAAVlR_qEeTLY9DSAFQw96qMmRpllFFL_wrP7z8BbW99hK69rO42pZEQD0LmuYWesyf3WtcR/s1984/IMGP0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="1984" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqI8hw_Dj2i2b-g0azn1D9DvyCE_RgfYfi-uTFx7U4Uj7WR9eF6WqxACLCQvGjGIytplZPOEob_wpRRIdzbxV8IAHT5WjAEjI9RLDpPU4gq8MHywfUplSWQAAVlR_qEeTLY9DSAFQw96qMmRpllFFL_wrP7z8BbW99hK69rO42pZEQD0LmuYWesyf3WtcR/w400-h330/IMGP0292.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taylor Delahey had a big chance to score early in the third.</td></tr></tbody></table>With about two minutes remaining in the second, the Stingers
broke into the Varsity Blues zone on a three-on-one break. Lussier came up the
left wing with the puck and passed it across the face of the Toronto goal to
linemate Zoe Thibault. Fryer again slid across the crease of her net to rob
Thibault.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Early in the third, the Varsity Blues had a big chance to
get a traction goal when first-year centre Taylor Delahey got in along on the
Stinger goal. She tried to put a low shot into the net, but Stingers netminder
Jordyn Verbeek came up with a kick save.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Shortly after Verbeek’s save on Delahey, Begin-Cyr potted
her power-play goal for the Stingers to increased Concordia’s lead to 3-0.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyzef_T73zH6b2y2cUgK2mhjLG8PRWT5fx9Tg9HvFKmwrU94Ll-VY4Ccc39JHNRLw0sqlE5UcSG3rBBahjPOGvSy6QOIzW2D3b5oJ86n4_k9b2iZyIR1z4aQvIBB8NlWl9upbdA0FwqsYOLYsqTzCv-r2_-MT25qXDyqGOBnJrYf_0krDi4QWxxbcYtVV/s2504/IMGP0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="2504" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyzef_T73zH6b2y2cUgK2mhjLG8PRWT5fx9Tg9HvFKmwrU94Ll-VY4Ccc39JHNRLw0sqlE5UcSG3rBBahjPOGvSy6QOIzW2D3b5oJ86n4_k9b2iZyIR1z4aQvIBB8NlWl9upbdA0FwqsYOLYsqTzCv-r2_-MT25qXDyqGOBnJrYf_0krDi4QWxxbcYtVV/w400-h235/IMGP0341.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erica Fryer, right, makes a big stop for the Varsity Blues.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Varsity Blues kept trying to battle back. With Fryer
pulled for an extra attacker, third-year defender Emma Potter scored for the
Varsity Blues with 46.8 seconds remaining in the third to cut the Stingers lead
to 3-1. Potter’s tally proved to be too little, too late as the 3-1 score in
favour of the Stingers held up as the contest’s final outcome.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Verbeek stopped 19 shots to pick up the win in goal for the
Stingers. Fryer turned away 22 shots to take the setback in net for the Varsity
Blues.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHRcNZPiR5MiFlKwkYJz0AiuoftFlFlL2Iirv6CAk5FfURjILIQZwzJ_GMifnYOsXZ6e4mnyoK7JSMb-Jjau1gTiC4-QFJehLA3z60MraqWPV1LakL4xX7yw66O57q_AJz9H601dyQfpa60zIDhhKtw8dGfd2PAgyTqoCMR3w_TRxcUCC9QXg8NEfnRzy/s2502/IMGP0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1669" data-original-width="2502" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHRcNZPiR5MiFlKwkYJz0AiuoftFlFlL2Iirv6CAk5FfURjILIQZwzJ_GMifnYOsXZ6e4mnyoK7JSMb-Jjau1gTiC4-QFJehLA3z60MraqWPV1LakL4xX7yw66O57q_AJz9H601dyQfpa60zIDhhKtw8dGfd2PAgyTqoCMR3w_TRxcUCC9QXg8NEfnRzy/w400-h266/IMGP0348.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stingers HC Julie Chu shouts instructions from the bench.</td></tr></tbody></table>“Getting to nationals itself is hard,” said Stingers head
coach Julie Chu. “We talked about how honoured we are to be here to have earned
that opportunity.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Getting to win is definitely something we don’t take for
granted. We know there are tremendous teams that are here at nationals. For us,
it is a huge accomplishment. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It is something that we take a lot of pride in. If we would
have lost today, there is a lot of pride in that locker room and a lot of pride
for the journey that we took to be able to be the team that we are today win or
lose. That is what we try to focus on with our players.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaVzkSb3hY2ZxiDPNVoN8m5I2sKfbOrekjWJGH2J8REQDw1yyJI44BkuV4Km0qpBR-RMdcGbA17kQq2Tv7rGh5XNAfeGSGXTuL9KS1bJiWQxZV2sbGpU6ByACZJhYhgjMqh6MPtbP_SSoGYtzZFH5rDVy_ENnt-s7N19MHDvXJ-uk_cdjL0PW694wbj4E/s2009/IMGP0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1681" data-original-width="2009" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaVzkSb3hY2ZxiDPNVoN8m5I2sKfbOrekjWJGH2J8REQDw1yyJI44BkuV4Km0qpBR-RMdcGbA17kQq2Tv7rGh5XNAfeGSGXTuL9KS1bJiWQxZV2sbGpU6ByACZJhYhgjMqh6MPtbP_SSoGYtzZFH5rDVy_ENnt-s7N19MHDvXJ-uk_cdjL0PW694wbj4E/w400-h335/IMGP0354.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stingers enjoy a goal from Rosalie Begin-Cyr, centre.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Varsity Blues were making their first appearance in the
U Sports title game since losing the 2003 championship final 5-4 in overtime to
the University of Alberta Pandas, when the championship tourney was held in
Regina.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Toronto went into this year’s tournament as the sixth seed.
The Varsity Blues placed second in OUA East at 19-8-1 and fell in OUA final 2-1
in overtime to the visiting Warriors on March 9.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the U Sports championship tournament, the Blues slipped
past the AUS champion and third seeded University of Brunswick Red 2-1 in a quarter-final
on Friday. In a semifinal on Saturday, the Varsity bested the Universite de
Montreal Carabins 2-1 after taking a tiebreaking shootout 1-0.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3Kkc1iPghK7LbT0gE10JniVfsQt99j-KXstRDdG78QeZP90FU9rbHr5X3pAGsWragNcY2xqQylDMKY9xMk-K6uOwwp5EmQUhAEvls9sk8QoB0EP4hT_hkdaDwgRZeWt-rmPfx2acvUP4r9OhC9uvkM3sn-CD-o5mYmL7ztf2tZ6hChJynzQRLc9kNPpT/s2004/IMGP0412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="2004" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3Kkc1iPghK7LbT0gE10JniVfsQt99j-KXstRDdG78QeZP90FU9rbHr5X3pAGsWragNcY2xqQylDMKY9xMk-K6uOwwp5EmQUhAEvls9sk8QoB0EP4hT_hkdaDwgRZeWt-rmPfx2acvUP4r9OhC9uvkM3sn-CD-o5mYmL7ztf2tZ6hChJynzQRLc9kNPpT/w400-h329/IMGP0412.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stingers faithful cheer on their team.</td></tr></tbody></table>“It is amazing that we are playing, and we’re still playing
on March 17th,” said Sunohara. “We talked about that.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It means you have had a pretty successful season. We have a
lot veterans that really, really work hard and put their heart and soul into
coming to the rink and competing every day. They’ve started something special.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We have 13 graduating this year, so they’ve really
contributed and put the program in a great place for first years and young ones
to come in and say, ‘Hey, this is what the expectations are.’ This is the
culture that they’ve built.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sunday’s win marked the fourth time the Stingers have won
the U Sports championship. Concordia also captured the U Sports title the first
two times it was contested in 1998 and 1999, when U Sports was known as the
Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU). </p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgHO3XmRRJbDz3Ww5P3og9zNXRCyq7tIqdjzdO-xJuqbD4FaD0Lw9gXrpHna-XTm0xq4fAdjNCf_zMMRrFbIwAid8582vG7b13aoMhQZUtKSAUNaZtgd8tnFd5JYSY0Zc_lQG5riHztUsfucC52tHRZlXjJ2XsuajxFYMUo-mIcmm-uZXD8MA8Svmaj22/s2132/IMGP0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2132" data-original-width="1998" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgHO3XmRRJbDz3Ww5P3og9zNXRCyq7tIqdjzdO-xJuqbD4FaD0Lw9gXrpHna-XTm0xq4fAdjNCf_zMMRrFbIwAid8582vG7b13aoMhQZUtKSAUNaZtgd8tnFd5JYSY0Zc_lQG5riHztUsfucC52tHRZlXjJ2XsuajxFYMUo-mIcmm-uZXD8MA8Svmaj22/w375-h400/IMGP0392.JPG" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Emmy Fecteau receives the Golden Path Trophy.</td></tr></tbody></table>The first win in 1998 also came
against the Varsity Blues by a 4-1 final score, when the Stingers claimed the
national title as the host squad.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Begin-Cyr and Fecteau said it was special to win the U
Sports title once again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Winning is always great,” said Begin-Cyr. “We like winning,
and that is part of hockey.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It is not easy to win, but at the end of the way that is
why we play hockey to win.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It feels great,” said Fecteau. “I have no words to describe
it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m so happy. I’m so proud of my teammates. I’m very happy.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Sunday’s bronze medal game, the Carabins slipped past the
Warriors 2-1 after taking a tiebreaking shootout 1-0 in Sunday’s bronze medal
game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASMAHqZt0GXzYl1KJtgBNITuzJFlJRWzK7qO7HVIZAcBSUg7ONI99XJ4DOh2qbzCWFwQhdmP4VNUcODHquNQdSXXX1dqr7cqPF3vzLwGYiIagNTZ45a2MvhmfmdFvayMawWX4G05iUekHsPh4HaGqSqtXOdXEAt7QQ78_8wY3tHQPOzusfOFcjCJHSGKL/s2007/IMGP0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2007" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASMAHqZt0GXzYl1KJtgBNITuzJFlJRWzK7qO7HVIZAcBSUg7ONI99XJ4DOh2qbzCWFwQhdmP4VNUcODHquNQdSXXX1dqr7cqPF3vzLwGYiIagNTZ45a2MvhmfmdFvayMawWX4G05iUekHsPh4HaGqSqtXOdXEAt7QQ78_8wY3tHQPOzusfOFcjCJHSGKL/w400-h340/IMGP0403.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stingers enjoy lifting up the Golden Path Trophy.</td></tr></tbody></table>Sunday’s consolation final saw the Canada West Conference
champion and second seeded UBC Thunderbirds down the host Huskies 4-1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.</i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-87120561223036972832024-03-16T22:34:00.000-07:002024-03-17T01:10:11.082-07:00Stingers down resilient Warriors 3-1 in U Sports semifinal<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Concordia advances to third straight U
Sports title game<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MZLKBeCzwtzm_MaJ1bU1oRA5flYzc7v2Do9ROaZjX5ldT88wPvYh2C173XX4jI7ikA_gS336QFZxsPTLw82hcGWb2veUXT7K9pWn2wJQUjaHTcpaT111imz8e8Rd7H2WuGHOBDr3ikLMc7jVhvUKRp8NmcEGVBAhVUyeoC9NbeQ6dqqYjIfFpekQKtXx/s2000/IMGP9906.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1663" data-original-width="2000" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MZLKBeCzwtzm_MaJ1bU1oRA5flYzc7v2Do9ROaZjX5ldT88wPvYh2C173XX4jI7ikA_gS336QFZxsPTLw82hcGWb2veUXT7K9pWn2wJQUjaHTcpaT111imz8e8Rd7H2WuGHOBDr3ikLMc7jVhvUKRp8NmcEGVBAhVUyeoC9NbeQ6dqqYjIfFpekQKtXx/w400-h333/IMGP9906.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe Thibault (#7) scored the Stingers first goal on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>For a third straight year, the Concordia University Stingers
will play for a U Sports women’s hockey title.<p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday at Merlis Belsher Place, the Stingers, who are
the Reseau du Sport Etudiant du Quebec champions, outlasted a resilient
University of Waterloo Warriors squad 3-1 in the first of two semifinals at the
U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship tournament. The Warriors, who are the OUA
champions, road a 37 save performance from netminder Mikayla Schnarr to stay in
the game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Warriors were down 2-1 and went on the power play with
2:39 remaining in the third when Stingers defender Camille Richard was
penalized for body checking. With 1:20 remaining in the third, Stingers
third-year right-winger Jessymaude Drapeau took the puck from a pair of
Warriors players in the centre ice zone and jetted down the right wing into the
Waterloo zone.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Drapeau cut across the front of the Warriors net, put on a
deke and tucked home a short-handed goal that sealed the 3-1 victory for the
Stingers in a contest played before 647 spectators. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the win, the Stingers advance to the gold medal final to
face the sixth seeded University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Sunday at 6 p.m.
at Merlis. The Stingers are making their third straight appearance in the U
Sports championship game. The Stingers captured the U Sports title in 2022
downing the Nipissing University Lakers 4-0 in the event’s final, when the
tournament was held in Charlottetown, P.E.I.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRmKSGOdiZX9wKrsOTqhnA_yg7CvcCOHJnaB4bayn4MUEFZ1-Jigg7p0EwWjjokOTrPIFZkg-gnfoNPKhpqsujDzSN1OL1D7WXAU9OZ0vOypo8QqXjntAkA6sBvgn1_Vh9fY2PmQ0CbSLWMSCoMfJD7s2lgJ6KBs-ViPI6EmANDbNCX6zztyDtc8eALQh/s2498/IMGP9954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2024" data-original-width="2498" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRmKSGOdiZX9wKrsOTqhnA_yg7CvcCOHJnaB4bayn4MUEFZ1-Jigg7p0EwWjjokOTrPIFZkg-gnfoNPKhpqsujDzSN1OL1D7WXAU9OZ0vOypo8QqXjntAkA6sBvgn1_Vh9fY2PmQ0CbSLWMSCoMfJD7s2lgJ6KBs-ViPI6EmANDbNCX6zztyDtc8eALQh/w400-h324/IMGP9954.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stingers faithful cheers on their team on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Last year, the Stingers fell 4-3 in overtime in the U Sports
title game to the Mount Royal University Cougars, when the tournament was held
in Montreal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With Saturday’s setback to the Stingers, the Warriors will
play in tournament’s bronze medal game against the seventh seeded University de
Montreal Carabins set for 2 p.m. at Merlis.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Stingers came storming out of the gate in Saturday’s
semifinal jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first period while holding a 12-6
edge in shots on goal. Third-year centre Zoe Thibault and second-year
left-winger Courtney Rice netted singles for the Stingers in the opening frame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Concordia pressed to get further ahead on the scoreboard in
the second holding a 14-6 edge in shots on goal, but they were held at bay by
the heroics of Schnarr.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Working on a power play to start the third, the Warriors
came up with a big traction moment. Holding the puck at the right side boards, Warriors
fourth-year centre Leah Herrfort passed the puck across the front of the
Stingers net backdoor to skilled third-year left-winger Tatum James. James
tucked home her fourth goal of the tournament to cut the Stingers lead to 2-1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvoiS7QnhLf_npaqX6B-nupr4iV6gjo4-z5134oKJ19aw2mT9rjg5hrmCQd-Bj8woISAIQcdVA_jTii61ebOwhnfmkL-rueu-5hBT5nqRuTix3eANlzSl1iFEjTEFyd5lJF9KFyIxnYcxEbiuz-LATGiwHhJ-jLXVCNk1h7-X3JRF-Uk3NDup_PE0w_wJ/s1994/IMGP9958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1573" data-original-width="1994" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvoiS7QnhLf_npaqX6B-nupr4iV6gjo4-z5134oKJ19aw2mT9rjg5hrmCQd-Bj8woISAIQcdVA_jTii61ebOwhnfmkL-rueu-5hBT5nqRuTix3eANlzSl1iFEjTEFyd5lJF9KFyIxnYcxEbiuz-LATGiwHhJ-jLXVCNk1h7-X3JRF-Uk3NDup_PE0w_wJ/w400-h315/IMGP9958.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stingers celebrate their win on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>James’ goal energized the Warriors, but the Stingers were
able to stay composed and protect their lead. That set the stage for Drapeau to
ice the victory for Concordia with her short-handed tally.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jordyn Verbeek stopped 19 shots to pick up the win in goal
for the Stingers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Going into Sunday’s championship final, the Stingers will be
trying to win their fourth U Sports title in team history having won the U
Sports women’s hockey crown the first two times it was contested in 1998 and
1999.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Warriors were trying to make the U Sports title game for
the first time in team history.</p>
<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Varsity Blues claim Cinderella battle with
Carabins, other notes<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5oko0jw4Jg3yBWLc8eW24XMkTfWQy6oR3pmRHclBqZCxl8Jft401Whlk_thFXYhVHQDxT5QBhSGUVDJAKUMISb27OrSiihylQeCgn20vACkDbsKqsy1oI0NcB8O1_WN0AWwpuqrQUgGhMVYNW6_jZyrIdQGmb5vQ13VHF3osx-z8v1I9yQQQvmCsw7Zh/s3004/IMGP0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2260" data-original-width="3004" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5oko0jw4Jg3yBWLc8eW24XMkTfWQy6oR3pmRHclBqZCxl8Jft401Whlk_thFXYhVHQDxT5QBhSGUVDJAKUMISb27OrSiihylQeCgn20vACkDbsKqsy1oI0NcB8O1_WN0AWwpuqrQUgGhMVYNW6_jZyrIdQGmb5vQ13VHF3osx-z8v1I9yQQQvmCsw7Zh/w400-h301/IMGP0058.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erica Fryer (#30) makes a save in goal for the Varsity Blues.</td></tr></tbody></table>The glass slippers proved to be a better fit for the
University of Toronto Varsity Blues.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the second semifinal of the U Sports Women’s Hockey
Championship tournament played on Saturday night at Merlis Belsher Place played
before 817 spectators, it was a battle of Cinderella teams between the sixth
seeded Blues and the seventh seeded University de Montreal Carabins. Neither
team wanted to see the clock strike midnight in their respective quests to win
a national title.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two squads went to overtime locked in a 1-1 tie, and the
1-1 tie remained after the two squads played through a 10-minute overtime
period of four skaters versus four skaters hockey. In the sixth round of the
tiebreaking shootout, Varsity Blues first-year right-winger Ashley Delahey
tucked home a shot past Carabins fifth-year netminder Aube Racine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Third-year right-winger Amelie Poire-Lehoux came up net to
shoot for the Carabins, and she was turned away by Varsity Blues netminder
Erica Fryer. That stop by Fryer allowed the Varsity Blues to take the
tiebreaking session 1-0 and the game 2-1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the win, the Varsity Blues advance to play in Sunday’s
U Sports championship game against the top seeded Concordia University Stingers
set for 6 p.m. on Sunday at Merlis.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Carabins will take part in Sunday’s bronze medal game
against the fourth seeded University of Waterloo Warriors at 2 p.m. at Merlis.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19FVxHDT1b3CFzynu7RmHeon-a271GuEu6QM3mZdp0jwAXq8Q5KbamqNxpLtzoiKbCS4bPrER88D0iwtUpe3e1s9tZj7qg87nYcPVWnQFMs8OhAm6JxYf3cZgRaAcOcZritgA1ryvh1ClRxZ1R6Nf57WdLkMRzgwwvbFzFnzdPiwYaLIXbqlHJpV0VxNb/s1999/IMGP9994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1786" data-original-width="1999" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19FVxHDT1b3CFzynu7RmHeon-a271GuEu6QM3mZdp0jwAXq8Q5KbamqNxpLtzoiKbCS4bPrER88D0iwtUpe3e1s9tZj7qg87nYcPVWnQFMs8OhAm6JxYf3cZgRaAcOcZritgA1ryvh1ClRxZ1R6Nf57WdLkMRzgwwvbFzFnzdPiwYaLIXbqlHJpV0VxNb/w400-h358/IMGP9994.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashley Delahey scored the tiebreaking shootout winner.</td></tr></tbody></table>For the Varsity Blues, they will be playing in the U Sports
title game on Sunday for the first time since 2003. In the 2003 U Sports
championship tournament played in Regina, the Varsity Blues fell 5-4 in
overtime to the University of Alberta Pandas.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Varsity Blues lone U Sports title win came in the 2001 U
Sports championship tournament held in Calgary, when they downed the University
of Regina Cougars 4-3. The Varsity Blues went up 3-0 in that contest, but the
Cougars rallied to tie the score at 3-3 in the third. Later in the third, the
Varsity Blues netted the winning goal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Saturday’s clash between the Varsity Blues and Carabins, third-year
defender Kalie Chan gave the U of T side a 1-0 lead firing home a shot from
just above the top of the left faceoff circle at the 9:55 mark of the opening period.
Delahey picked up the lone assist on Chan’s tally.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It appeared for the longest time Chan’s lone tally would
stand up as the only goal of the contest.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 5:01 mark of the third, the Carabins found the
equalizer that forced a 1-1 tie score. Carabins fifth-year centre and captain
Jessika Boulanger had the puck on the right faceoff dot in the Varsity Blues
zone.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She passed the puck across the face of the goal for a
backdoor setup to first-year left-winger Juliette Rolland at the left side of
the net. Rolland made no mistake knocking home the equalizer. Defender Jade
Picard picked up a second assist on Rolland’s goal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sfSPHpr0fEQPt8klumFik64V4FEUl9fjN5Mh2d6W4AgONl-zjYRRtRCZx8PeZKXCB8RpZ8vcfYoiWXqtTeER0EXQ0TjOwv_tn8FfvN_jyidMEn84m4paBMOebTMOdHNf0rrXn-seQcMq2O3bADksQmjdGrSP2H6T6Q1NoXUUMhc1tAgFvQrEizPlTOTV/s1995/IMGP0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="1995" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sfSPHpr0fEQPt8klumFik64V4FEUl9fjN5Mh2d6W4AgONl-zjYRRtRCZx8PeZKXCB8RpZ8vcfYoiWXqtTeER0EXQ0TjOwv_tn8FfvN_jyidMEn84m4paBMOebTMOdHNf0rrXn-seQcMq2O3bADksQmjdGrSP2H6T6Q1NoXUUMhc1tAgFvQrEizPlTOTV/w400-h331/IMGP0100.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Varsity Blues start to celebrate a berth in the U Sports title game.</td></tr></tbody></table>That set the stage for the game to go to overtime and a
tiebreaking shootout, where Delahey scored the only goal in the tiebreaking
session in the sixth round.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fryer stopped 25 shots over 70 minutes and all six shooters
she faced in the shootout to pick up the win in goal for the Varsity Blues. Racine
turned away 23 shots over 70 minutes and five out of six shooters in the
shootout.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Varsity Blues are appearing in the U Sports title game
for the fourth time in team history.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Carabins last appeared in the U Sport championship
contest in 2016 blanking the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 8-0,
when the national championship tournament was held in Calgary. The Carabins have
appeared in four U Sports championship games winning twice.</p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">The host University of
Saskatchewan Huskies downed the Saint Xavier X-Women in the first
consolation semifinal on Saturday 3-1 at the U Sports Women’s Hockey
Championship tournament at Merlis. Defender Brooklyn Stevely had a goal
and an assist for the Huskies. Netminder Camryn Drever made 37 saves to
pick up the win in goal for U of S.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">The University of British
Columbia Thunderbirds blanked the University of New Brunswick Red 4-0 in
the second consolation semifinal on Saturday 4-0 at the U Sports Women’s
Hockey Championship tournament at Merlis. Chanreet Bassi scored twice for
the Thunderbirds, while Joelle Fiala and Sierra LaPlante netted singles.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">The consolation final
between the Huskies and Thunderbirds at the U Sports Women’s Hockey
Championship tournament is set for 10 a.m. Sunday at Merlis.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Stingers captain Emmy
Fecteau might be the best two-way player at the U Sports Women’s Hockey
Championship tournament going on at Merlis. Fecteau has one goal in the
Stingers two wins, and she is able to play in all situations for her
squad.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Stevely returned to the
Huskies for the U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship tournament after she
missed the entire 2023-24 campaign to that point battling and beating
ovarian cancer. A trio of Saskatoon media outlets did great work on
Stevely’s story. Darren Zary’s piece in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix on
Stevely can be found by clicking <a href="https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/cancer-survivor-stevely-back-on-the-ice-just-in-time-for-u-sports-nationals" target="_blank">right here</a>. A story by Brooke Kruger and
Scott Roblin of Global News Saskatoon on Stevely can be found by clicking
<a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10364049/huskies-brooklyn-stevely-plays-nationals-after-cancer-diagnosis/" target="_blank">right here</a>. Shane Clausing’s story for 650 CKOM on Stevely can be found by
clicking <a href="https://www.ckom.com/2024/03/15/huskies-brooklyn-stevely-returns-for-championship-after-bout-with-cancer/" target="_blank">right here</a>.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Sunday’s U Sports title
game features two teams in the Concordia University Stingers and the
University of Toronto Blues that appeared in the U Sports championship
contest held back in 1998. In that game, the Stingers, who were the host
squad, claimed a 4-1 victory.</li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
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DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><br /><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-33045217073051665952024-03-15T22:38:00.000-07:002024-03-17T00:31:57.801-07:00Grawbarger makes Varsity Blues dreams come true<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BMEx8kT4IQjwEsZDyWkRKD_jo_3XIA9K5KsUm-USW5ePDdRO4IsxlyA21OMW6ARzdg5hlxG4T3kn_kySfVxTKcsbIgupdktXeP0bBV53Io24fhGowtU9W9s45FKm9-l_CR-iHczS0LzEJXOJLN83t3pvdmUfrHyOf9-Uo9d1OCWX0i-mTQi3yojDKyII/s1991/IMGP9806.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1743" data-original-width="1991" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BMEx8kT4IQjwEsZDyWkRKD_jo_3XIA9K5KsUm-USW5ePDdRO4IsxlyA21OMW6ARzdg5hlxG4T3kn_kySfVxTKcsbIgupdktXeP0bBV53Io24fhGowtU9W9s45FKm9-l_CR-iHczS0LzEJXOJLN83t3pvdmUfrHyOf9-Uo9d1OCWX0i-mTQi3yojDKyII/w400-h350/IMGP9806.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie Grawbarger scored the winner for the Varsity Blues.</td></tr></tbody></table>“You Make My Dreams (Come True)” may never have sounded sweeter
for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team.<p class="MsoNormal">With the NHL’s Toronto Maples Leafs have dropped the famous
Hall and Oates tune early in the 2023-24 campaign as their goal song after five
full seasons, the Varsity Blues decided to pick the medley as their goal song,
and they are two victories away from winning a national championship with it.
Being two wins away from winning a championship is something the Maple Leafs have
only dreamt about since 1967.</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Friday night at Merlis Belsher Place, the Varsity Blues
were locked in a 1-1 tie with the University of New Brunswick Reds in the
fourth quarter-final of the U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship tournament.
With 2:21 remaining in the third, Varsity Blues third-year left-winger Sophie
Grawbarger elected to take control of the contest in her own hands.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After getting the puck in the centre ice zone, Grawbarger
drove hard down the middle of the ice into the UNB zone. She got in close to
the Reds goal and put a backhand shot over the shoulder on the stick side of
Reds netminder Kendra Woodland into the UNB net to give U of T a 2-1 lead.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That 2-1 score held as the final in front of a gathering of
771 spectators to allow the sixth seeded Varsity Blues to advance to the
tournament’s semfinal round. They will face the seventh seeded University de
Montreal Carabins in Saturday’s second semifinal slated for 7 p.m. at Merlis.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The first semifinal on Saturday sees the top seeded Concordia
University Stingers take on the fourth seeded University of Waterloo Warriors
at 4 p.m. at Merlis.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Reds will play a consolation semifinal against the
second seeded University of British Columbia Thunderbirds set for 1 p.m. at
Merlis on Saturday.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In the clash between the Varsity Blues and Reds, the two
sides played a fairly even first period. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ENTcq2mfjFO65fM4XP37VEZajig6FQoO8LH4UWxo2jfs18f6L_4bhU40jxxX-ZPqOe3Ybw9WGfC7V7Cudhyphenhyphen2mjYwWyPU6IRx7WzU3f6ocsb-0cblfHz3sJeH-f11H6NImDItuygQTyAaX8zVAtMttDzISYe449tNv2LNygx-3_JHHdQwHi29n1ilPaDq/s2486/IMGP9820.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="2486" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ENTcq2mfjFO65fM4XP37VEZajig6FQoO8LH4UWxo2jfs18f6L_4bhU40jxxX-ZPqOe3Ybw9WGfC7V7Cudhyphenhyphen2mjYwWyPU6IRx7WzU3f6ocsb-0cblfHz3sJeH-f11H6NImDItuygQTyAaX8zVAtMttDzISYe449tNv2LNygx-3_JHHdQwHi29n1ilPaDq/w400-h339/IMGP9820.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Reds were denied an equalizer with 18.9 seconds left in the third.</td></tr></tbody></table>First-year right-winger Ashley Delahey scored at the 12:32
mark of the first to put the Blues up 1-0. Second-year defender Mackenzie
Keenan tallied just 49 seconds later for the AUS champion Reds to even the
score at 1-1. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The shots on goal between the two sides were tied 9-9 after
20 minutes. The Varsity Blues and Reds skated through a fairly tight checking
contest from that point with U of T holding a 7-4 edge in shots on goal in the
second period and 6-4 advantage in shots in the third frame.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After the Blues went up 2-1, the Reds made a last gasp push
with Woodland pulled for an extra attacker looking for an equalizer that would
force overtime. The Reds were successful in creating a hectic mad scramble
where Varsity Blues netminder Erica Fryer was able to cover up the puck with
18.9 second remaining in the frame.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Fryer stopped 16 shots to pick up the win in goal for the
Varsity Blues. Woodland turned away 20 shots to take the setback in net for the
Reds.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Varsity Blues are searching for their first U Sports
crown since winning their lone title in 2001, when they down the University of
Regina Cougars 4-3, when the national championship tournament was held in
Calgary.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately if the Varsity Blues are able to win the U Sports
title, they won’t be able to celebrate the accomplishment at one time famed
Saskatoon night hotspot in Beily’s Ultra Lounge, which closed in February of
2015. The famed closing tune at Beily’s was “You Make My Dreams (Come True).”</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">T-birds nationals jinx continues, Carabins
take quarter-final<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxyvyPqYvWlftuDfBTCUXbkvS1H-dqOjd2Ve3TqR0mXCz2CedjRNmLIHfgZa-Az4fXTXEI43iWeLQ4TxQkVultEgDQV9YshDu3F8E17a0oC1ANUiNfLInjjBabGaGjyl4rK4l81-MYBnF8QhSeInb511bRUcJonkED6JU4larX4ny9618kR53GBSPed8E/s2506/IMGP9667.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2024" data-original-width="2506" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxyvyPqYvWlftuDfBTCUXbkvS1H-dqOjd2Ve3TqR0mXCz2CedjRNmLIHfgZa-Az4fXTXEI43iWeLQ4TxQkVultEgDQV9YshDu3F8E17a0oC1ANUiNfLInjjBabGaGjyl4rK4l81-MYBnF8QhSeInb511bRUcJonkED6JU4larX4ny9618kR53GBSPed8E/w400-h323/IMGP9667.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Carabins enjoy an empty-net goal from Laurie-Anne Ethier (#10).</td></tr></tbody></table>It seems like a black cloud hangs over the University of
British Columbia Thunderbirds when it comes to playing in the U Sports Women’s
Hockey Championship tournament.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Thunderbirds jinx at nationals continued even with
entering this year’s event having won the Canada West Conference title for a
third straight year and being the tournament’s second seed. They fell 4-2 to
the seventh seeded Universite de Montreal Carabins in the third quarter-final
played on Friday at Merlis Belsher Place before 2,150 spectators.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes and were locked in
a 2-2 early in the third before the Carabins scored twice more to secure
victory. The Carabins were third in Reseau du Sport Etudiant du Quebec at
13-10-2 and went 3-3 in post-season falling to the Concordia University
Stingers in the RSEQ final.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In 2022, the Thunderbirds entered nationals held in
Charlottetown, P.E.I., as the third seed and fell in the quarter-final 1-0 to
the Nipissing University Lakers. Last year, the Thunderbirds entered nationals
held in Montreal as the second seed. They fell 3-1 to the Stingers in the
semifinal and rebounded to claim the bronze medal game 3-2 over the Carabins.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Friday’s clash between the Thunderbirds and Carabins was
tightly contested. Carabins fourth-year centre Mylene Lefebvre scored at the
6:58 mark of the opening frame to give her squad a 1-0 lead. Thunderbirds
second-year forward Cassidy Rhodes potted the equalizer at the 13:45 mark of
the first to even the score at 1-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With 11:01 remaining in the second, Thunderbirds third-year
left-winger Grace Elliott was awarded a penalty shot, but she was turned away
by Carabins fifth-year netminder Aube Racine.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After the two sides played through a scoreless second,
Carabins fourth-year left-winger Joannie Garand wired home a shot from the
right wing into the Thunderbirds net to put Montreal up 2-1. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBckKF9Fkjd6EscZF6JGKTfigIs0tHgg4mMyWr8-btHWhWb40BtMxk12L7-gosiex1ZCD9KbNb8gm5eeZu1xhc_ipWAMg-JJ_QVoARY07NnDrgdVWbhrdv_79yzagDqehrO82wzMUQqL_kjnlqZ7dSPw3r7wrAcJm5CjielwUBFRsRx6MJDHILi3oWJRY/s1947/IMGP9595.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="1947" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBckKF9Fkjd6EscZF6JGKTfigIs0tHgg4mMyWr8-btHWhWb40BtMxk12L7-gosiex1ZCD9KbNb8gm5eeZu1xhc_ipWAMg-JJ_QVoARY07NnDrgdVWbhrdv_79yzagDqehrO82wzMUQqL_kjnlqZ7dSPw3r7wrAcJm5CjielwUBFRsRx6MJDHILi3oWJRY/w400-h338/IMGP9595.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jade Picard had a goal and two assists for the Carabins.</td></tr></tbody></table>A short time later, Carabins defender Rose-Michelle Cardin
was given a double minor penalty for head contact. On the first part of the
double minor, Thunderbirds third-year defender Sophia Gaskell slipped home a
smart shot from the point to once again even the score this time at 2-2 just 90
seconds after Garand’s tally.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">With 6:10 remaining in the third, Carabins second year
defender Jade Picard popped collected the rebound at the left side of the
Thunderbirds net from a Garand shot and popped home a tally that gave the
Carabins a 3-2 lead. Carabins second-year right-winger Laurie-Anne Ethier
scored into an empty-net with 2:01 remaining in the third to round out the
Carabins 4-2 victory.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Racine made 24 stops to pick up the win in goal for the
Carabins. Third-year goalie Elise Hugens turned away 18-of-21 shots to take the
setback in net for the Thunderbirds.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Picard had a pair of assists to go with her goal and was a
plus-three in the plus-minus department. Garand and Lefebvre both had an assist
to go with their respective goals.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Carabins went 0-for-7 on the power play, while the
Thunderbirds were 1-for-3 with a one skater advantage.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Carabins advance to play in a tournament semifinal
against the sixth seeded University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday at 7
p.m. at Merlis.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Thunderbirds will take part in a consolation semifinal
against the University of New Brunswick Reds on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Merlis.</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Blades close in on clinching first overall
in WHL<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCDU11gvaVKNTslDEtTMhjLL6bJWUTOfJ_7d9BPHsCMpuHzGYBK6SXGOY8cl8yv6TxfzbaVQNL5RTH0b8lCV9bEVwoOluKjnYf3MF7qYclhKiyO1NueX76lFKBhbYO4B7tWYzHEbUx4Hywam9IUbikJB8UBeCJVXrdp5tBgrCyGvEJ8nlyVpWQaiWuXFV/s1918/IMGP6492.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="1918" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCDU11gvaVKNTslDEtTMhjLL6bJWUTOfJ_7d9BPHsCMpuHzGYBK6SXGOY8cl8yv6TxfzbaVQNL5RTH0b8lCV9bEVwoOluKjnYf3MF7qYclhKiyO1NueX76lFKBhbYO4B7tWYzHEbUx4Hywam9IUbikJB8UBeCJVXrdp5tBgrCyGvEJ8nlyVpWQaiWuXFV/w400-h368/IMGP6492.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexander Suzdalev scored twice for the Blades on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>With first place in the WHL’s East Division and Eastern
Conference locked up, the Saskatoon Blades have turned their full focus towards
finishing first overall in the WHL. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Friday, the Blades took a big step in getting closer to
finishing first overall when they won their fifth straight downing the visiting
Moose Jaw Warriors 6-3 in a regular season clash before 6,257 spectators at the
SaskTel Centre. With the five straight wins, the Blades improve their WHL
leading record to 47-12-2-3.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“The Bridge City Bunch” needs to collect five standings
points over their last four games to lock up first place overall in the WHL. Only
the B.C. Division champion Prince George Cougars (45-15-1-3) and the U.S.
Division leading Portland Winterhawks (45-15-2-1) could pass the Blades in the overall
WHL standings.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The last time the Blades finished first overall in the WHL
was back in the 2010-11 campaign when they posted a 56-13-1-2 record. The 56
victories are a Blades franchise record for wins in one regular season.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In Friday’s contest with the Warriors, the two sides engaged
in a back-and-forth struggle over the first 40 minutes. The two sides were
locked in a 2-2 draw after the first period and a 3-3 tied after the second
before the Blades exploded for the only three goals in the third.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Blades star import winger Alexander Suzdalev blew up
Platform-X when he scored a power-play goal on a Michigan style lacrosse shot
with four seconds remaining in the opening frame to force a 2-2 tie. Suzdalev
finished the night having scored a pair of goals.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky had a big night
recording a pair of goals and an assist in the win. With 38 goals on the
season, Lisowsky is trying to hit the 40-goal plateau for the first time in his
WHL career.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Steady left-winger Tyler Parr has a goal and an assist for
the Blades, while overage left-winger Easton Armstrong netted a single, which
allowed him to hit 30 goals scored for one season for the first time in his WHL
career. Blades captain Trevor Wong, star centre Fraser Minten and
offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk each recorded two assists in the win.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Wong leads the WHL with 83 assists to go along with 13 goals
for 96 points. The Vancouver product is trying to hit the 100-point plateau for
the first time in his WHL career.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Blades import right-winger Egor Sidorov was held off the
scoresheet as he sits on the cusp of a big milestone. Sidorov had scored 49
goals so far this season, which is good for fourth best in the WHL. Along with
trying to hit the 50-goal plateau, Sidorov is trying to become the first Blades
player to score 50-or-more goals in a season since the 1995-96 campaign.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In the 1995-96 season, both Frank Banham and Mark Deyell hit
the 50-goal plateau for the Blades. Banham record 83 goals in that campaign,
which is still a franchise record for most goals in a season, and Deyell posted
61 goals.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In the setback to the Blades, offensive-defenceman Denton
Mateychuk, Atley Calvert and Jagger Firkus all netted single for the Warriors.
Mateychuk had an assist to go with his goal, and Brayden Yager had a pair of
assists for the Moose Jaw side.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Rookie netminder Evan Gardner made 26 saves to earn the win
in goal for the Blades, who are rated fifth in the CHL Top 10 Rankings. Jackson Unger turned away 36 shots to take the setback
in net for the Warriors, who fell to 41-20-0-3 to sit second overall in the
Eastern Conference.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades and Warriors go at it again on Saturday at 7 p.m.
at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Raiders fall to Pats, inch closer to playoff
berth<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmk9lCtoGRaR5a4J8baxIVrUllvIaqMsXhGU9tNolVDUmanCSsOAXAq2kHJcWblHpVQcPR4j1FPrp0TlinAU76_A4o1G8xNWo_UBGcQjPTELfAOwWwLvsI_Z8D1IfdsYiSdUgMNJSiBVBacVDPCfv-T9zPF7PIN5qmr7UUuIYI4PbdTrU09P6FoCs8aLX/s1932/IMGP0150.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1760" data-original-width="1932" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmk9lCtoGRaR5a4J8baxIVrUllvIaqMsXhGU9tNolVDUmanCSsOAXAq2kHJcWblHpVQcPR4j1FPrp0TlinAU76_A4o1G8xNWo_UBGcQjPTELfAOwWwLvsI_Z8D1IfdsYiSdUgMNJSiBVBacVDPCfv-T9zPF7PIN5qmr7UUuIYI4PbdTrU09P6FoCs8aLX/w400-h365/IMGP0150.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justice Christensen scored for the Raiders on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Prince Albert Raiders stumbled in Regina but got closer
to locking up a playoff berth due to an assist from the Edmonton Oil Kings.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Friday night at the Brandt Centre in Regina, the Raiders
dropped a 5-2 decision in a WHL regular season clash to the host Pats before
3,782 spectators despite having a 34-19 edge in shots on goal. The Pats
improved to 22-36-4-2 to remain last in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Out in Edmonton, the host Oil Kings downed the visiting
Calgary Hitmen 6-2, which allowed the Raiders to get closer to locking up a
berth in the WHL Playoffs. The Oil Kings improved to 25-36-3-1 to sit second
last in the Eastern Conference.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With the loss to the Pats, the Raiders fell to 30-29-2-3,
but they still sit in eighth place and hold the final playoff berth in the
Eastern Conference. The Hitmen fell to 26-30-7-1 with the loss to the Oil
Kings. Calgary sits ninth in the Eastern Conference five standings points
behind the Raiders.</p><p class="MsoNormal">At the moment, the Raiders need to collect four more
standings points in their final four games to lock up a berth in the WHL
Playoffs. The Lethbridge Hurricanes (31-28-5) and the Brandon Wheat Kings
(30-28-6-1) both sit two standings points ahead of the Raiders.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes hold sixth place in the Eastern Conference
over the Wheat Kings due to having a greater number of wins.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In Friday’s encounter between the Raiders and Pats, Tye
Spencer gave the Pats a 1-0 lead at the 10:13 mark of the opening frame. Just
77 seconds later, overage centre Turner McMillen tallied for the Raiders to
even the score at 1-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Anthony Wilson and Jaxsin Vaughan netted singles for the
Pats in the second to give the host side a 3-1 edge going into the second
intermission. Pats captain Tanner Howe scored just 10 seconds into the third to
increase Regina’s advantage to 4-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Raiders offensive-defenceman Justice Christensen potted a
power-play goal with 4:46 remaining in the third to trim Regina’s lead to 4-2. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Braxton Whitehead popped home an empty-net goal with 1:42
remaining in the third to round out the 5-2 final in favour of the Pats.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Kelton Pyne stopped 32 shots to pick up the win in goal for
the Pats. Max Hildebrand turned away 14-of-18 shots to take the setback in goal
for the Raiders.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders return to action on Saturday when they travel to
Brandon to face the Wheat Kings (7 p.m. local time, Westoba Place).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Pats return to action on Sunday when they host their
archrivals the 41-20-0-3 Moose Jaw Warriors (4 p.m., Brandt Centre).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i>stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-79621067191610343712024-03-14T22:59:00.000-07:002024-03-15T03:00:26.698-07:00Huskies put up fight, Stingers take victory 4-0<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Top seeded Concordia advances to U Sports tourney semifinal<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZr42-99_vBq4ujNUtrRU5stB7U4toMg2aoRVKWDOtfi5SeB6ACjyIvl7TqXLlhlkz7uFWsbDQlhc3OAtWuOSgoLR6N_CskALAz4kcu_z75lKkwm6I7dweQCvHd0yoW4pWHgxUY9Bs56J_ZsnjRKbTKSSGuaoP3niNTQ3e0MrKI2QB6xdeCAOoD3Yh49T/s1997/IMGP9572.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1767" data-original-width="1997" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZr42-99_vBq4ujNUtrRU5stB7U4toMg2aoRVKWDOtfi5SeB6ACjyIvl7TqXLlhlkz7uFWsbDQlhc3OAtWuOSgoLR6N_CskALAz4kcu_z75lKkwm6I7dweQCvHd0yoW4pWHgxUY9Bs56J_ZsnjRKbTKSSGuaoP3niNTQ3e0MrKI2QB6xdeCAOoD3Yh49T/w400-h354/IMGP9572.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emilie Lussier celebrates her second of two goals for the Stingers.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Concordia University Stingers winning pedigree came
through.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Thursday night in a quarter-final contest at the U Sports Women’s
Hockey Championship tournament, the top seeded Stingers absorbed the best shot
from the pesky eighth seeded host University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The
Stingers proceeded to play skilled and physical and slowly took the contest
away from the Huskies causing a raucous crowd 2,364 spectators at Merlis
Belsher Place to fall quite.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the dust settled, the Stingers blanked the host Huskies
4-0 to advance to the semifinal round. Concordia will play the fourth seeded
University of Waterloo Warriors in Saturday’s first semifinal set for 4 p.m. at
Merlis. That clash will see the Reseau du Sport Etudiant du Quebec champions in
the Stingers face the OUA champions in the Warriors.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4it1nOWsbJngC_lGJ8ki3FPjgSLdfROmV8tbKjVFiab3wtXqMSFbeJ3Xja_O2eGdkEN00r3UiAcx6XN6ZID4iBJOL5oJoqoVKz4bmoxfC11tuxl3RqGX3g_Ael-2jyqMElg4sjda13vA1tRoipzCAJI6GPmL9GpPt38-2ouOSnXV3SY_MfyMkOeZDy6u_/s1987/IMGP9569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="1987" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4it1nOWsbJngC_lGJ8ki3FPjgSLdfROmV8tbKjVFiab3wtXqMSFbeJ3Xja_O2eGdkEN00r3UiAcx6XN6ZID4iBJOL5oJoqoVKz4bmoxfC11tuxl3RqGX3g_Ael-2jyqMElg4sjda13vA1tRoipzCAJI6GPmL9GpPt38-2ouOSnXV3SY_MfyMkOeZDy6u_/w400-h351/IMGP9569.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmy Fecteau scored the Stingers first goal on Thursday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Huskies will take on the St. Francis Xavier X-Women in
consolation semifinal set for 10 a.m. on Saturday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That one stings for sure,” said Huskies captain Kennedy Brown,
who is in her fifth and final year of U Sports eligibility. “I mean it didn’t
feel like a 4-0 game on our part.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think the girls battled really hard. We knew we were
coming up against some steep competition them being ranked number one in the
country coming off an undefeated regular season. To instill a little bit of
fear in them early on and get a couple of chances, I mean that is all we can
ask for from our team.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We pop a couple of those early on, and it is a completely
different game for us. For them to get a lucky bounce on that first one, it was
definitely not the outcome we wanted. I mean I couldn’t have asked for more of
an effort from the girls.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TuS_LzLCC06nHVr3VKTw4K3874Rr-8ZvdWt1JicE5J3XGudbN7cSEC6MFFPi0MiY7r9xFG5q0xqVj4rDRkvkr3BLv_vNXGKUE0_tcJzjsFY1VLcAGdCS9lHTrD6VFM2w9AjOQCRDE10vT1YNUaiN2axHo8XCj9Ic71F0ZogQsgLrJ3LWw3achJEok8lK/s1998/IMGP9328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1733" data-original-width="1998" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TuS_LzLCC06nHVr3VKTw4K3874Rr-8ZvdWt1JicE5J3XGudbN7cSEC6MFFPi0MiY7r9xFG5q0xqVj4rDRkvkr3BLv_vNXGKUE0_tcJzjsFY1VLcAGdCS9lHTrD6VFM2w9AjOQCRDE10vT1YNUaiN2axHo8XCj9Ic71F0ZogQsgLrJ3LWw3achJEok8lK/w400-h348/IMGP9328.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabella Pozzi brings the puck up ice for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Stingers came into Thursday quarter-final with a history
of having won the U Sports title in 2022 and having fallen in the U Sports
championship game a year ago to the Mount Royal University Cougars. This
season, the Stingers posted a perfect 25-0 record in the regular season and a
4-2 mark in the post-season that saw them capture the RSEQ title.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies finished fourth in the Canada West Conference
with a 19-7-2 mark and fell in a best-of-three conference quarter-final series
in a series deciding Game 3 to the U of Calgary Dinos 2-0.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Backed by a vocal home crowd that was the largest to see a
women’s hockey game in Saskatchewan’s history outside of contests involving
Canada’s Senior National Women’s team, the Huskies came flying out of the gate.
They had numerous quality scoring chances in the first period holding a 11-7
edge in shots on goal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATf8UzLa7oS93GO_T6vnmpR1f5ZbPolsJBpXcCfDZmBKXg4Sek9xQ8ckKs0X0vfXDkbcd7vj-8GgX41TLKgJpDFJyPjANqdgZtVwkF3wrqG2ogx6xdfwVTJGOYLG85arVrTELj3ow0gQ99g9mlnDQgYV3W3UiYlLuL9CCNk4ipxGPB6XoTWZOlQWoNYDR/s2472/IMGP9343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="2472" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATf8UzLa7oS93GO_T6vnmpR1f5ZbPolsJBpXcCfDZmBKXg4Sek9xQ8ckKs0X0vfXDkbcd7vj-8GgX41TLKgJpDFJyPjANqdgZtVwkF3wrqG2ogx6xdfwVTJGOYLG85arVrTELj3ow0gQ99g9mlnDQgYV3W3UiYlLuL9CCNk4ipxGPB6XoTWZOlQWoNYDR/w400-h306/IMGP9343.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the crowd of 2,364 cheers on the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Stingers exited the frame with the only goal coming from
the stick of captain Emmy Fecteau. On a delayed penalty call situation, Fecteau
took a shot from the right faceoff dot in the U of S zone, and the puck
deflected off a Huskies skater, flipped high in the air and floated over top of
Huskies star goaltender Camryn Drever into the net to give the Stingers a 1-0
lead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Huskies head coach Steve Kook said it was tough to exit the
opening 20 minutes down 1-0 on the scoreboard with his side having played well
in the frame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The plan was to always take our swing at these guys,” said
Kook. “We had nothing to lose.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX_RN8H6_suFzmLcpxYJ1Xlb78xTuElDDmZX1rKvM8PtyL3-g2Q-klsrIAKAknqOZebKMOwdckCQPKAalUuFGKRR95hjQFjFz3PUT68tZEessWQ-Z47s8F66cWUxCQj4bGBNL3RftcOFq7x0YD1hwGJIo93azOnIGggWNYZlFWqgD8DA7S7WNwCKOfkVa/s2009/IMGP9492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1703" data-original-width="2009" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX_RN8H6_suFzmLcpxYJ1Xlb78xTuElDDmZX1rKvM8PtyL3-g2Q-klsrIAKAknqOZebKMOwdckCQPKAalUuFGKRR95hjQFjFz3PUT68tZEessWQ-Z47s8F66cWUxCQj4bGBNL3RftcOFq7x0YD1hwGJIo93azOnIGggWNYZlFWqgD8DA7S7WNwCKOfkVa/w400-h339/IMGP9492.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camryn Drever made 37 saves in goal for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>“You look at the first period, we hit a post on an empty
net. (Bronwyn) Boucher hits a crossbar. On the power play, SK (Sara Kendall)
slides it through their goalie’s five-hole, hits the back leg and comes back
out.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kook said he could sense the crowd at Merlis really wanted
to erupt with noise, and he thought the outcome of the contest could have gone
a different way had the Huskies scored in that frame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think if we get one we get multiples, especially with the
crowd the way it was,” said Kook. “We haven’t played in front of this size of a
crowd, and I don’t think they’ve played in front of this size of a crowd either.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-wELqFJVJAOH_2y9zsOMuZ8gqOLE2htg2wFNIGKk28zKfsm2bfWDROBn5pwKv4tj4GO7R3PL7eYfrsR1ignvbQKv8eijZ7FgxPxKf52w615yKhDsHqvPHT-Nx3SAbHnYIQYxqiDWkVNSk5uxEP6Ten0hXrlYOYUmBQoxis7zG54KhgwpH3I8bCn6WT6j/s1989/IMGP9290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1681" data-original-width="1989" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-wELqFJVJAOH_2y9zsOMuZ8gqOLE2htg2wFNIGKk28zKfsm2bfWDROBn5pwKv4tj4GO7R3PL7eYfrsR1ignvbQKv8eijZ7FgxPxKf52w615yKhDsHqvPHT-Nx3SAbHnYIQYxqiDWkVNSk5uxEP6Ten0hXrlYOYUmBQoxis7zG54KhgwpH3I8bCn6WT6j/w400-h338/IMGP9290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosalie Begin-Cyr scored the Stingers second goal on Thursday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“I seriously thought if we would have got one we would have
got more.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Stingers began to take control of the contest coming out
of the first intermission. At the 3:12 mark of the second, fifth-year
right-winger Rosalie Begin-Cyr popped home an insurance goal that gave the
Stingers a 2-0 edge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the third, first-year left-winger Emilie Lussier scored
to push the Stingers advantage out to 3-0. She added an empty-net goal to round
out the 4-0 final in the Stingers favour with 40.6 seconds remaining in the
frame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think it was a really, really fun game to play and be a part
of,” said Stingers head coach Julie Chu, who was named the U Sports coach of
the year on Wednesday. “We have some experience in that locker room, but we
also have a really young team in other aspects of it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ez6qhxkUVKF832JSdANGtDeOVAgPgwqNaB-uz-H9sDY6t2bMGMvjrfLF-KOyh81kjMoUWDOFfCkuIDRN0HjxhHdszaXKk-lDdbHSWYMA4lbi_AjJAfvu84geww6DUG76sotWYgZ9vCUw3qSV8aS1uSdkz3oB3_FFHHvCHu-I7WrDGqbs1Pie9SHIPaW8/s1995/IMGP9364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="1995" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ez6qhxkUVKF832JSdANGtDeOVAgPgwqNaB-uz-H9sDY6t2bMGMvjrfLF-KOyh81kjMoUWDOFfCkuIDRN0HjxhHdszaXKk-lDdbHSWYMA4lbi_AjJAfvu84geww6DUG76sotWYgZ9vCUw3qSV8aS1uSdkz3oB3_FFHHvCHu-I7WrDGqbs1Pie9SHIPaW8/w400-h354/IMGP9364.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kara Kondrat brings the puck up ice for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>“I think for us we know that we dodged a bullet in that
first period. I think we needed to start on time. They definitely started on
time. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We were lucky that (netminder) Jordyn Verbeek did a great
job for us in that first period. We know that we were lucky to come out 1-0 out
of that. I liked our response in the second and in the third period.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Verbeek stopped all 26 shots she faced to pick up the
shutout win in goal for the Stingers. Centre Justine Yelle and left-winger
Emilie Lavoie each had a pair of assists for Concordia.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Drever turned away 37 shots to take the setback in net for
the Huskies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0-6UYcxRAby6sFECp6tNjGIKnkz-27pFeJWG1C8yED1aiCfKrXP_nqf-IcYyT_kjgYniFGAEGCEJ33ioaN06xwBpOgpXg9jmrrglKXtqkxcGYJk7cfBTA6eHxb4AyUXTgM_sjllNuCvROtxaWdSsWI9pwi3bv77tdpta_cLE3Iz-enxx_JcuGEp-oCzR/s2444/IMGP9577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2332" data-original-width="2444" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0-6UYcxRAby6sFECp6tNjGIKnkz-27pFeJWG1C8yED1aiCfKrXP_nqf-IcYyT_kjgYniFGAEGCEJ33ioaN06xwBpOgpXg9jmrrglKXtqkxcGYJk7cfBTA6eHxb4AyUXTgM_sjllNuCvROtxaWdSsWI9pwi3bv77tdpta_cLE3Iz-enxx_JcuGEp-oCzR/w400-h381/IMGP9577.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of youngsters cheer on the Stingers.</td></tr></tbody></table>Chu said her squad will turn their attention to the task at
hand in the semifinal round, but her club was going to take in the spoils of
victory on Thursday night.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think for us we’re going to enjoy this one for today,”
said Chu. “It is not easy to win, and it is not easy to win against that team.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It is a battle, and it was a battle tonight. They played
really, really well. I know that we are really grateful to play here and then
to be able to earn the win and have an opportunity to play in the semis on
Saturday against Waterloo.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think for us we will enjoy it for now and do the right
things in our rest and our recovery. Once we wake up, we are going to turn the
page and start our preparation and our focus towards what we need to do on Saturday
to be successful.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dlDXJQaLQ6KzI0wLTRvkuXOyLIRsmBb-S14WvRlck6xJ7bTt05dTEjVKH69Bzq1dZxIg72QyvtTy8sWz87HzrFQDvQDcSflbNUtaVqwTh3yh3ak4ae2oD06HPWPTnnafWEEIM27yuIkDkd1fVs2EhEV1gB9jpW6fQFQcZgwf6QJe9bN4X-VwfoAnf3x7/s2003/IMGP9582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="2003" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dlDXJQaLQ6KzI0wLTRvkuXOyLIRsmBb-S14WvRlck6xJ7bTt05dTEjVKH69Bzq1dZxIg72QyvtTy8sWz87HzrFQDvQDcSflbNUtaVqwTh3yh3ak4ae2oD06HPWPTnnafWEEIM27yuIkDkd1fVs2EhEV1gB9jpW6fQFQcZgwf6QJe9bN4X-VwfoAnf3x7/w400-h345/IMGP9582.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stingers celebrate their win on Thursday night.</td></tr></tbody></table>While the Huskies can’t play for a national title, Brown
said she still wants to do what she can to play two more games with the U of S
side before graduating from the U Sports ranks. The emotion of how tough it was
to fall to the Stingers was visible in the tears in Brown’s eyes, but she still
wants to press on.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“That is kind of our focus now is just to if can draw out
our season a little bit more, especially us as six years, us super vets,” said
Brown. “We don’t want to be done by any means, so if we can play one more on
Sunday, that would be a dream come true.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We didn’t want to be on the consolation side of things, but
that is the reality of a tournament like this. It is win or die. When you are
ranking eighth and you know you are coming up against number one, those are
some stiff odds to fight against. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Our focus is to come out Saturday fresh and again just
leave a mark, leave it all in the ice and hope to play on Sunday.”</p>
<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">James’ hat trick powers Warriors to 6-1 win<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwVOvgN5_yYUTp6TtGHPgnH28Zlo-MaSDoReF__enlWgVhiP7_RkY3J7YFnPlZO65NiofNxLt37ikTW9M32TlUc5cIKQU1349hzWVq85yY8nIaNYDFLcpZalMFF6W72E70ULg_r9qOwzu4arV95BMb3ln3Vd9YeNciWT1RwxaG_ijhzeOwS9oSWFT_w2w/s1998/IMGP9187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="1998" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwVOvgN5_yYUTp6TtGHPgnH28Zlo-MaSDoReF__enlWgVhiP7_RkY3J7YFnPlZO65NiofNxLt37ikTW9M32TlUc5cIKQU1349hzWVq85yY8nIaNYDFLcpZalMFF6W72E70ULg_r9qOwzu4arV95BMb3ln3Vd9YeNciWT1RwxaG_ijhzeOwS9oSWFT_w2w/w400-h361/IMGP9187.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tatum James (#88) celebrates her second goal on Thursday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Tatum James was on fire for the University of Waterloo
Warriors.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The third-year left-winger had a hat trick and one assist to
power her Warriors to a 6-1 victory over the St. Francis Xavier X-Women in
Thursday’s first quarter-final of the U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship
tournament. The contest started out as a tight one with the fourth-seeded
Warriors holding a 1-0 edge after 40 minutes before avalanching offensively in
the third period.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">James scored just 27 seconds into the contest to give the
Warriors a 1-0 edge. After a scoreless second, the Warriors scored three
straight goals to surge their advantage out to 4-0 before cruising to the 6-1
win at Merlis Belsher Place.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Defender Sarah Bestic scored at the 7:36 mark of the third
to put the Warriors up 2-0. James added her second of the contest at the 11:33
mark of the third and completed her hat trick scoring a short-handed empty-net
goal at the 16:20 mark of the frame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Centre Ireland McCloskey tallied on the power-play for the
X-Women at the 17:29 mark of the third to trim the Warriors lead to 4-1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY07RgrXSfhFyUjtbF1IfdOOJ-gAY_hsS7vyStp4I_c_ZZ6YJjQNrU3bKSg3jRcsad8ygpCzzo1v2UJPa6kAzEuqix_T2_0vI0uwf5HT__Uzrx-J2philcA5JDtXfA3aZxFwAOh_Wz6B3FQf-0_UIjqeSvuTUpk_qVkzR-JaVBmW7_f3RZdDDC8IJ1SyEi/s1873/IMGP9208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="1873" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY07RgrXSfhFyUjtbF1IfdOOJ-gAY_hsS7vyStp4I_c_ZZ6YJjQNrU3bKSg3jRcsad8ygpCzzo1v2UJPa6kAzEuqix_T2_0vI0uwf5HT__Uzrx-J2philcA5JDtXfA3aZxFwAOh_Wz6B3FQf-0_UIjqeSvuTUpk_qVkzR-JaVBmW7_f3RZdDDC8IJ1SyEi/w400-h350/IMGP9208.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tatum James had a hat trick and an assist on Thursday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Left-wingers Carly Orth and Madison Pritchard rounded out
the scoring with singles for the Warriors. James picked up an assist on
Pritchard’s power-play tally.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mikayla Schnarr stopped 20 shots to pick up the win in goal
for the Warriors, who are the OUA champions. Amaya Giraudier turned away
22-of-27 shots to take the setback in net for the X-Women, who are the
tournament’s fifth seed. Giraudier, who is in her third year with the X-Women,
is an alumna of the Swift Current Innovation Federal Credit Union Wildcats
under-18 AAA team.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The X-Women play in a consolation semifinal at 10 a.m. at
Merlis against the eight seed and host University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The
Warriors advance to play in a semifinal against the top seeded Concordia
University Stingers at 4 p.m. at Merlis. The Stingers are the champions of Reseau
du Sport Etudiant du Quebec.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The second set of the quarter-finals are set for Friday at
Merlis. The Canada West champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds,
who are the second seed, face the Universite de Montreal Carabins, who are the
seventh seed, at 1 p.m.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VTt0t_P0xEdD0MLbHrV4osX5g1wSW5TomtAax73hK3Z_eFBeDRaF9O2vT6v-ZZAAcecWbAVewGZr1C8ye9jf_g9M3LBD8g2udrDUjSF2c4y_rkbBtWRnVSgQuaT6bsF6jSTBCYXOIDE2ZPz5p3IMwDUcvCjsmVB4Do09cOzWlz5ZNnMEQBlLNrpmGLe6/s2497/IMGP9249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2174" data-original-width="2497" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VTt0t_P0xEdD0MLbHrV4osX5g1wSW5TomtAax73hK3Z_eFBeDRaF9O2vT6v-ZZAAcecWbAVewGZr1C8ye9jf_g9M3LBD8g2udrDUjSF2c4y_rkbBtWRnVSgQuaT6bsF6jSTBCYXOIDE2ZPz5p3IMwDUcvCjsmVB4Do09cOzWlz5ZNnMEQBlLNrpmGLe6/w400-h349/IMGP9249.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Warriors celebrate their win on Thursday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The AUS champion University of New Brunswick Reds, who are
the third seed, take on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, who are the
sixth seed, at 7 p.m.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.</i></p><p></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-79185692158753359152024-03-13T22:58:00.000-07:002024-03-14T00:30:17.066-07:00Huskies face monster test in Stingers to start nationals<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Drever’s presence give Dogs shot at major
upset<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMNreqSuX85HQMDkta92aZwnKK3mXf33QSH5xGdvXWIb69xWn01wrMR3KdnNeYu0CBsmvl1zlNFZfq30Ud02VdoWu3P3XKbsqdUKwvJL37fp_hDoTEQm3APkDLMJYvms3_RYQ7ZsgtIYxYGrI5gSmOaQzCDxzbSxOMcRkh2wdkvaasWcwMiG8axtlwIwC/s1985/IMGP3622.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1693" data-original-width="1985" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMNreqSuX85HQMDkta92aZwnKK3mXf33QSH5xGdvXWIb69xWn01wrMR3KdnNeYu0CBsmvl1zlNFZfq30Ud02VdoWu3P3XKbsqdUKwvJL37fp_hDoTEQm3APkDLMJYvms3_RYQ7ZsgtIYxYGrI5gSmOaQzCDxzbSxOMcRkh2wdkvaasWcwMiG8axtlwIwC/w400-h341/IMGP3622.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Huskies aim to enjoy some good moments hosting nationals.</td></tr></tbody></table>Camryn Drever and her University of Saskatchewan Huskies
women’s hockey team will never back down from a challenge.<p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">They face a big one in the quarter-final round at the U
Sports Women’s Hockey Championship tournament, which runs Thursday through to
Sunday at Merlis Belsher Place. The eighth seeded Huskies will take on the top
seeded Concordia University Stingers as the feature game at 7 p.m. on Thursday
night at Merlis.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think we just have to come out strong and play our game,”
said Drever, who is playing out her fifth and final year of U Sports
eligibility. “When we shy away from doing the things that we’re really good at
is when teams kind of take advantage of that.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think we just have to come out with a good forecheck and
hopefully pop one first would be ideal for us. We just have to come out and do
our things and run line by line, and I think we will be OK.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies finished fourth in Canada West Conference with a
19-7-2 mark and fell in a best-of-three conference quarter-final series in a
series deciding Game 3 to the U of Calgary Dinos 2-0. The Stingers posted a
perfect 25-0 regular season record and captured the Reseau du Sport Etudiant du
Quebec title with a 4-2 post-season mark.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Concordia University has also appeared in the title game of
the last two U Sports Championship tournaments. In 2022 in Charlottetown,
P.E.I., the Stingers blanked the Nipissing University Lakers 4-0 to capture the
Golden Path Trophy in the championship final.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamhj6YRZvdR08QQpuT9lXsxQCLARK_dC-Tm1eohLpwghRH9tzFJc5trdwgtts6ure7z3P4mOEyxpEPGPZflsX1IOTY1zioPOiqddK_rxi0y64CgSK5O5RXNOFHCENrg4yYYnp1QPbiKgB99NOXlXSL9y6lfgidrjkupAs5vlDquoTyVlvgBtP5pTePUCX/s2014/IMGP9234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="2014" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamhj6YRZvdR08QQpuT9lXsxQCLARK_dC-Tm1eohLpwghRH9tzFJc5trdwgtts6ure7z3P4mOEyxpEPGPZflsX1IOTY1zioPOiqddK_rxi0y64CgSK5O5RXNOFHCENrg4yYYnp1QPbiKgB99NOXlXSL9y6lfgidrjkupAs5vlDquoTyVlvgBtP5pTePUCX/w400-h358/IMGP9234.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camryn Drever is a second team all-Canadian all-star.</td></tr></tbody></table>Before downing the Lakers, Concordia blanked the Huskies 2-0
in a semifinal match, where Drever came up with 37 saves in the setback. The
Huskies rebounded to blank the University of New Brunswick Reds 2-0 in the
bronze medal game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At last year’s tournament held in Montreal, the Stingers
dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker in overtime to the eighth seeded Mount Royal
University Cougars.</p><p class="MsoNormal">During the 2023-24 regular season with the Huskies, Drever
posted a 15-4-2 record, a 1.33 goals against average, a .954 save percentage
and five shutouts. She was named the player of the year and goaltender of the
year for the Canada West. On Wednesday night, Drever was named a second team
all-Canadian all-star.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Huskies head coach Steve Kook has a tonne of faith that
Drever can give the host side a chance to get past the Stingers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You see the firepower these teams bring, I think it is a
comfort having Cam (Drever) back there,” said Kook. “We’ve asked Cam to be a
stalwart for our program over the last three years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We’ll ask her to do it one more time for three days.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Forward Emilie Lussier had a head turning rookie year for
the Stingers topping the team in regular season scoring with 34 points coming
off 18 goals and 16 assists. She was named a second team all-Canadian all-star
and was named to the U Sports all-rookie team.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pWoM-QKs1e-ord3K7upOlvpsa4WcrOFcNHjBlLOM3CLueMAglyNk_1OFhDTv0ieOy3NBQdA7C6wujVxg8UjyOHO0_0QYK4CKaPczNkkC6Ib_E_XHFLQ7Nfk37iZ0sPziCn2tHkYYirQiP5ces5RPFR_yXOMsvhuUkRH_j8LWGCHsOouCMysRl3te5wF3/s1993/IMGP6235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1729" data-original-width="1993" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pWoM-QKs1e-ord3K7upOlvpsa4WcrOFcNHjBlLOM3CLueMAglyNk_1OFhDTv0ieOy3NBQdA7C6wujVxg8UjyOHO0_0QYK4CKaPczNkkC6Ib_E_XHFLQ7Nfk37iZ0sPziCn2tHkYYirQiP5ces5RPFR_yXOMsvhuUkRH_j8LWGCHsOouCMysRl3te5wF3/w400-h348/IMGP6235.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie Lalor breaks into the offensive zone for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>A pair of third year forwards in Emilie Lavoie and Jessymaude
Drapeau each recorded 27 points for the Stingers in the regular season. Lavoie
collected her 27 points on 15 goals and 12 assists, while Drapeau piled up her
27 points on 11 goals and 16 assists.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stingers head coach Julie Chu said the experience her side gained
in their previous two trips to the U Sports Championship tournament helps, but
she added each season writes its own story.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“I think like everything we build off what we accomplished
in the past,” said Chu, who was named the U Sports coach of the year. “For
those players that lived that, they are going to build off of it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“For those players that lived the loss last year, they are
going to build off of that. Those that weren’t a part of our program are going
to build of their experiences. I think for us the great thing is when you have
a veteran crew that has experienced nationals at least know what is the rhythm
of going to a hotel (and) being surrounded by other incredible teams and
athletes.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Like anything, this is our new team. That was really
important to us in training camp is to make sure we weren’t stuck in last year
and make sure we weren’t stuck in the previous years. (It is) what are we going
to do this year with this group that is different.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fifth-year forward Sophie Lalor led the Huskies in regular
season scoring with 22 points coming off 12 goals and 10 assists. Fifth-year
forward Kara Kondrat was second in team scoring with 18 points coming six goals
and 12 assists.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Third-year forward Mallory Dyer recorded 10 goals during the
regular season for the Huskies. Defender Isabella Pozzi, who is in her fifth
year, topped the Huskies in defence scoring in the regular season with 13 points
coming off four goals and nine assists.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppwhKUOn34D0b2uKggmy0zfBjCxVe-aCpeLaVb2NHH_MgZn2XOFpiDKhA-mbRKgBhdZPBey5Bg_G4xDsdM6H5OIwTNrEXhIGYJl4CC7ReB9SJgsm1ONUgXNvgFxfoo9wynYaqe4xJT-aZFXz4MKdNao0lOO4sIsis_lUBJLfL04rhOhyy-25N3wnWRkbz/s2002/IMGP3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="2002" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppwhKUOn34D0b2uKggmy0zfBjCxVe-aCpeLaVb2NHH_MgZn2XOFpiDKhA-mbRKgBhdZPBey5Bg_G4xDsdM6H5OIwTNrEXhIGYJl4CC7ReB9SJgsm1ONUgXNvgFxfoo9wynYaqe4xJT-aZFXz4MKdNao0lOO4sIsis_lUBJLfL04rhOhyy-25N3wnWRkbz/w400-h336/IMGP3435.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kara Kondrat finished second in team scoring for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>When the Huskies moved into Merlis Belsher Place for the
start of the 2018-19 campaign, they wanted to host a U Sports Women’s Hockey
Championship tournament. Kook said his players are as ready as they will ever be.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“This was our vision when we first opened the place,” said
Kook, who team was off for 24 days heading into Thursday’s quarter-final. “This
would be a perfect hosting spot for a national championship.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It doesn’t always work. You try to get timely bids for when
your team is right and you have a veteran squad. It is fortunate for us that it
worked out this way. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“For us, we just excited to host the country and be able to
show off the building. Like I said, I think this building is perfect for
hosting events just like this.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Drever, who helped the St. Albert Slash win two Esso Cup
titles as national under-18 AAA female hockey champions in 2017 and 2018, wants
to finish her time with the Huskies on a high note. The Edmonton product did
add that no matter what happens at nationals she will always reflect fondly on
her time with the Huskies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I get emotional thinking about it,” said Drever. “It has
been like a heck of a six years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“There have been lots of ups and downs and just trusting the
process I think has been the biggest thing for me. Just to kind of see it all
come together and to end off hosting nationals is a pretty incredible feeling.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqidFCG1YVpfAVPxup5xY5SiM8YvT-N8HjOSO5o09BrUuXp5gByKvfNu1vq6V-QAILLP-CHoj-8-afiEtmtXPrIQ12O5MF1R5AikVePjYh2yQClOdYy-p40JrVrElnQAerCwL9uNQJSg3_wCQPOVqlRQXtWPHT6gTnZpcWZ8s6TbDbOToQGFTyvoiKYCTT/s2009/IMGP6294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2009" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqidFCG1YVpfAVPxup5xY5SiM8YvT-N8HjOSO5o09BrUuXp5gByKvfNu1vq6V-QAILLP-CHoj-8-afiEtmtXPrIQ12O5MF1R5AikVePjYh2yQClOdYy-p40JrVrElnQAerCwL9uNQJSg3_wCQPOVqlRQXtWPHT6gTnZpcWZ8s6TbDbOToQGFTyvoiKYCTT/w400-h361/IMGP6294.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabella Pozzi controls the back end for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>“There are really no words to kind of capture the last six
years and all the memories in the dressing room and road trips and everything.
It has just been like a phenomenal six years. I couldn’t thank the coaching
staff and the team and Huskie Athletics enough for the last six years.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NOTE</b> – I put
together an advancer piece on the U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship
tournament for The Canadian Press. That story can be found by clicking <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/drever-gets-last-chance-to-add-hardware-at-u-sports-womens-hockey-nationals/article_c2778ffb-9dc6-56ee-b643-4f9c8663e675.html" target="_blank">right here</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.</i></p><p></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-1725796510681723132024-03-11T22:59:00.000-07:002024-03-12T11:09:47.978-07:00Return of the Broncos<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Swift Current makes charge at first in Central
Division<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjWM8mDDLVajGTTVmatXVeqT2ESw8RlTzC-9HRXbPz1nyewbSHprrChQFZXJCTgob7xbeSHO2NPlBm6ZUkUI4qCPQrjLl1aUH0elGsppLcX0PqeAFkEfIMNARLnc_w8THQdqLXS2m1rLvSxYAiVqc6KMDtmxiQ3zeg9SD5zAMQZDi3KjxVXSE0_rAZaCr/s2492/IMGP5295.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2186" data-original-width="2492" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjWM8mDDLVajGTTVmatXVeqT2ESw8RlTzC-9HRXbPz1nyewbSHprrChQFZXJCTgob7xbeSHO2NPlBm6ZUkUI4qCPQrjLl1aUH0elGsppLcX0PqeAFkEfIMNARLnc_w8THQdqLXS2m1rLvSxYAiVqc6KMDtmxiQ3zeg9SD5zAMQZDi3KjxVXSE0_rAZaCr/w400-h351/IMGP5295.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Broncos have been enjoying goal celebrations and wins.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Swift Current Broncos appear set to jump over a few
humps in a big way.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Way back in the 2017-18 campaign, the Broncos went all in on
a quest to win the WHL championship. They finished second overall in the WHL regular
season standings with a 48-17-5-2 mark. In an epic post-season run, the Broncos
captured their third league title in team history and appeared in the Memorial
Cup tournament that determines a CHL champion held in Regina in May of that
year.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Since that campaign, the Broncos haven’t been able to return
to the WHL Playoffs until clinching a post-season berth in the current
campaign.</p><p class="MsoNormal">They suffered heartbreaks in each of the past two seasons
when it came to capturing a WHL post-season berth. Last season, the Broncos
needed to win their last regular season game in regulation against the Tigers
in Medicine Hat to make the playoffs.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In that contest played on March 25, 2023, the Broncos jumped
out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. The Tigers responded by scoring four
straight goals and ultimately held on for a 4-3 victory.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Medicine Hat finished eighth in the Eastern Conference
capturing the conference’s final playoff berth with a 30-29-8-1 record. Swift
Current finished three standings points back of the Tigers with a 31-33-1-3
mark.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In the 2021-22 campaign, the Broncos needed to claim victory
in their last regular season game played against the visiting Prince Albert
Raiders to lock away a post-season berth. The Raiders came away with a 4-1
victory in that contest played on April 15, 2022 to end Swift Current’s
campaign.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders took eighth place and the final playoff berth in
the Eastern Conference with 28-35-4-1 mark. The Broncos finished two standings
points behind the Raiders with a 26-35-5-2 record.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69wmSX3GIdHc8GsQj9lG1icLPn1_h-gjMCgPs2mVogB_BVY0wm_d0k3UBeAsCXqZX21HqvLvKqsX_JLEraImy2IuH9YvZkCvTNYBy0LcKzZWhI_5F6KvhLwohY1FZ4Tt-iP8f7tTJHtIDSkb97PoUWq_x-BTYGkauNmt9FFsGULF3XJUVqmvMK2cqn-Bg/s1992/IMGP5209.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1625" data-original-width="1992" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69wmSX3GIdHc8GsQj9lG1icLPn1_h-gjMCgPs2mVogB_BVY0wm_d0k3UBeAsCXqZX21HqvLvKqsX_JLEraImy2IuH9YvZkCvTNYBy0LcKzZWhI_5F6KvhLwohY1FZ4Tt-iP8f7tTJHtIDSkb97PoUWq_x-BTYGkauNmt9FFsGULF3XJUVqmvMK2cqn-Bg/w400-h326/IMGP5209.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conor Geekie has been a big addition to the Broncos.</td></tr></tbody></table>For most of the current campaign, the Broncos were holding a
playoff spot in the standings. The team’s management decided to strengthen
their roster with a couple of trades in early January in an attempt to ensure a
playoff berth wasn’t a question.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On January 4, the Broncos acquired 19-year-old star centre
Conor Geekie in a trade with the Wenatchee Wild. In return, the Wild received
18-year-old defenceman Sam Ward, defenceman Josh Fluker, who turned
18-years-old on January 3, rookie 17-year-old left-winger Maddix McCagherty,
first and second round selections in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, a first
round selection in the 2026 Prospects Draft and a seventh round selection in
the 2027 Prospects Draft.</p><p class="MsoNormal">On January 10 before the passing of the WHL’s trade
deadline, the Broncos acquired overage defenceman Tyson Galloway from the
Calgary Hitmen in exchange for a second and a third round selection in the 2026
WHL Prospects Draft.</p><p class="MsoNormal">To make room for Galloway, the Broncos dealt overage
right-winger Tyson Laventure to the Victoria Royals for a fifth round selection
in the 2026 Prospects Draft.</p><p class="MsoNormal">At first, it didn’t appear the moves were going to do much
to improve the Broncos fortunes. On January 28, they dropped a 3-2 decision in
overtime to the Blades in Saskatoon. Following that result, the Broncos record
sat at 22-18-3-2, and they sat third in the Central Division 11 standings
points behind the first place Tigers.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Since that overtime setback, the Broncos have gone 13-2-1 in
their last 16 outings to improve to 35-20-4-2 to officially clinch a berth in
the WHL Playoffs. They sit one point behind the Tigers (35-22-5-2) for first in
the Central and have three games in hand on the Medicine Hat side.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTu9MOYiCT5COLW8MU8NSL0KAGNdvX2_B5_SaWc6RMbWvN7qGruTGec-ai_2mTIyXVY-ZLPNSmQO59dSzPem4JhaYoaGMVIxfLBjmm16XXP0ZwJuQipJSw-H96sQot3OzLidL9TCfD0RbhyF7v5iQUzWeUVbj_kK1HrF4gT8qZt3SFz0bVEEYQYtb_xpL/s2007/IMGP5323.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="2007" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTu9MOYiCT5COLW8MU8NSL0KAGNdvX2_B5_SaWc6RMbWvN7qGruTGec-ai_2mTIyXVY-ZLPNSmQO59dSzPem4JhaYoaGMVIxfLBjmm16XXP0ZwJuQipJSw-H96sQot3OzLidL9TCfD0RbhyF7v5iQUzWeUVbj_kK1HrF4gT8qZt3SFz0bVEEYQYtb_xpL/w400-h364/IMGP5323.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owen Pickering has 38 points for the Broncos this season.</td></tr></tbody></table>On Saturday, the Broncos drew their first sellout crowd of
2,890 spectators of the season to their home rink in the InnovationPlex for a
6-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. The game was a rough one with Broncos
20-year-old defenceman Ryan McCleary being given a double minor for checking
from behind in the second period for a hit he threw on Wheat Kings captain
Brett Hyland.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The contest ended with a line brawl that saw Dawson Gerwing
and Petr Pavelec of the Broncos and Charlie Elick and Carter Klippenstein all
being assessed fighting majors. The fight between Gerwing and Klippenstein was
tabbed as being a second fight starting after the one between Pavelec and
Elick. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Also during that contest, one of the spectators in the crowd
threw a big plastic trash can inside the Wheat Kings bench.</p><p class="MsoNormal">As of Monday night, there hasn’t been any news if any
disciplinary action will be handed out by the WHL office.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Aside from the extra-circulars, the Broncos have a solid
squad. Geekie leads the team in scoring recording 86 points coming off 37 goals
and 49 assists to go with a plus-46 rating in the plus-minus department in 48
games played between the Broncos and Wild.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Sophomore left-winger Clarke Caswell is having a breakout
season recording 21 goals, 46 assists and a plus-10 rating appearing in all the
Broncos 61 games so far this season. Star left-winger Josh Filmon is having
another solid campaign posting 26 goals, 35 assists and a plus-12 rating in 58
games for the Broncos.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Offensive-defenceman Owen Pickering tops the Broncos in
blue-line scoring with 38 points coming off six goals and 32 assists to go with
a plus-15 rating.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Reid Dyck has rounded out as a solid starter in net posting
a 22-6-2 record, a 2.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and two
shutouts.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmUbZn9fW4b2nVH9Q51Gyh_dbE6E16ZTQBb1qFIJ7Ue9LuWczlQsbsHBQml7uSleTjLVGso-WS9OMBM84XdlPyI0f8YhciXSrq3gLEYz9QiV2DihY4OmmeuQwqz61otNSB2-E94SocAla_ogfKHI2YMTzczfZiRy02Oqvl6cacUEbXllOCuzlmth-ZYby/s2007/IMGP5224.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="2007" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmUbZn9fW4b2nVH9Q51Gyh_dbE6E16ZTQBb1qFIJ7Ue9LuWczlQsbsHBQml7uSleTjLVGso-WS9OMBM84XdlPyI0f8YhciXSrq3gLEYz9QiV2DihY4OmmeuQwqz61otNSB2-E94SocAla_ogfKHI2YMTzczfZiRy02Oqvl6cacUEbXllOCuzlmth-ZYby/w400-h328/IMGP5224.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh Filmon has 26 goals and 35 assists for the Broncos this season.</td></tr></tbody></table>If the Broncos are able to finish first in the Central
Division, they will be a tough out in the post-season. The InnovationPlex is
traditionally raucous in the post-season giving the Broncos one of the best
home ice advantages in the WHL.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Broncos will try to keep their roll going over their
final seven regular season games. They travel to Prince Albert to face the Raiders
(30-27-2-3) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Following that contest, the Broncos face the Tigers in a
huge home-and-home series. The two sides meet at the InnovationPlex on Friday
at 7 p.m. and on Saturday at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat at 7 p.m. local time.</p><p class="MsoNormal">When the WHL post-season comes around at the end of the
month, it might feel like the spring of 2018 for the Broncos.</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Blades on cusp of Eastern Conference clinch,
other notes<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscdyhZel0WaGGSggKb74K69mopOZF9ymxZxGoLMLdr2chuqd9Dodc6TzeqCM44FAgh8tYV-j3Yr4SOCpmyUfbt6E-NFcEqRUqznE60NBlcLOKEuNm04-crRYN2z-e5oxkUG4Zd70ab7AMZktxrvzx3jiZV3hhzI28eUT2S5ax6-rDf4yl09dH8-IP6Lo6/s1901/IMGP6475.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="1901" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscdyhZel0WaGGSggKb74K69mopOZF9ymxZxGoLMLdr2chuqd9Dodc6TzeqCM44FAgh8tYV-j3Yr4SOCpmyUfbt6E-NFcEqRUqznE60NBlcLOKEuNm04-crRYN2z-e5oxkUG4Zd70ab7AMZktxrvzx3jiZV3hhzI28eUT2S5ax6-rDf4yl09dH8-IP6Lo6/w400-h361/IMGP6475.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon Lisowsky had a penalty shot OT winner on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>It is almost academic that the Saskatoon Blades will lock up
first place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference, but a little more work is required
when it comes to finishing first overall in the WHL.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades lead the WHL standings with a 45-12-2-3 mark.
They need to collect just one standings point in their final six regular season
contests to lock up first in the Eastern Conference. Their first chance to
obtain that one standings point comes on Tuesday when they host the Brandon
Wheat Kings (30-27-6-1) at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Finishing first overall in the WHL is another matter. The
Blades need to obtain nine standings points over their last six games to lock
up top spot overall in the circuit.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Saskatoon sits five points ahead of the Western Conference
leading Prince George Cougars (43-15-1-3), who sit second overall in the WHL.
The Portland Winterhawks (43-15-2-1), who are second in the Western Conference
and third overall in the WHL, sit six points behind the Blades. The Winterhawks
have a game in hand on both the Blades and Cougars.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Of course, the amount of points the Blades need to collect
in the standings to finish first overall in the WHL could change depending on
results involving games with the Cougars and Winterhawks.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades have won their last three games in a row. In
their last outing this past Saturday, the Blades downed the visiting Edmonton
Oil Kings 2-1 in overtime at the SaskTel Centre. Blades star left-winger
Brandon Lisowsky pulled of a rarity scoring the winner on a penalty shot just
42 seconds into the extra session.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That contest saw the Blades retire the #39 of the team’s
all-time great in Frank Banham. Banham played four seasons for the Blades from
1992 to 1996 appearing in 278 career regular season games collecting 190 goals
and 180 assists for 370 points. He is the Blades all-time leader in career
goals and points.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The last time the Blades finished first overall in the WHL
was when they posted a 56-13-1-2 mark in the 2010-11 campaign, which is the
club’s all-time best record for one regular season.</p><ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">On Monday, the WHL handed
out its weekly awards for the week ending on Sunday. Kelowna Rockets
right-winger Andrew Cristall was the player of the week, Kolby Hay of the
Edmonton Oil Kings was the goaltender of the week, and right-winger Terik
Parascak was the rookie of the week.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Spokane Chiefs centre
Berkly Catton is having an outstanding sophomore season. The Saskatoon
product, who turned 18-years-old in January, sits fourth in WHL scoring
with 105 points coming off 49 goals and 56 assists to go with a plus-11
rating. Catton is a top prospect to be selected in the upcoming NHL Entry
Draft to be held June 28 and 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Medicine Hat Tigers
16-year-old rookie left-winger Gavin McKenna is going to need a big game
or two in his team’s final four regular season outings to hit the
100-point plateau. McKenna has 90 points coming off 31 goals and 59
assists. McKenna is trying to become the fifth 16-year-old in the history
of the WHL to record 100-or-more points.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Saskatoon Blades 20-year-old
captain Trevor Wong lead the WHL with 79 assists. He also had 13 goals to
go with a plus-20 rating.</li><li class="MsoNormal">You have to love the
battle of the Edmonton Oil Kings. They have been eliminated from playoff
contention and are playing out the string with a 23-36-3-1 mark. Still,
they are playing every contest like it is Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.</li><li class="MsoNormal">It is great to see Dave
Dawson serving as the play-by-play voice of the Edmonton Oil Kings. He
officially became the Oil Kings play-by-play voice on February 1 after
former Oil Kings play-by-play voice Andrew Peard took a new role with OEG Sports
and Entertainment with the Edmonton Oilers communications department. Dawson is one of the good guys in broadcasting
who has more than paid his dues. It would be cool if this turned into
something big for him.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">On Saturday, I had new
content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe
Sports Complex. I put together a feature on young right-handed softball
pitcher Emma Frisky, who was named to Softball Canada’s Under-18 Women’s
National Team. That piece can be found by clicking <a href="https://howehappenings306.blogspot.com/2024/03/frisky-to-realize-dream.html" target="_blank">right here</a>. I also put
together a photo roundup that showed the winter season in its stretch run
with the spring season peaking around the corner. That post can be found
by clicking <a href="https://howehappenings306.blogspot.com/2024/03/photo-roundup-features-winter-in.html" target="_blank">right here</a>.</li>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i>stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i>.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-12881174578226274392024-03-09T21:57:00.000-08:002024-03-09T22:43:12.862-08:00Raiders start hot, cruise to 8-3 win over Tigers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5PHe0XvKA692Kf8mWRiLc6lM0Uc353GP9nJ2UcchCHzDtLSGFt91c9AH75Qi6vtzdorLu0jPLt1nE33Ur7tyb8jtQKN4FtaFC-qyK0nkWMKqisJvA-HVPqfS2qnF3OcFQ9RU7IF0HkxTdHSaC-NJLtCVVJbfiO8DG3eWyf5ahP-S-ARkw2Eiy8xUO7c5/s1990/IMGP8849.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1990" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5PHe0XvKA692Kf8mWRiLc6lM0Uc353GP9nJ2UcchCHzDtLSGFt91c9AH75Qi6vtzdorLu0jPLt1nE33Ur7tyb8jtQKN4FtaFC-qyK0nkWMKqisJvA-HVPqfS2qnF3OcFQ9RU7IF0HkxTdHSaC-NJLtCVVJbfiO8DG3eWyf5ahP-S-ARkw2Eiy8xUO7c5/w400-h311/IMGP8849.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raiders mob Sloan Stanick after he scored the game’s first goal.</td></tr></tbody></table>PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – A hot start and timely goals allowed
the Prince Albert Raiders to tame the Medicine Hat Tigers.<p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">In a WHL regular season clash played between 2,428
spectators at the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday night, the Raider stormed out
to a 3-0 lead in the first period and boosted their edge to 4-0 scoring inside
the first two minutes of the second. From that point, the Raiders proceeded to
cruise to an 8-3 victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“(We had) pretty timely scoring,” said Raiders head coach
Jeff Truitt. “Goals are scored at key times.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYHA70YEvz5a-fvy2l8zk77ZFs0OmGGXb35bHmfGhTF4rCvF2cCAuguZBelOZ0GTEWyLwAN6OeO0hGPDzv0coMID6kdutWTcXrURI2v3k5vSMhZbtHpjUVXCV0y8gkvysM2geWyoi1uLWFjnkoVvjoqa-mBMK9tgKOZHypa4Pm011nOKvaUNrVv0jHf66/s2026/IMGP8851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2026" data-original-width="2004" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYHA70YEvz5a-fvy2l8zk77ZFs0OmGGXb35bHmfGhTF4rCvF2cCAuguZBelOZ0GTEWyLwAN6OeO0hGPDzv0coMID6kdutWTcXrURI2v3k5vSMhZbtHpjUVXCV0y8gkvysM2geWyoi1uLWFjnkoVvjoqa-mBMK9tgKOZHypa4Pm011nOKvaUNrVv0jHf66/w396-h400/IMGP8851.JPG" width="396" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloan Stanick had a goal and three assists for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>“Sometimes, they are not. Early in periods, I thought that it
deflates a team. We’ve been on the other side of it where somebody comes in and
10 seconds in you are chasing the game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We put the throttle down here tonight with a determined
effort that kind of put them being behind the eight ball that way. It was key
to score at different times in those periods. It got us off to a good start.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Numerous players had big games for the Raiders in the win
over the Tigers. Raiders star 20-year-old left-winger Sloan Stanick led the way
recording one goal, three assists and a plus-three rating in the plus-minus
department.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to the four-point night, Stanick hit another milestone
surpassing the 80-point plateau in scoring for a season. Appearing in all the
Raiders 62 games this season, Stanick has posted 81 points coming off 30 goals
and 51 assists to go with a plus-six rating. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8PK8Y4AzcI00JZ62Z50N2ApkrcN9cMLMaJ-EIvANvzhu2qBz8Mm562CAtF21MCLmg5kZ7XxirFdmhLbpYKVeUIAHMWoCpsI-cXmXowUaoQNf6nUUUIdU1m8pE6VYsVY6EYIcXBtKy1ubGa8l0QzlgTNybsuGXjQZU0zvt-KS6N1LbScvQuw3Z1q5A1bC/s1988/IMGP8955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="1988" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8PK8Y4AzcI00JZ62Z50N2ApkrcN9cMLMaJ-EIvANvzhu2qBz8Mm562CAtF21MCLmg5kZ7XxirFdmhLbpYKVeUIAHMWoCpsI-cXmXowUaoQNf6nUUUIdU1m8pE6VYsVY6EYIcXBtKy1ubGa8l0QzlgTNybsuGXjQZU0zvt-KS6N1LbScvQuw3Z1q5A1bC/w400-h340/IMGP8955.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryder Ritchie had a pair of goals for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>Stanick totals in assists, points and plus-minus are all
career highs, and he needs one more goal to equal his career high in that
department from one season ago. The Rapid City, Man., product was pumped to
break the 80-point plateau for the first time in his WHL career.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It is pretty surreal,” said Stanick. “It obviously feels
really good.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ve got some great guys to play with that get me the puck
and put the puck in the back of the net. It is obviously really special. You
have to keep building.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stanick got the Raiders going on Saturday scoring on a wrist
shoot from the left faceoff circle eight minutes into the opening frame to give
the host side a 1-0 edge. The Raiders proceed to receive tallies from Niall
Crocker and Ryder Ritchie to push their lead out to 3-0 going into the first
intermission.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgbfybUiBJlqYEBXks8DN4DOijjgF0e4TriAFBzx_kYdBWmFgfFv1DLf8lVya_OdLQ0DMArjH5MFpim2Z4mnbIb39aICBs1Ub9VXa40E4RcpL10BRswSFNb1ai2zpD6Q__ohU_9sEU4aaeLnJQTbCLatZ2CHctPtkdZNQ2EIHxWnCr6m9awPKnGpes9ho/s1713/IMGP8941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1713" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgbfybUiBJlqYEBXks8DN4DOijjgF0e4TriAFBzx_kYdBWmFgfFv1DLf8lVya_OdLQ0DMArjH5MFpim2Z4mnbIb39aICBs1Ub9VXa40E4RcpL10BRswSFNb1ai2zpD6Q__ohU_9sEU4aaeLnJQTbCLatZ2CHctPtkdZNQ2EIHxWnCr6m9awPKnGpes9ho/w400-h354/IMGP8941.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brayden Dube had a pair of goals for the Raiders on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Working on the power play early in the second, Slanick fed a
pass to Raiders right-winger Brayden Dube, which sprung him on a rush down the
right wing. He wired a shot past Tigers netminder Zach Zahara to give the Raiders
a 4-0 advantage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stanick said there are never any complaints when you are
part of a game where everything is clicking.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was great,” said Stanick. “Obviously, everyone was
electric in the crowd, and everyone on the ice was wanting to score.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Every line was clicking tonight. It is awesome to get
contribution from everyone.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfddwYBX0da1pO62BmX7hHD0A-DVqdD_4RXcC1CqxSVymr57n79aKkJbm03RyB0u2SmW56XAiuzJfzA398q6oIF5v3Bj1A7Ljv8283ckDNGSTyGHNZiK1c8AyqvsmDrs_QxTJc4d_hDcNZ5FJc_IujAhhgFIzYV3jrQEjOjhyUBdIci7o84FE93NYwszUq/s1713/IMGP8972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1713" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfddwYBX0da1pO62BmX7hHD0A-DVqdD_4RXcC1CqxSVymr57n79aKkJbm03RyB0u2SmW56XAiuzJfzA398q6oIF5v3Bj1A7Ljv8283ckDNGSTyGHNZiK1c8AyqvsmDrs_QxTJc4d_hDcNZ5FJc_IujAhhgFIzYV3jrQEjOjhyUBdIci7o84FE93NYwszUq/w400-h328/IMGP8972.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justice Christensen had a goal and two assists for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>Tigers 18-year-old offensive-defenceman Reid Andresen got
the visitors on the board at the 4:36 mark of the second to trim the Raiders
lead to 4-1. Raiders 18-year-old offensive-defenceman Justice Christensen popped
home a backdoor feed at the left side of the Medicine Hat net after receiving a
beauty pass from Stanick to push the host side’s edge out to 5-1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With 6:21 remaining in the second, 18-year-old centre Hunter
St. Martin tallied for the Tigers to trim the Raiders lead to 5-2.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just 39 seconds into the third, Raiders 18-year-old centre
Aiden Oiring popped home his 17<sup>th</sup> of the campaign to give the host
squad a 6-2 advantage. Tigers captain Tyler MacKenzie tallied at the 10:47 mark
of the third to cut the Raiders lead to 6-3.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTF5R1BrR5vZ63YvrTfXH0W6d-m3DiIHS7GTmUyT6R6YNfZOTQK93gM1-8b7kvoOVOlHGBIhvkEEe9iU9FTBxOXdrGkiLoCLQ6T-3RLXf9OcKY7SNHRjpMh2cNHBfNme4ihHyxFQY3vM2h7Xar1g3aoxg3QwfrqBftEv0gKR3CsAX8QTPWZDJxoXq88v5_/s1603/IMGP8925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1449" data-original-width="1603" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTF5R1BrR5vZ63YvrTfXH0W6d-m3DiIHS7GTmUyT6R6YNfZOTQK93gM1-8b7kvoOVOlHGBIhvkEEe9iU9FTBxOXdrGkiLoCLQ6T-3RLXf9OcKY7SNHRjpMh2cNHBfNme4ihHyxFQY3vM2h7Xar1g3aoxg3QwfrqBftEv0gKR3CsAX8QTPWZDJxoXq88v5_/w400-h361/IMGP8925.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aiden Oiring recorded a goal and two assists for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>Ritchie and Dube each proceeded to add their respective
second goals of the night to round out the 8-3 final in favour of Prince Albert.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I thought we got rewarded tonight,” said Truitt. “I thought
we played physical.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We played pretty good defence. Then, we generated a lot of
offence. We worked in that offensive zone winning pucks and battles and getting
shots.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We shot the puck with a mentality here tonight that we will
put it in.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Max Hildebrand stopped 32 shots to pick up the win in goal for
the Raiders. Zahara turned away 23 shots to take the setback in net for the Tigers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oiring and Christensen each had a pair of assists to go with
their goals. Christensen also posted a plus-five rating.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLsFr06oIB9fKehdjwlEcBYu_rpc1QCvk6w8I66nCN0VS-qlbD9XQS6KXYTh6dwoQs0vlzuY438qJjdBw6FwTfuZsCGNbXtqyI-ySXTUHgwnmeoIWewDH2_ZpHpucU8zkjCia4EOdZraz9lzPfzG-dNTc6TyJFGkGWkqlMdiorcc0g9MF6PBKnc6jE94J/s1917/IMGP8846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1753" data-original-width="1917" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLsFr06oIB9fKehdjwlEcBYu_rpc1QCvk6w8I66nCN0VS-qlbD9XQS6KXYTh6dwoQs0vlzuY438qJjdBw6FwTfuZsCGNbXtqyI-ySXTUHgwnmeoIWewDH2_ZpHpucU8zkjCia4EOdZraz9lzPfzG-dNTc6TyJFGkGWkqlMdiorcc0g9MF6PBKnc6jE94J/w400-h366/IMGP8846.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler MacKenzie had a goal for the Tigers.</td></tr></tbody></table>With the win, the Raiders improve to 30-27-2-3. They sit
tied for the seventh and eighth positions in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with
65 standings points. Both squads sit five points up on the ninth place Calgary
Hitmen (26-29-7-1), and both the Raiders and Hurricanes have a game in hand on
the Hitmen.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders and Hurricanes are also two standings points
behind the sixth place Brandon Wheat Kings (30-27-6-1). Both the Raiders and
Hurricanes have two games in hand on the Wheat Kings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the Raiders having six games remaining on their regular
season schedule, Stanick said it has been a blast playing numerous big games
late in the season during the last sprint to chase down a post-season berth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtQx5QFb3Alvcw91Ad4wQoy3iTni1PE54tS9C4Pv8bEM6_Ztdjt9TGOERZosELyj9qNc0oUOTbL_8wTZsyzD5bbS8X1Kpb1kHay6ugI4Ku4Z4tnneeYEBo19vgGbzMHQ4YTJ_g5l2EPJyUXcTmJ4M6j52tNvZFJaF1wilUPZaMu-9UVcpQWnItKa0fjiP/s2504/IMGP8934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2384" data-original-width="2504" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtQx5QFb3Alvcw91Ad4wQoy3iTni1PE54tS9C4Pv8bEM6_Ztdjt9TGOERZosELyj9qNc0oUOTbL_8wTZsyzD5bbS8X1Kpb1kHay6ugI4Ku4Z4tnneeYEBo19vgGbzMHQ4YTJ_g5l2EPJyUXcTmJ4M6j52tNvZFJaF1wilUPZaMu-9UVcpQWnItKa0fjiP/w400-h381/IMGP8934.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niall Crocker had a goal for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>“It makes it fun,” said Stanick. “The energy in the room is
great.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The practices are very competitive, because we all want to
be our best. It is just really exciting for our group here coming down the
stretch.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Tigers fell to 35-22-5-2 with the setback but still sit
first in the Central Division. The Tigers lead in the Centre Division has dwindled
to one standings point ahead of the Swift Current Broncos (35-20-4-2). The
Broncos have three games in hand on the Tigers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders return to action on Tuesday when they host the Broncos
(7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Tigers are off until Friday when they travel to Swift
Current to face the Broncos (7 p.m., InnovationPlex).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Going forward, Truitt wants to see his Raiders keep their
level of desperation up high.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9LHnVfg6KkkRJRT2UYNGtBEwewXlifeHYgKIskZuFE286F-e3HwHQ0LSNP7s_4s4l6_MalzcP_mSIaMMQEDDIUT79PFWM7GCTta5dxdTN3KyJaUhqLwmImVpQjBsdLENpcuwDOD0RQZKtZSz0KhSjmEvSvQjrQRqPrx0G6DgozCk3pepPhMRSQTCG10U/s1945/IMGP8986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1802" data-original-width="1945" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9LHnVfg6KkkRJRT2UYNGtBEwewXlifeHYgKIskZuFE286F-e3HwHQ0LSNP7s_4s4l6_MalzcP_mSIaMMQEDDIUT79PFWM7GCTta5dxdTN3KyJaUhqLwmImVpQjBsdLENpcuwDOD0RQZKtZSz0KhSjmEvSvQjrQRqPrx0G6DgozCk3pepPhMRSQTCG10U/w400-h370/IMGP8986.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raiders salute their faithful after their win on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“We have to keep going,” said Truitt. “We just can’t lay
back.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That is not we are all about. Especially if you are going
to challenge for a playoff spot, you have to be playing at the peak of your
game right now. We have to keep our focus, our discipline and our structure and
everything.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It is not easy, because every day the meter is right at the
top, and we’ve to continue to have it.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.</i></p><p></p></div>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-17301446277830300142024-03-06T14:35:00.000-08:002024-03-06T14:35:47.498-08:00Macias vaults to fan favourite in “Hockey Town North”<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPpCU1JcENAuLCp8YkueH5TklJtDVSIfeQAR2tjmg1mm2bNOz4rXKBsmQGytfuEWFXY3CZg97tF4fIKmIaroILSeuVfcSBJhkamiO3UM73_nfM0I39H4G33WCZ0gHB6_3g0f8nc4eVd2iKdtq9GUN3_xdKUNeMHE_wMUusebzFAPnSUUP_8HNv_wd9QP1/s2002/IMGP0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1746" data-original-width="2002" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPpCU1JcENAuLCp8YkueH5TklJtDVSIfeQAR2tjmg1mm2bNOz4rXKBsmQGytfuEWFXY3CZg97tF4fIKmIaroILSeuVfcSBJhkamiO3UM73_nfM0I39H4G33WCZ0gHB6_3g0f8nc4eVd2iKdtq9GUN3_xdKUNeMHE_wMUusebzFAPnSUUP_8HNv_wd9QP1/w400-h349/IMGP0095.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krzysztof Macias has 12 points in his last six games with the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>The faithful in “Hockey Town North” will always take players
to heart who give everything they have for the Prince Albert Raiders on a
nightly basis.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That player could be a top scorer, a stellar goalie, a
defensive-defenceman, a third line checking forward or an energy type player.
No matter what role you take on with the Raiders, players that give an honest
effort on a nightly basis will be remembered by Raiders fans forever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Raiders rookie import forward Krzysztof Macias has become
one of those players that will be remembered fondly by Raiders fans. He hasn’t
put up crazy point totals like Dan Hodgson, Mike Modano or Leon Draisaitl, but
Macias’s effort level is evident on a nightly basis. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The 19-year-old has improved as the season has gone along,
and he has been rewarded recently on the scorer’s sheet for the work he has put
in through the campaign. In his last six games with the Raiders, Macias has
collected four goals, eight assists and a plus-three rating in the plus-minus
department.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click <a href="https://paherald.sk.ca/macias-vaults-to-fan-favourite-in-hockey-town-north/" target="_blank">right here</a>.</i></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-42435949351570204242024-03-02T21:58:00.000-08:002024-03-03T01:06:24.902-08:00Veteran star line breaks Blades out of skid with win in Brandon<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNqhnVIya4Ls_DBMSOuhafAGJDvpdc8dXtlNXiCz1Szlz6ogdtsop_hWJ0JOmS4E6DEG0RcWZgAnZG5oXeKwcMACYhrHQTbvtXtvu7AOpX1TxbBZJXS7fjGzya6IOTZ1bBnm0OWWFzTGpB86kmJqJprKdYA2h5-SzXt8d-e1PaOM9BE8_8DfwGE6j28lH/s2000/IMGP2751.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1737" data-original-width="2000" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNqhnVIya4Ls_DBMSOuhafAGJDvpdc8dXtlNXiCz1Szlz6ogdtsop_hWJ0JOmS4E6DEG0RcWZgAnZG5oXeKwcMACYhrHQTbvtXtvu7AOpX1TxbBZJXS7fjGzya6IOTZ1bBnm0OWWFzTGpB86kmJqJprKdYA2h5-SzXt8d-e1PaOM9BE8_8DfwGE6j28lH/w400-h348/IMGP2751.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egor Sidorov had a goal and three assists for the Blades on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>A golden veteran line of stars busted the Saskatoon Blades
out of a three-game skid.<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday playing before 3,201 spectators at Westoba Place
in Brandon, the Blades forward unit of centre and captain Trevor Wong, import
right-winger Egor Sidorov and left-winger Brandon Lisowsky, who is a NHL Entry
Draft selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs, combined for three goals and six
assists to lift Saskatoon past the host Wheat Kings 4-0. The win in the WHL
regular season encounter allowed the Blades to end a three-game losing streak
where they were outscored 13-2 by their opponents and failed to score on nine
power-play chances.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The win saw the WHL leading Blades, who are rated second in
the CHL Top 10 Rankings, improve to 43-12-2-3. The Wheat Kings, who have lost
three straight, fell to 29-25-5-1 to remain two points up on the Prince Albert
Raiders (29-27-1-3) for sixth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the Blades were on their three-game skid, they held a combined
104-63 edge in shots on goal over their opponents. Offensively, the Saskatoon side
went into a collective funk, and the team’s coaching staff started mixing up
the lines to create a breakthrough on the scoreboard.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Going into Saturday’s clash with the Wheat Kings, the Blades
reunited Wong, Sidorov and Lisowsky as a forward line. Since Wong was acquired
in a trade with the Kelowna Rockets before the start of the 2021-22 campaign,
he has played on a line with Sidorov and Lisowsky for the bulk of the time
since arriving in Saskatoon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their chemistry as a trio proved to be enough to give the
Blades offence a kick start. Sidorov posted one goal and three assists,
Lisowsky had two goals and one assist and Wong has a pair of helpers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixckAPMVWFIXPkvkScdcaNEwfCdsGGbTT8YouOlalcmc6_OJGDys4R-Y6F0WwYrkMCL-hy8Lf3PHgmSTwVSyx34aARh0cDUdU1ilUCSQUwYH1t8ypVynErYwUWYSRBRqVYLN2f6q-pNXCirssyGUlwxEiSS78kAhAdhXK63rBcOoKN60kGimSpDh9BMd0O/s1588/IMGP2748.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="1588" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixckAPMVWFIXPkvkScdcaNEwfCdsGGbTT8YouOlalcmc6_OJGDys4R-Y6F0WwYrkMCL-hy8Lf3PHgmSTwVSyx34aARh0cDUdU1ilUCSQUwYH1t8ypVynErYwUWYSRBRqVYLN2f6q-pNXCirssyGUlwxEiSS78kAhAdhXK63rBcOoKN60kGimSpDh9BMd0O/w400-h391/IMGP2748.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon Lisowsky had a pair of goals and an assist for the Blades.</td></tr></tbody></table>At the 15:21 mark of the opening frame, that trio combined
on a tick-tack-toe passing play that concluded with Lisowsky putting home a
backhand shot to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 3:35 mark of the second, Lisowsky passed the puck to
Sidorov shortly after breaking into the Brandon zone. Sidorov dangled past
Wheat Kings 19-year-old defenceman Luke Shipley and put home backhand shot for
his 45<sup>th</sup> goal of the campaign to push the Blades lead out to 2-0.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saturday’s game had its share of rough stuff too. At the end
of the second, Blades veteran right-winger Vaughn Watterodt, who turned
20-years-old in February, took on Wheat Kings 18-year-old defenceman Quinn
Mantei in a fight. That seemed to foreshadow more high tensions later on in the
contest.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Blades proceeded to increase their advantage to 3-0 scoring
on the power play at the 6:55 mark of the third. Lisowsky gathered a rebound in
front of the Brandon net from a shot taken by Sidorov and popped home his
second of the night to give the visitors their three-goal edge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just 80-seconds after that tally, another fight broke out
this time between Blades veteran left-winger Tyler Parr, who turned
19-years-old in January, and Wheat Kings defenceman Rhett Ravndahl, who turned
19-years-old in February.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Things proceeded to get a little crazier on the ice just 18
seconds after that bout. Wheat Kings tough guy Matt Henry proceeded to cross
check a Blades player in the head and followed that up by spearing Watterodt. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Henry was assessed a minor for cross-checking, a major for
spearing and a game misconduct. These infractions will be automatically review
by the WHL office for a possible suspension. Henry is a repeat offender having
been suspended on four previous occasions this season for a total of 13 games.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the ensuing power play, Blades star 19-year-old centre
Fraser Minten tipped home a pass from Sidorov at the left side of the Brandon
net to round out the 4-0 final in favour of the Blades.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yPa7rltjqg6T_PL_MtcjLwTq_dSRCxUuYHfqtG_dWpVIWdY3ZTcTgRndh6Nt7KQ_3BbdFxVtN5RxUngicsvME5jF6OiAQ-nIFQ2Ukh1E8yoVvwxQO-WWJBky1axYIq93rnyVGJVwl-8SuLg4IyHnay3_4QncEfYRl_AXzLQjf6LJcg4yYWIzYNBBSnnj/s1908/IMGP2558.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="1908" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yPa7rltjqg6T_PL_MtcjLwTq_dSRCxUuYHfqtG_dWpVIWdY3ZTcTgRndh6Nt7KQ_3BbdFxVtN5RxUngicsvME5jF6OiAQ-nIFQ2Ukh1E8yoVvwxQO-WWJBky1axYIq93rnyVGJVwl-8SuLg4IyHnay3_4QncEfYRl_AXzLQjf6LJcg4yYWIzYNBBSnnj/w400-h364/IMGP2558.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trevor Wong had a pair of assists for the Blades on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Blades star netminder Austin Elliott stopped all 21 shots he
faced to pick up his third shutout victory of the season. Wheat Kings star
netminder Carson Bjarnason turned away 45 shots to take the setback in net for
his squad.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Saskatoon went 2-for-5 on the power play, while Brandon
failed to score on four chances with the man advantage.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades dressed 15-year-old associate player call up Ryley
Budd as their backup goalie on Saturday as Evan Gardner was out with an
undisclosed ailment. Budd has been playing in Calgary with the Edge School’s
under-18 prep team.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Wheat Kings return to action on Tuesday when they travel
to Medicine Hat to take on the Tigers (7 p.m. local time, Co-op Place).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Blades are off until this coming Friday when they host
the Tigers (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre).</p>
<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Hurricanes hold off Raiders, other notes<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLk9f8ocyBR9ReFTJzO2nMS8cWuaWXUrEFhwI75q59lUuWUBD7kyrXcsfYRoULT0fr5irILtSbDvq06WyioY-vnvludxym8-BFDJk_MEAYbVQ1BRyZ-xlFD2jsyIXdfxOJG2seJ2ZmEHeK2G7vwXsF0g3vKgY1pzQZTXhVAUQ4Ph9L_j3hyphenhyphenGfb7TW0bfX/s1980/IMGP8233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1734" data-original-width="1980" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLk9f8ocyBR9ReFTJzO2nMS8cWuaWXUrEFhwI75q59lUuWUBD7kyrXcsfYRoULT0fr5irILtSbDvq06WyioY-vnvludxym8-BFDJk_MEAYbVQ1BRyZ-xlFD2jsyIXdfxOJG2seJ2ZmEHeK2G7vwXsF0g3vKgY1pzQZTXhVAUQ4Ph9L_j3hyphenhyphenGfb7TW0bfX/w400-h350/IMGP8233.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hayden Pakkala (#22) scored twice for the Hurricanes on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Lethbridge Hurricanes held off a Prince Albert Raiders comeback
attempt to push their winning streak out the three games at the expense of the
Raiders three-game winning streak.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday in a WHL regular season clash, the visiting
Hurricane built up a 4-1 lead after two periods and held off a Raiders charge
in the third to post a 4-3 victory to the disappointment of most of the 2,394
spectators in attendance at the Art Hauser Centre. The Hurricanes have won
their last three straight, while the Raiders saw their three-game winning
streak come to an end with Saturday’s setback.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hurricanes breakout star 19-year-old centre Brayden Edwards
scored to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the 3:33 mark of the opening frame.
Raiders star 17-year-old right-winger Ryder Ritchie answered back just under
two-and-a-half minutes later to even the score at 1-1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 8:14 mark of the first, Raiders rookie import
right-winger Matej Kubiesa was given a major penalty for checking from behind
and a game misconduct. Those infractions will be automatically reviewed by the
WHL office for a possible suspension.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes cashed in at the tail end of that power play
with a goal coming off the stick of former Raiders centre Hayden Pakkala to
give the visitors a 2-1 edge. Before the opening frame came to an end, Pakkala
added his second of the contest to give the Hurricanes a 3-1 advantage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lethbridge netted the lone goal in the second when
20-year-old right-winger Dylan Sydor tallied on the power play at the 6:12 mark
of the frame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders proceeded to mount a big push back in the third.
Just 77 seconds into the frame, rookie import left-winger Krzysztof Macias
scored for the host side to cut the Hurricanes lead to 4-2. Macias added his
second of the contest with 6:40 remaining in the third to further trim
Lethbridge’s advantage to 4-3.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders pressed hard in the final two minutes of the
contest but were unable to net the equalizer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Harrison Meneghin stopped 37 shots to pick up the win in
goal for the Hurricanes. Max Hildebrand turned away 24 shots to take the
setback in net for the Raiders.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes converted on 2-of-3 power-play chances on
Saturday, while the Raiders didn’t have a single opportunity with the man
advantage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saturday’s game marked the lone time the Hurricanes were
able to beat the Raiders in the four head-to-head encounters between the two
sides in the current campaign.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders fell to 29-27-1-3 to remain seventh in the WHL’s
Eastern Conference one standings point ahead of the Hurricanes, who improved to
28-26-5. The Hurricanes hold down eight place and the final playoff berth in
the Eastern Conference sitting five points ahead of the ninth place Calgary
Hitmen (24-27-7-1).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes return to action on Wednesday when they host
the Medicine Hat Tigers (7 p.m. local time, Enmax Centre).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders get back at it this coming Friday when they host
the Edmonton Oil Kings (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).</p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">On Friday, Red Deer Rebels
general manager, president and owner Brent Sutter announced the team and
head coach Derrick Walser mutually agreed to part ways. The move came after
the Rebels dropped a 7-5 decision at home to the Swift Current Broncos.
The Rebels were 30-22-2-6 with Walser as head coach. The Rebels named Dave
Struch the team’s interim head coach. Struch was behind the Rebels bench
when they downed the visiting Calgary Hitmen 2-1 on Saturday.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">On Saturday, Jagger Firkus
scored twice to power his Moose Jaw Warriors to a 4-2 victory over the
host Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, Washington. The Warriors 19-year-old
centre leads the WHL in scoring with 105 points coming off 49 goals and 56
assists to go with a plus-21 rating in the plus-minus department. Firkus
has a signed NHL entry-level contract with the Seattle Kraken.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Jordan Keller and Logan
Bairos each had a goal and an assist to push the host Kamloops Blazers
past the Vancouver Giants 3-2 on Saturday. The Blazers improved to
20-34-3-3 with the win, which means every team in the WHL has won at least
20 or more games.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">James Stefan scored 27
seconds into overtime to deliver the host Portland Winterhawks to a 5-4
victory over the Victoria Royals on Saturday. The Royals held a 3-1 lead
early in the third period before the Winterhawks rallied for the win. The
Winterhawks lead the B.C. Division with a 41-15-2-1 mark.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Riley Heidt scored at the
2:03 mark of overtime to deliver the host Prince George Cougars to a 5-4
win over the Spokane Chiefs. The Cougars trailed 4-2 but scored twice in
the final 63 seconds of the third period to force overtime. Prince George
leads the B.C. Division and the Western Conference with a 41-15-1-3
record.</li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
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stopping in.</i></p><p></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-71050514842836853472024-03-01T21:59:00.000-08:002024-03-02T11:25:05.483-08:00“Rock you like a Hurricane,” Blades skid hits three games<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgOCGennFeOO1VS2PlAjFOO2v8tEmLPE-7yi-1FyFQM3E_fKBpC-rcJJWExkB4QpyRTxprle6lhn-quIZ5tTQj9oSO7MIxgV6hzLTWBZlKYe3uIEvX6B_hiDx-xk-81hiAc6polq3BjLHMERhFm8kPl_fzzkgu9AujXlqex9aRmPPpOI-gMlTB9JaEGpj/s1999/IMGP8190.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="1999" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgOCGennFeOO1VS2PlAjFOO2v8tEmLPE-7yi-1FyFQM3E_fKBpC-rcJJWExkB4QpyRTxprle6lhn-quIZ5tTQj9oSO7MIxgV6hzLTWBZlKYe3uIEvX6B_hiDx-xk-81hiAc6polq3BjLHMERhFm8kPl_fzzkgu9AujXlqex9aRmPPpOI-gMlTB9JaEGpj/w400-h355/IMGP8190.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hurricanes celebrate a goal from Brayden Edwards (#19).</td></tr></tbody></table>Wiped out by the Wheat Kings, run over by the Rebels and
hammered by the Hurricanes.<p class="MsoNormal">Just like that, the WHL leading Saskatoon Blades, who are
rated second in the CHL Top 10 Rankings, look mortal in suffering their second
three-game losing streak of the 2023-24 regular season. The skid began on
February 23, when the Blades fell 4-1 to the Brandon Wheat Kings.</p><p class="MsoNormal">It continued this past Tuesday after the Blades were blanked
5-0 by the Red Deer Rebels. On Friday, the Blades dropped a 4-1 decision to the
Lethbridge Hurricanes.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Every loss on this skid occurred on home ice for the Blades
at the SaskTel Centre. Before the skid happened, the Blades had been riding an
11 game winning streak and were 23-1-1 in their home rink.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH7V3G6wbqI53cXpRMmoVF-qdbc76X9Gf4FeYIeXJVuJyFioxfoEehQsKU3aXHsL0M4JQgO_MRzLherhVJAgMclt0eh-HHBoDs83uHGaM0GJ-HLmvcX5GpbsLAmKV0yeF7ogqsMTEc1hGYn3VnS4-iE51Px-kWoGaMF3kOOIlfNCGzEhqEZCV6dSniybn/s2001/IMGP8195.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2001" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH7V3G6wbqI53cXpRMmoVF-qdbc76X9Gf4FeYIeXJVuJyFioxfoEehQsKU3aXHsL0M4JQgO_MRzLherhVJAgMclt0eh-HHBoDs83uHGaM0GJ-HLmvcX5GpbsLAmKV0yeF7ogqsMTEc1hGYn3VnS4-iE51Px-kWoGaMF3kOOIlfNCGzEhqEZCV6dSniybn/w400-h338/IMGP8195.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brayden Edwards scored twice for the Hurricanes on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Likely the most concerning thing for the Blades during their
current skid is the offence has dried up. While the Blades have been outscored
13-2 in their last three contests, they have outshot the opposition 104-63.
Also during their last three games, “The Bridge City Bunch” has come up empty
on nine power-play chances.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Their top offensive players in Brandon Lisowsky, Fraser
Minten, Egor Sidorov, Easton Armstrong, Trevor Wong, Alexander Suzdalev and
Tanner Molendyk are looking ordinary.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes before 6,212
spectators, the Blades held a 33-21 edge in shots on goal and failed to score
on their two power-play opportunities. After falling behind on the scoreboard,
it seemed like the Blades collective confidence around the Lethbridge net wasn’t
there, and the confidence grew in the visiting Hurricanes the longer they held
the lead. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Qri-o69yEWCxUoAKLCBBJs52zN2a2OGlv7R_0rI2XK9_V3aSVZNtIgyNcjiyIlYP32bBm-FLe7TfmYh72bKCWJPquNKnd5Ubteb5DLCpy0MgDriPapLgNkj-pa7VP9iIKAuW-isGI7PsDIdABdz8xZDVd419MPPhWm5zaiBnrXb48uz5C9x-fFiCI5j/s2004/IMGP8185.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="2004" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Qri-o69yEWCxUoAKLCBBJs52zN2a2OGlv7R_0rI2XK9_V3aSVZNtIgyNcjiyIlYP32bBm-FLe7TfmYh72bKCWJPquNKnd5Ubteb5DLCpy0MgDriPapLgNkj-pa7VP9iIKAuW-isGI7PsDIdABdz8xZDVd419MPPhWm5zaiBnrXb48uz5C9x-fFiCI5j/w400-h344/IMGP8185.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easton Armstrong had the Blades lone goal on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Friday’s clash marked the first time in the four
head-to-head encounters between the two sides that the Hurricanes were able to
claim victory. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the latest meeting, the two teams skated through a
scoreless first period where the Blades held a 10-6 edge in shots on goal.
Early in the frame, Suzdalev was stopped in close on a backhand chance from the
right side of the Lethbridge goal by Hurricanes netminder Brady Smith.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Later on in the opening frame, Smith kicked out a close in
shot with his right pad from Blades right-winger Rowan Calvert, who was
positioned in front of the Lethbridge net.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades broke through on the scoreboard scoring on their
first shot of the second period on a two-on-one break. Wong broke into the
Lethbridge zone down the left wing and passed the puck across the front of the
Hurricanes net to star overage left-winger Easton Armstrong.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheb7sKDUvixlFRVxt59GKj8wpMyj7vw-SRh-Ix7r2hsjvLgTZ1y4OGBC87XYJXuOj0sz7-qxvalI3sRArl3twU48SifbEYgEILm-pnq4Coz9b1IFLzE7ZV6zsTjObVai5hUzmHGH_zYWEF0OaB650zHChfwk3L8EHxfeFgttJN5fLdEpXuASKLiOC5PXAD/s1999/IMGP8136.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="1999" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheb7sKDUvixlFRVxt59GKj8wpMyj7vw-SRh-Ix7r2hsjvLgTZ1y4OGBC87XYJXuOj0sz7-qxvalI3sRArl3twU48SifbEYgEILm-pnq4Coz9b1IFLzE7ZV6zsTjObVai5hUzmHGH_zYWEF0OaB650zHChfwk3L8EHxfeFgttJN5fLdEpXuASKLiOC5PXAD/w400-h338/IMGP8136.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brady Smith made 32 saves in net for the Hurricanes on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Armstrong popped home his 28<sup>th</sup> of the season from
the right side of the goal to give the host side a 1-0 lead.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">From that point, it seemed like the Blades got stuck in
quicksand.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes evened the score at 1-1 with 8:28 remaining
in the second on the 24<sup>th</sup> goal of the season scored by breakout star
19-year-old centre Brayden Edwards. Positioned at the right side of the
Saskatoon net, Edwards collected a rebound from a shot taken by linemate Logan
Wormald and popped home the equalizer.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With 2:30 remaining in the second, Edwards potted his second
of the contest to put the Hurricanes up 2-1. While working on the power play,
Hurricanes star 17-year-old right-winger Miquel Marques passed the puck from
the right faceoff circle across the Saskatoon goal to Edwards. Edwards potted
the go-ahead goal past a sprawling star Blades netminder Austin Elliott.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIjFk0v19nmuI1ZfapnSsjz2aAqPvCJFiskW6tG9J63s4sqK4S6h3sFhZdRZ8bQ5UbFZYwZAPiUgPsfceJF3c_EtaYfLAmKMJz8J5vCJkip_Zc5N1ItsNPiK_z5OrAHmWeH5f-bjgJO4s3ryjbmQlG27qzeH12THqigiRUDPxy2R_LGqD3dvjYGZm5eqA/s1942/IMGP8209.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1942" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIjFk0v19nmuI1ZfapnSsjz2aAqPvCJFiskW6tG9J63s4sqK4S6h3sFhZdRZ8bQ5UbFZYwZAPiUgPsfceJF3c_EtaYfLAmKMJz8J5vCJkip_Zc5N1ItsNPiK_z5OrAHmWeH5f-bjgJO4s3ryjbmQlG27qzeH12THqigiRUDPxy2R_LGqD3dvjYGZm5eqA/w400-h250/IMGP8209.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trevor Wong had an assist on the Blades lone goal on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Before the second period expired, the Blades had a glorious
chance to get a traction moment. With 17.7 seconds remaining in the frame,
Minten attempted to pass the puck from the left boards in the Lethbridge zone
to Lisowsky in front of the Hurricanes net.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Minten’s pass deflected off the stick of backchecking
veteran Hurricanes centre Hayden Pakkala and was sliding into an open side of
the Lethbridge net. Smith reached out and secured the puck before it could
cross the goal-line to preserve the lead for the visitors.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiXwtzwm_q-iHEvXy28yKWAvePaadgkjPtXJaiM-Cj8Y4Be7NryQjXOzgHc4G_l6RgSy0-pVQKrw6_9h_zEloICx9zLGvrS88ljFK_KdWpSL68bVpnqHHylntG9cC2zhqu7dgKG_67UbjYjyYEjbvdlVoWRS_fwe1Woyfrp-VkJjr0NfKyiqW6hhn_12Q/s1998/IMGP8172.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1681" data-original-width="1998" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiXwtzwm_q-iHEvXy28yKWAvePaadgkjPtXJaiM-Cj8Y4Be7NryQjXOzgHc4G_l6RgSy0-pVQKrw6_9h_zEloICx9zLGvrS88ljFK_KdWpSL68bVpnqHHylntG9cC2zhqu7dgKG_67UbjYjyYEjbvdlVoWRS_fwe1Woyfrp-VkJjr0NfKyiqW6hhn_12Q/w400-h336/IMGP8172.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noah Chadwick had a pair of assists for the Hurricanes.</td></tr></tbody></table>The officials went to a video review that confirmed Smith
did indeed make the save on that play.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">At the 4:45 mark of the third, the Blades had another huge
chance to even the score on a wraparound opportunity by Minten where Smith had
fallen to the ice. When Minten came around to put the puck into an empty side
of the Lethbridge goal, he was stopped by Hurricanes veteran defenceman Braeden
Wynne.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Minten got the puck and attempted again to put it into the
Lethbridge net, but Smith was able to bat the puck away from danger. At the
next stoppage occurring at the 5:08 mark of the third, the officials’ video reviewed
Minten’s wraparound and his second scoring opportunity on the same play and
confirmed the puck did not enter the Lethbridge net.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82SFQkKsX3fJNm0Nf9Qv-1RMpWHGQK5iqEEEKLsoVMfKykcAskofgb_yctmw9yNWrO6HHtN9G8ffsWxdKFZ1si9RHfQeb4hCjlrnyRxmf4rU49nheQ5zM06G25_gHjuUOcmxggES9ny9UsnAkG2s4Obo9XNS_LARCZ4XDgS14lu-H_ymIdgKEwg4kFKso/s2000/IMGP8223.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1749" data-original-width="2000" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82SFQkKsX3fJNm0Nf9Qv-1RMpWHGQK5iqEEEKLsoVMfKykcAskofgb_yctmw9yNWrO6HHtN9G8ffsWxdKFZ1si9RHfQeb4hCjlrnyRxmf4rU49nheQ5zM06G25_gHjuUOcmxggES9ny9UsnAkG2s4Obo9XNS_LARCZ4XDgS14lu-H_ymIdgKEwg4kFKso/w400-h350/IMGP8223.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraser Minten was snakebitten around the net on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Hurricanes proceeded to kill off a Blades power-play
opportunity and proceeded net a key insurance goal at the 8:02 mark of the
frame. After the Hurricanes killed off the Blades power-play, Hurricanes
17-year-old centre Kash Andresen fed a stretch pass to Pakkala, who just skated
out of the penalty box.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Andresen’s stretch pass sprung Pakkala on a breakaway. He
tucked his 11<sup>th</sup> of the season between Elliott’s legs to push the
Hurricanes lead out to 3-1. Marques rounded out the game’s scoring and a
personal two-point night with an empty-net goal with 3.5 seconds remaining in the
third.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Elliott turned away 17-of-20 shots to take the setback in
net for the Blades, who still top the WHL standings with a 42-12-2-3 mark. Smith
stopped 32 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Hurricanes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnstYwnd2PhcTN2Mcy-w0jSArQDaxAnMoOpv1Hj9vOtjHeiwTD0Qw2sDvV0b7Cs2VeUqmMcdmTG2cfAzSLGZKYknUuYMgLA6eW-aqtCcioRSeL0cigJ1bTejb6_xuAMcPj06_0X13C7PRCco4x-ie-mdnYL9z7u-0EXFunbxMzV1r6koxkBI8akS0-lgU/s1996/IMGP8239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1739" data-original-width="1996" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnstYwnd2PhcTN2Mcy-w0jSArQDaxAnMoOpv1Hj9vOtjHeiwTD0Qw2sDvV0b7Cs2VeUqmMcdmTG2cfAzSLGZKYknUuYMgLA6eW-aqtCcioRSeL0cigJ1bTejb6_xuAMcPj06_0X13C7PRCco4x-ie-mdnYL9z7u-0EXFunbxMzV1r6koxkBI8akS0-lgU/w400-h349/IMGP8239.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miquel Marques had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes.</td></tr></tbody></table>Offensive-defenceman Noah Chadwick had a pair of assists for
the visitors.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes, who have won two straight, improved to
27-26-5 to eighth place and the final playoff berth in the WHL’s Eastern
Conference. They sit three standings points ahead of the Calgary Hitmen
(24-26-7-1).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes return to action on Saturday when they travel
to Prince Albert to face the 29-26-1-3 Raiders (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades also get back at it on Saturday when they travel
to Brandon to take on the 29-24-5-1 Wheat Kings (7 p.m., Westoba Place).</p><p class="MsoNormal">At the moment, the Blades are facing their biggest moment of
adversity in the 2023-24 campaign, but it is something they can get themselves
out of. They have to keep up their persistence in the offensive zone, and they
will eventually be rewarded with a surge of goals.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wZMz4RIkLddhb0n6PRl-EEgZ-gJbn5TvB5WLJF7gwUZ_9Z4NNUBN40G-8I01m4fux1aVJw6XQzsJy8Tw8NQLERFn4x7dwUlLLTUQnTSOgIWa5osVHZydnNhebViQZAfbySlJ2M41I396JVZ3_gXaE1cNV1qFvs6SlK5jpORbQe_0Ll-zAn4B7c9fQFMZ/s1996/IMGP8264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1735" data-original-width="1996" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wZMz4RIkLddhb0n6PRl-EEgZ-gJbn5TvB5WLJF7gwUZ_9Z4NNUBN40G-8I01m4fux1aVJw6XQzsJy8Tw8NQLERFn4x7dwUlLLTUQnTSOgIWa5osVHZydnNhebViQZAfbySlJ2M41I396JVZ3_gXaE1cNV1qFvs6SlK5jpORbQe_0Ll-zAn4B7c9fQFMZ/w400-h348/IMGP8264.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hurricanes celebrate their win on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>While you never want to put extra pressure on the puck
stoppers in the game, it would help the Blades if their netminders could make a
critical stop when the Saskatoon side is up or even on the scoreboard to give
the club’s top offensive players a chance to get out of their collective funk.
Something like a 1-0 shutout victory would help the Blades get started back to
an upward trend.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Overall, it is better for the Blades to work through a rough
patch now as opposed to when the post-season starts. A slump in the playoffs
will send even a team sitting first overall in the regular season standings
like the Blades into the off-season wondering what might have been.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>NOTES</b> – The
Blades played Friday’s game as the Saskatoon Berries for one night borrowing
the name out of their baseball cousins the Saskatoon Berries. The Berries
baseball team will embark on their expansion Western Canadian Baseball League
campaign playing out of Cairns Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades wore specially designed Berries hockey jerseys.
Player starting lineups were done by baseball positions, pucks clearing the
glass were called “foul pucks,” and the first few goal announcements were done
like they were home runs. The video scoreboard also showed various specially
designed Berries graphics.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt2rhKTbYAekpR2YTj4DAsiEY8HIvHhNUpm7ar0gpqqrSi2pvnE_Y6w7VFNjlYmtgna8TaqBFFoPF9q4Eko8OULaT89Ji3FzAZhCynukPHTCg2M-LpXW4Cr5HgHhjuP6m1RElXHlpOuLP7ncBWodFAR2xuT793P7zQGM9o8sHG02f8vK3EbqjEzbuQZBR/s2006/IMGP8123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1684" data-original-width="2006" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt2rhKTbYAekpR2YTj4DAsiEY8HIvHhNUpm7ar0gpqqrSi2pvnE_Y6w7VFNjlYmtgna8TaqBFFoPF9q4Eko8OULaT89Ji3FzAZhCynukPHTCg2M-LpXW4Cr5HgHhjuP6m1RElXHlpOuLP7ncBWodFAR2xuT793P7zQGM9o8sHG02f8vK3EbqjEzbuQZBR/w400-h336/IMGP8123.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barry the Black Bear made his debut on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>During the first media timeout of the third period, a
seventh inning stretch was held complete with the singing of “Take Me Out to
the Ball Game.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">Berries mascot Berry the Black Bear made his debut on Friday. The Blades and Berries are both owned by the Saskatoon
Entertainment Group.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i>stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-61933032468319686292024-02-24T21:55:00.000-08:002024-02-24T23:25:20.016-08:00Raiders capitalize on power play, schedule quirk<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Prince Albert does in short-staffed Wheat Kings 5-2 </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tEZSUyr_PrAaQLtka85vLawamPNIH5lN_Frw8bQC9SkmUFBYn9rAklIgCvS1w1tTV7Td1dthywRwIdrmpB0SYAZAhL3F4qCxIFgaIcO3ntESePB3geSuYYcHEiUQZO-6WWrQuMG866mlAXsQRRlyL3ZWlyJmhJ7vo5o5pzpZV0EAGrsRrqkScAAWX4JP/s1985/IMGP7890.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="1985" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tEZSUyr_PrAaQLtka85vLawamPNIH5lN_Frw8bQC9SkmUFBYn9rAklIgCvS1w1tTV7Td1dthywRwIdrmpB0SYAZAhL3F4qCxIFgaIcO3ntESePB3geSuYYcHEiUQZO-6WWrQuMG866mlAXsQRRlyL3ZWlyJmhJ7vo5o5pzpZV0EAGrsRrqkScAAWX4JP/w400-h341/IMGP7890.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloan Stanick, right, scores his first of three goals on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Jeff Truitt was pleased his Prince
Albert Raiders took advantage of a good hand that was dealt their way.<p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday night, the Raiders went 4-for-9 nine on the
power play and downed a short-staffed Brandon Wheat Kings side 5-2 in a WHL
regular season clash before an appreciative 2,626 spectators at the 2,580 seat
Art Hauser Centre. The Wheat Kings were also playing their third game in three
nights all on the road.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Brandon slipped past the Raiders 3-2 when the two sides met
Thursday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders proceeded to have Friday night
off, while the Wheat Kings went to Saskatoon and beat the WHL leading Blades
4-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaz72qsZXbFmOv1KtYEPARr0uI08RimB9hafFrqhYR5nUCisuAreMXTrxHaaKO3v4IskQ9CPwaau7Tb9rIFTRnOXtRh89CtN1rlU7YdbJdXU8cnD6-z_AeDhj3pFiy_zwt5tsoTfu24qHpmbgyPmo-JGABZYmlYHUCP9V5me1gdzuQS1zfBs6vHWHT9z6/s1998/IMGP7947.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1929" data-original-width="1998" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaz72qsZXbFmOv1KtYEPARr0uI08RimB9hafFrqhYR5nUCisuAreMXTrxHaaKO3v4IskQ9CPwaau7Tb9rIFTRnOXtRh89CtN1rlU7YdbJdXU8cnD6-z_AeDhj3pFiy_zwt5tsoTfu24qHpmbgyPmo-JGABZYmlYHUCP9V5me1gdzuQS1zfBs6vHWHT9z6/w400-h386/IMGP7947.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raiders celebrate a second goal from Sloan Stanick, centre.</td></tr></tbody></table>In Saturday’s clash between the Raiders and Wheat Kings, the
Brandon side played with only 15 skaters. The Wheat Kings were three short of
the full complement of 18 skaters due to injuries and one suspension.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Truitt, who is the Raiders head coach, said it was important
his team took advantage of a scenario that lined up in his club’s favour.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“We needed it,” said Truitt. “We need to play desperate.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“We knew they had a tough schedule with three in three,
which is always hard to play with a short bench as well. We had to take
advantage of it, and we did.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Wheat Kings injuries included forwards Roger McQueen,
Joby Baumuller and Hayden Wheddon, who were all listed as day-to-day with upper
body injuries. Centre Nicholas Johnson is listed as week to week with an upper
body injury, netminder Ethan Eskit is day to day with a lower body injury and
import defenceman Andrei Maliaven was out with an undisclosed ailment suffered
on Friday in Saskatoon.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOQZqPqMImNiVGUghSC73ovGbnvUNiJOAaxuKu83RE7T5AQ6m3NRZvf_TNUwuFYHLJ4OWp8fIRIP4urV67dhWwytg3PY8MxnSCIg9-9k8DnOOjZWuxsA7STAd601yGa-6lfwqNMT118WPuyZvEreUpOQcuXTy8MqCXrI4dY4I8MrRJF4G-jWIIoa8ea_M/s2009/IMGP7887.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1717" data-original-width="2009" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOQZqPqMImNiVGUghSC73ovGbnvUNiJOAaxuKu83RE7T5AQ6m3NRZvf_TNUwuFYHLJ4OWp8fIRIP4urV67dhWwytg3PY8MxnSCIg9-9k8DnOOjZWuxsA7STAd601yGa-6lfwqNMT118WPuyZvEreUpOQcuXTy8MqCXrI4dY4I8MrRJF4G-jWIIoa8ea_M/w400-h341/IMGP7887.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloan Stanick had his third career hat trick on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Veteran 19-year-old centre Rylen Roersman was out serving a
suspension with a length that is still to be determined for being given a checking
from behind major in the Wheat Kings victory in Saskatoon on Friday.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When the Raiders went ahead 5-2 with 6:21 remaining in the
third on a hat trick goal from star 20-year-old left-winger Sloan Stanick, frustration
seemed to boil over on the Wheat Kings side. The final 6:21 featured one big
scrum and a few moments when the visitors were losing their cool.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“They are on big three in three,” said Stanick, whose team was wearing special jersey’s for the club’s Kid Takeover Night. “We knew we
had to get on their defencemen, and they were down some bodies.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVaRfpm0z55Ky4ymQ1j9tiD1IOWNKnoTtY3AHcZRYyJ1lt73HjEsQvoSX68UC91ftc8JRhQwUWHB2_erRYTvTB5HstKB32V2LhL2UjF70R2-jz9WD6r74QFuXh-Ocf2Nrt2Q4WP_KlZWSAoA7WYBDW-x6_0aV1IHT7Oqfvi9zYmhq5pf0n4CkmksdsVni/s2005/IMGP7919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1684" data-original-width="2005" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVaRfpm0z55Ky4ymQ1j9tiD1IOWNKnoTtY3AHcZRYyJ1lt73HjEsQvoSX68UC91ftc8JRhQwUWHB2_erRYTvTB5HstKB32V2LhL2UjF70R2-jz9WD6r74QFuXh-Ocf2Nrt2Q4WP_KlZWSAoA7WYBDW-x6_0aV1IHT7Oqfvi9zYmhq5pf0n4CkmksdsVni/w400-h336/IMGP7919.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dominik Petr scored both Wheat Kings goals on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“They obviously got a little frustrated there, but it was
just saying on the bench just play between the whistles here and let’s get two (standings)
points that we really need. You obviously want to defend your teammates and
stick up for each other for sure. We were just trying to stay between the
whistles.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“You can’t control what they do. We just have to control
what we can do.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Wheat Kings opened the scoring in Saturday’s contest
scoring on the tail end of power play. With 3:55 remaining in the opening
frame, Wheat Kings 16-year-old right-winger Brady Turko had the puck at the
left side boards and passed it to the doorstep of the right side of the Prince
Albert net to 18-year-old import centre Dominik Petr. Petr popped home his 15<sup>th</sup>
of the season to give the visitors a 1-0 edge.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvokBmjcm6Pg4Ag8mg_VqydzPb71QP6FBEuru49N12WCZfWJzcrynPohFDFDSg1j0xmB1yxQrEM_iZTScYY_SVb7OXuMQzyLNuhQIrhAFipjVbNupEBek0gc1X2irLx7I7r5jgcAW3mO3o7jkMokVrTE3WZD2GsmGCrtUAbrGlhOwo5LJJGpqV3eL3fFD/s2003/IMGP7935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2003" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvokBmjcm6Pg4Ag8mg_VqydzPb71QP6FBEuru49N12WCZfWJzcrynPohFDFDSg1j0xmB1yxQrEM_iZTScYY_SVb7OXuMQzyLNuhQIrhAFipjVbNupEBek0gc1X2irLx7I7r5jgcAW3mO3o7jkMokVrTE3WZD2GsmGCrtUAbrGlhOwo5LJJGpqV3eL3fFD/w400-h303/IMGP7935.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justice Christensen had three assists for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>Before the first intermission came around, the Raiders
scored on a power play of their own. With two minutes remaining in the opening
frame, Raiders centre Aiden Oiring tipped home a point shot from
offensive-defenceman Justice Christensen to even the score at 1-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal">At the 7:44 mark of the second, the Raiders jumped in front
2-1 when Stanick wired home his 25<sup>th</sup> goal of the campaign with his
squad once again working on the power play. The hosts really started to take
over play territorially in the second holding a 9-4 edge in shots on goal for
the frame after holding a 10-8 advantage in shots on goal in the first period.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xeL5OGJEkwVyDJXzRw3yPPWSAJLsxldyeHbTjJngF3573nijgk_8kVSXOzwS_UOKx19Efop1eVk6yi81i6mZdxng4gzOh072adhb-6bo31X4BdhYbOEDwo_phYEDoLYXswVLPch41Khv4dOl7PdS-gqspFo5-xJASjiq2_8wIei5KZXw_0Y3mzCYABj0/s2009/IMGP7941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="2009" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xeL5OGJEkwVyDJXzRw3yPPWSAJLsxldyeHbTjJngF3573nijgk_8kVSXOzwS_UOKx19Efop1eVk6yi81i6mZdxng4gzOh072adhb-6bo31X4BdhYbOEDwo_phYEDoLYXswVLPch41Khv4dOl7PdS-gqspFo5-xJASjiq2_8wIei5KZXw_0Y3mzCYABj0/w400-h344/IMGP7941.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aiden Oiring had a goal and two assists for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>Stanick said it was big for his club to have the success
they did on the power play on Saturday.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“We’ve been working on it lots,” said Stanick, who now has three hat tricks in his WHL career. “It is
something that is going to help us win games getting those power-play goals,
and it felt good.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“We’re clicking right now - just knock on wood keep it going.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">In the third, Raiders overage centre Turner McMillen scored off
a rush to push the host side’s lead out to 3-1 at the 4:38 mark of the frame.
Just under four minutes later, Stanick smartly put home his second of the night
placing home a shot through a screen with the Raiders working on a two-man
advantage to give Prince Albert a 4-1 lead.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U2Q10RVvM6aEV-FwuC4rBVCFpb8ZffOmc1wqbSO5E0HeofSeuMQU0JueLd5ofteJPkOX413EEcyl9jV5E3wM8jXTCrz6TcdKYKtX5gUkEfFQLC4_KdPSeeb18SHHwJmLfHd-zlwp7Y3oSDIC9-nSy6xpYOVjVjeTIktvQeaE2wHX0cGeL5fr0IRzz0JC/s1814/IMGP7951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1814" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U2Q10RVvM6aEV-FwuC4rBVCFpb8ZffOmc1wqbSO5E0HeofSeuMQU0JueLd5ofteJPkOX413EEcyl9jV5E3wM8jXTCrz6TcdKYKtX5gUkEfFQLC4_KdPSeeb18SHHwJmLfHd-zlwp7Y3oSDIC9-nSy6xpYOVjVjeTIktvQeaE2wHX0cGeL5fr0IRzz0JC/w400-h386/IMGP7951.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krzysztof Macias had three assists for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>With 6:46 remaining in the third, Petr scored short-handed
for his second goal of the night to cut the Raiders lead to 4-2. That wasn’t
able to spark a comeback.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Just 25 seconds later, Stanick fired home his hat trick goal
with his squad still working on the power play to give the Raiders a 5-2
advantage. Stanick said it was big for his side to respond quickly after Petr
scored his short-handed goal.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“It was a good shot from their player there,” said Stanick,
who has 27 goals and 46 assists for a team high 73 points this season. “We just
wanted to stay composed.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“We knew we could win the game. We just had to play our game
and to get that one to make it 5-2 was really good.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">Max Hildebrand stopped 15 shots to pick in goal for the
Raiders. Carson Bjarnason turned away 29 shots to take the setback in net for
the Wheat Kings.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwXVZ-MI7oIeFe-5QCuNtOhqmlQ1r21xg-csieQyw2_-Mlu737jCiVGDEP3W41eC-J08Q4tANAekSFh7g2fmh6JRS9Sw3ISzyaVPFFjxjIkNfHoSmftz7KjfXl9TQGwN29el3H1mCUvOBgm03IVQqEOH_fdfBbQEUMt5EaoqzfrtXR9Y1gYmuHjBPLgI7/s1992/IMGP7956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="1992" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwXVZ-MI7oIeFe-5QCuNtOhqmlQ1r21xg-csieQyw2_-Mlu737jCiVGDEP3W41eC-J08Q4tANAekSFh7g2fmh6JRS9Sw3ISzyaVPFFjxjIkNfHoSmftz7KjfXl9TQGwN29el3H1mCUvOBgm03IVQqEOH_fdfBbQEUMt5EaoqzfrtXR9Y1gYmuHjBPLgI7/w400-h339/IMGP7956.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturday’s game in Prince Albert include some word exchanges.</td></tr></tbody></table>Oiring had a pair of assists to go with his goal.
Christensen and import left-winger Krzysztof Macias both record three assists
each for the Raiders.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The win allowed the Raiders to improve to 27-26-1-3 to
remain seventh overall in the WHL’s Eastern Conference three points up on the
eight place 25-26-5 Lethbridge Hurricanes and four points up on the ninth place
23-25-7-1 Calgary Hitmen. The Hurricanes and Hitmen each have a game in hand on
the Raiders and will play each other on Sunday in Calgary.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Wheat Kings fall to 29-23-5-1 to remain sixth in the
Eastern Conference six points up on the Raiders.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders return to action on Wednesday when they host the
Red Deer Rebels (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mHZZaJFy-iaYFIM-bKe5aQKzvkpa-156kSefjQLzDJbm4BRxjaJBKuDZUUQQfAkiKuBLrtMv-GR1DtAJ0Jo15VbWdTlHSv3Xm_MVxpevMQgtB-zowwe1cbhMZddu1lQ7ruRw_Q1Y1V4aLb3FPz2qK6RHkPR1KDYDGdzFXcN4Gyqa5q2-03yjrZuB5WDo/s2257/IMGP7866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="2257" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mHZZaJFy-iaYFIM-bKe5aQKzvkpa-156kSefjQLzDJbm4BRxjaJBKuDZUUQQfAkiKuBLrtMv-GR1DtAJ0Jo15VbWdTlHSv3Xm_MVxpevMQgtB-zowwe1cbhMZddu1lQ7ruRw_Q1Y1V4aLb3FPz2qK6RHkPR1KDYDGdzFXcN4Gyqa5q2-03yjrZuB5WDo/w400-h231/IMGP7866.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric Johnston (#3) stands his ground defensively for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Wheat Kings are off until Friday when the will host the
visiting Raiders (7 p.m. local time, Westoba Place).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders play seven out of their last 11 regular season
games at home, and Truitt wants his side to strive to play more consistently
both at home and on the road.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“It gives you confidence that is for sure, but we’ve been up
and down,” said Truitt. “We were great at home and then we weren’t great at
home.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKkBowHt2Zj2fbv0WBornOcroM24KjZme8b0XhpDjcQ6GOLT0M6QM1lvOmUWOHZV4dzyD1FCspzPYNW4T1IU1mGJBDk92kwpFeozIgzAjVk6EXilo1i1Ymtb2QyFib0I4DV7QAQco0HcKoOOV-CKGVeOimNdRz_dgRovT6xOjDhYViVEIEcQqhQ9Gz9kR/s2000/IMGP7967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="2000" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKkBowHt2Zj2fbv0WBornOcroM24KjZme8b0XhpDjcQ6GOLT0M6QM1lvOmUWOHZV4dzyD1FCspzPYNW4T1IU1mGJBDk92kwpFeozIgzAjVk6EXilo1i1Ymtb2QyFib0I4DV7QAQco0HcKoOOV-CKGVeOimNdRz_dgRovT6xOjDhYViVEIEcQqhQ9Gz9kR/w400-h340/IMGP7967.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raiders salute the crowd after their win on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“We were great on the road. It flip flopped. It is always an
advantage to play at home there is no doubt about that.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“You have to be able to manufacture things. No matter where
you play at home or on the road you have to be to play the right way and play
with pace and play with sacrifice and structure and things like that. It is
nice to win at home don’t get me wrong, but somewhere in the later on down the
line too you have to win on the road.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to <a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com">stankssports@gmail.com</a>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-82613369717132380002024-02-21T14:46:00.000-08:002024-02-21T14:46:10.225-08:00Three star selections evoke passion in WHL, hockey<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Should they be objective on merit or a
promotional tool?<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUQxKx-OKiRQNuXfGXiMwcfdBUUjtLbq3w_-iWfXmc5ONbahboooGGY7gwizdvRq_pWc7Dp7CMXhH1mjGmOGEfTv1G5a_SerymB74P7PYG0mPEn28g7Ctpy-VxXL5qjPasP6oO9-qhyphenhyphensE8-fze0Z5EoMJxxYK_3N4jurmN309C2tEmtvTmdBuDzfruPtN/s1833/Sloan%20Stanick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1833" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUQxKx-OKiRQNuXfGXiMwcfdBUUjtLbq3w_-iWfXmc5ONbahboooGGY7gwizdvRq_pWc7Dp7CMXhH1mjGmOGEfTv1G5a_SerymB74P7PYG0mPEn28g7Ctpy-VxXL5qjPasP6oO9-qhyphenhyphensE8-fze0Z5EoMJxxYK_3N4jurmN309C2tEmtvTmdBuDzfruPtN/w400-h326/Sloan%20Stanick.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloan Stanick in action for the Raiders earlier this season.</td></tr></tbody></table>I underestimated how much passion could come up around the
end of game three star selections in hockey.</p><p>For myself, I’ve long considered the three star selections
to be a promotional tool. I basically see them as a showy thing for the home
teams to use to give pats on the backs of the host side’s players.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I used to see them as an objective thing given out on merit
for the happenings in that night’s game. That view is pretty much reserved for
NHL contests these days. For any other hockey league in North America including
the WHL, they are a promotional tool.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday night, I posted the sentiment on social media
that the three star selections in the WHL don’t mean anything in the grand
scheme of things and are just showy things for the home team. I made that same
post on Facebook, Instagram and Platform-X (formerly Twitter) with a screenshot
of the top of the box score of the Prince Albert Raiders 4-3 overtime victory
over the Hurricanes in Lethbridge on Saturday. All of the three star selections
that night came from the host Hurricanes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those posts started attracting messages in the comments
sections and direct messages poured in. All sorts of views came in about
overall observations on three star selections, and the passion was there.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click <a href="https://paherald.sk.ca/three-stars-selections-evoke-passion-in-whl-hockey/" target="_blank">right here</a>.</i></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-60371992560530171362024-02-18T21:59:00.000-08:002024-02-19T01:43:12.567-08:00De La Gorgendiere eyes up long playoff run with Golden Bears<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">U of A pulls out 5-4 OT win over Huskies in Game 3<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5qxWIpZkDuG2d69HSdhoL7_FLzG4lMd58glfcVUOq0LsPX6shBop6OzyRU5I1ZWL8I-9X_NqvxIEzS3OGYBmXcK-bdLXyICWU84vY5QkzQ8_aybN1dOQu0FZ3YPG7VpSyEK_0Cu-cJ6dKYVPa3IAaxk8Vr2VGzQyvjmUmiN1KbjRjftknl2Xsyh807wm/s1993/IMGP7118.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1803" data-original-width="1993" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5qxWIpZkDuG2d69HSdhoL7_FLzG4lMd58glfcVUOq0LsPX6shBop6OzyRU5I1ZWL8I-9X_NqvxIEzS3OGYBmXcK-bdLXyICWU84vY5QkzQ8_aybN1dOQu0FZ3YPG7VpSyEK_0Cu-cJ6dKYVPa3IAaxk8Vr2VGzQyvjmUmiN1KbjRjftknl2Xsyh807wm/w400-h361/IMGP7118.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan De La Gorgendiere (#6) shields the puck from a checker.</td></tr></tbody></table>Welcome to the world of U Sports men’s hockey Aidan De La
Gorgendiere.<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Abbotsford, B.C., product, who is best known for being a
career member of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, is making an immediate impact with
the storied University of Alberta Golden Bears. On Sunday playing a series
deciding Game 3 of a Canada West Conference quarter-final set against the
Golden Bears “forever rivals” in the University of Saskatchewan Huskies at
Merlis Belsher Place, De La Gorgendiere scored his team’s first goal and picked
up an assist on the overtime winner in a 5-4 victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The win allowed the Golden Bears to take the best-of-three
set 2-1. The Huskies took Game 1 of the series 4-2 on Friday at Merlis, and the
Golden Bears claimed Game 2 by a 3-2 final on Saturday at the same venue.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSbxAPClsorYCuBNbUMIwv-awnd6gbUfCNldoYhdVf2nJF5B-8qZHETsFotZEra2sHjYBGvNtCpCBpsAcEj84gSGAau3dN0N8J2UFTzqJH0njYT2qo5QoPuPlg0TfnuAfINhqhSqwcae_Z_0IblLwgQDOXvLlcYu48pd5SZrPlof9qv_1DYrxv749TEvx/s1939/IMGP7171.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="1939" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSbxAPClsorYCuBNbUMIwv-awnd6gbUfCNldoYhdVf2nJF5B-8qZHETsFotZEra2sHjYBGvNtCpCBpsAcEj84gSGAau3dN0N8J2UFTzqJH0njYT2qo5QoPuPlg0TfnuAfINhqhSqwcae_Z_0IblLwgQDOXvLlcYu48pd5SZrPlof9qv_1DYrxv749TEvx/w400-h363/IMGP7171.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan De La Gorgendiere had the Golden Bears first goal on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>With the series win, the Golden Bears advance to face the
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a best-of-three Canada West semifinal
series with the dates and times to be determined for this coming weekend.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It obviously feels awesome,” said De La Gorgendiere. “We
didn’t play near to our best on Friday there.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I feel like the last two games we kind of figured it out
and got back to what makes us successful. We were skating good. We were moving
our feet out there.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It feels awesome to get the win.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cniOzCv7JNGNBZ0-DgxzTazpkwedIwHoKbFMX7dMFH5kxCi650NS3eR3_iguObO_s7y12L5aZrAalhZunuDm71zFDoSyxKDn1dbkXsQ7j-pgpMxzqjT3CyWK2IBeOHXXxDQIBvslwwpPFNd4Mo75Oj7oa1pNmk5aKfOSB9U0qGvDoScjKwzaCjTzsZRO/s2993/IMGP7192.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="2993" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cniOzCv7JNGNBZ0-DgxzTazpkwedIwHoKbFMX7dMFH5kxCi650NS3eR3_iguObO_s7y12L5aZrAalhZunuDm71zFDoSyxKDn1dbkXsQ7j-pgpMxzqjT3CyWK2IBeOHXXxDQIBvslwwpPFNd4Mo75Oj7oa1pNmk5aKfOSB9U0qGvDoScjKwzaCjTzsZRO/w400-h213/IMGP7192.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan De La Gorgendiere drives a shot on goal for the Golden Bears.</td></tr></tbody></table>When Sunday’s clash between the Golden Bears and Huskies
went to overtime locked in a 4-4 tie, it seemed like the visitors found another
gear holding a 5-1 edge in shots on goal. At the 4:53 mark of the extra
session, De La Gorgendiere, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 188 pounds, got the
puck over to rookie right-winger Connor McClennon on the right wing.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDB2Y_WdkzQksDItUeuVIE4bh0iHfxfqSuCNQpk8Z_5EvZQ0HImlsl-khaskoGkqkZq8RctdKsWXo4OaAP22VT9yhJdcTEe4hRh0L8IlkrM-NKwrVKSuTT4CEEar-3B465TknHgtCIAgzlnc_in4L7TXfsH2i7voMr2l5k1Zy9mcz09KPXpC_BlsK5zS3h/s2004/IMGP7135.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2004" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDB2Y_WdkzQksDItUeuVIE4bh0iHfxfqSuCNQpk8Z_5EvZQ0HImlsl-khaskoGkqkZq8RctdKsWXo4OaAP22VT9yhJdcTEe4hRh0L8IlkrM-NKwrVKSuTT4CEEar-3B465TknHgtCIAgzlnc_in4L7TXfsH2i7voMr2l5k1Zy9mcz09KPXpC_BlsK5zS3h/w400-h371/IMGP7135.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan De La Gorgendiere assisted on the OT winner on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>McClennon fired a shot on goal that was redirected by Golden
Bears fourth-year left-winger Daneel Lategan past Huskies netminder Roddy Ross to
give the visitors their dramatic 5-4 victory to the disappointment of most of the 1,236 spectators in attendance. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In May of last year, De La Gorgendiere and McClennon were on
opposite sides of the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series. De La
Gorgendiere was skating for the Blades and McClennon was playing for the
Winnipeg Ice. The Ice swept the best-of-seven series 4-0 to bring an end to De
La Gorgendiere’s WHL playing days.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just a little over nine months later, De La Gorgendiere and
McClennon were teaming to set up an overtime series winning goal for the Golden
Bears.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2G6694ZR27SIOjufVL47Pmz9ZLmjgvJSSbTDD2BXgBbVQpduCDSzdRW5L_2dmVG99lrUTX-0DfqherVWS-MI1aQW1xDTHmAuTWohq1JbMuIhjqy9X1bYI_ZpNhP5RYGeVHc_-yV5slD4sCBKaRXB4yBbKsTdSnZOvlU4eyuTLnJz6LAAT0YL53hwpxp2/s1997/IMGP7060.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="1997" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2G6694ZR27SIOjufVL47Pmz9ZLmjgvJSSbTDD2BXgBbVQpduCDSzdRW5L_2dmVG99lrUTX-0DfqherVWS-MI1aQW1xDTHmAuTWohq1JbMuIhjqy9X1bYI_ZpNhP5RYGeVHc_-yV5slD4sCBKaRXB4yBbKsTdSnZOvlU4eyuTLnJz6LAAT0YL53hwpxp2/w400-h393/IMGP7060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan De La Gorgendiere, left, gets in a net front battle.</td></tr></tbody></table>“It is pretty crazy to think about,” said De La Gorgendiere,
who will turn 22-years-old this coming Thursday. “Me and Connor have played
against each other it seems like our whole lives.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Being on the same team with him is pretty nice. Obviously,
he is a pretty talented player and a skilled player. It is awesome to have him
out there.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We’re looking forward to the next round.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">De La Gorgendiere came to the Golden Bears after trying to
find the right opportunity in the professional ranks. After he exhausted his
WHL eligibility with the Blades, he went to camp with the NHL’s Colorado
Avalanche before the start of the current campaign.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When things didn’t work out with the Avalanche, De La Gorgendiere
went to camp with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. The Admirals are the AHL affiliate
of the NHL’s Nashville Predators.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg_AcStR1TvcK_ASNZzT-AQjn5PNYvjV9Qt_NijrfLQupYcO1i_-2vFpjeeLWXt5V4U2k5x15n3Ad3VTuDiL9oMrKpSYUsCIvNxSSxeil6Hmm0tXnmfgAkBhbAL_t_XlZ5o6E56Q3W60P0TACGG_iRSypzSm9DbbPqWQF8rNKu7bLMbhuMbOal8-9iZc2/s1732/IMGP7129.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1573" data-original-width="1732" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg_AcStR1TvcK_ASNZzT-AQjn5PNYvjV9Qt_NijrfLQupYcO1i_-2vFpjeeLWXt5V4U2k5x15n3Ad3VTuDiL9oMrKpSYUsCIvNxSSxeil6Hmm0tXnmfgAkBhbAL_t_XlZ5o6E56Q3W60P0TACGG_iRSypzSm9DbbPqWQF8rNKu7bLMbhuMbOal8-9iZc2/w400-h364/IMGP7129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cade Hayes scored the Huskies first goal on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>De Le Gorgendiere was then sent down to the Atlanta
Gladiators of the ECHL. He played 10 games for the Gladiators posting one goal,
four assists and a plus-four rating in the plus-minus department. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During that time, it crossed De La Gorgendiere’s mind that
maybe he should put his professional hockey aspirations on the back burner and
make sure he has something to fall back on in going the university hockey route
to get a degree.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Probably mid November, I kind of decided I should
reconsider my schooling package I got with the Western Hockey League,” said De
La Gorgendiere, who is in the arts faculty at the U of A. “I am here now.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m focused on winning a championship. Obviously, I still
want to play pro.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRca_Mw_MyTpClHTll-YpS3zmFEWHap32JNm78IZXOun6CmTYWy-Dw2gMrWGqsSaF6pVwA5T1OIjDDjSWdbQg2Pa9HpQ9_7okS9G5fnTVPCWw6tVn1eEfoFNMZ9esUZFSjYobgCqZ_mdLX6mlJTb4-8Rv6GGb77amPaBJu_wMNVgfmrn_EeJoxoif1T9UB/s2987/IMGP7153.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1999" data-original-width="2987" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRca_Mw_MyTpClHTll-YpS3zmFEWHap32JNm78IZXOun6CmTYWy-Dw2gMrWGqsSaF6pVwA5T1OIjDDjSWdbQg2Pa9HpQ9_7okS9G5fnTVPCWw6tVn1eEfoFNMZ9esUZFSjYobgCqZ_mdLX6mlJTb4-8Rv6GGb77amPaBJu_wMNVgfmrn_EeJoxoif1T9UB/w400-h268/IMGP7153.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawson Holt (#16) had the Huskies second goal on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>De La Gorgendiere began playing with the Golden Bears after
they returned from their Christmas break. In 10 regular season games with the
Golden Bears, De La Gorgendiere recorded one goal, 10 assists and a minus-two
rating. In the three-game series victory over the Huskies, De La Gorgendiere
posted one goal, two assists and a plus-two rating.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He added he got swayed to joining the Golden Bears due to
the fact they had a number of his former Blades teammates on their roster
including Blake Gustafson, Wyatt McLeod, Noah Boyko, Eric Florchuk and Josh
Paterson.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRa8fY4Nm26l8i2bypSiuOVViMNTtjA29jKZCMI551PM3s5PnjLfk9J7BOZ5U_h0qQ4xfu795jLTZv5zXb1IZCywe9m9WXMmtlJTsAa-rqHu5-2ELa8f6mUGexiho70soa4xcESIlFW1zoGxqpDDi7MLl6qrAQptI76Qmn7MlsU24TGcWflHPUrymXO20i/s2008/IMGP7114.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2008" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRa8fY4Nm26l8i2bypSiuOVViMNTtjA29jKZCMI551PM3s5PnjLfk9J7BOZ5U_h0qQ4xfu795jLTZv5zXb1IZCywe9m9WXMmtlJTsAa-rqHu5-2ELa8f6mUGexiho70soa4xcESIlFW1zoGxqpDDi7MLl6qrAQptI76Qmn7MlsU24TGcWflHPUrymXO20i/w400-h336/IMGP7114.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Thacker had a pair of goals for the Golden Bears on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“It did for sure,” said De La Gorgendiere about joining the
Golden Bears due to the presence of numerous Blades alums. “Obviously, the
program speaks for itself the history of guys signing pro deals and NHL deals,
American League deals and whatever it may be out of this program.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was a pretty easy decision for me.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for Sunday’s game between the Golden Bears and Huskies,
momentum seemed to jump constantly between the two sides. The Huskies got out
to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by rookie centre Cade Hayes, and
the hosts pushed their edge out to 2-0 early in the second on a tally from
third-year right-winger Dawson Holt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_L0sLwxbjCJ-u84vCwSfWQ-3UQ13eF1WEB63w0TB12tTu8Pb1kb75XK62QKKnTlPnwYy_YBtmQYexhkioLgCiFRIBNm8ZvIMMmEXp14E6EOaH5DauByn72pVJ2ej8m5r8gezp2Wpn0u4ZR8rl3OC_Ryjknk81X45JpGGQf_J69Our1Z3gyekOLxZ3JIA/s2001/IMGP7180.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="2001" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_L0sLwxbjCJ-u84vCwSfWQ-3UQ13eF1WEB63w0TB12tTu8Pb1kb75XK62QKKnTlPnwYy_YBtmQYexhkioLgCiFRIBNm8ZvIMMmEXp14E6EOaH5DauByn72pVJ2ej8m5r8gezp2Wpn0u4ZR8rl3OC_Ryjknk81X45JpGGQf_J69Our1Z3gyekOLxZ3JIA/w400-h313/IMGP7180.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ty Prefontaine had a short-handed goal for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>At the 4:20 mark of the second, De La Gorgendiere scored for
the Golden Bears to get them some traction and cut the Huskies lead to 2-1.
Golden Bears rookie left-winger Alex Thacker followed with a pair of goals to
put the visitors up 3-2.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With 5:09 remaining in the second, Huskies third-year
defenceman Ty Prefontaine scored a short-handed goal to even the score at 3-3.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">De La Gorgendiere said the intensity of the clashes between
the Golden Bears and Huskies was similar to what he experienced in the rivalry
games in the WHL played between his Blades and their archrivals the Prince
Albert Raiders. He said the momentum changes in Sunday’s contest between the
Golden Bears and Huskies were noticeable.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClbMhMKGSAc0xHLEQL1ROlBBGT9vunSZorjewJN-Ut-pKilZ4HRYXpCsLTWfGDS5UYDRlXPh9uP_B20lHEaRR_T7O1tgx7TrJWZH3-0LJZAlzIX4EcOcmSRZHbh_IZkHCvzB7N9iAbSZEfWaIUN9wiDRmivtkAt_jgsDtkxcmSFQcNc3jqxyocoDkxJ0v/s2457/IMGP7159.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="2457" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClbMhMKGSAc0xHLEQL1ROlBBGT9vunSZorjewJN-Ut-pKilZ4HRYXpCsLTWfGDS5UYDRlXPh9uP_B20lHEaRR_T7O1tgx7TrJWZH3-0LJZAlzIX4EcOcmSRZHbh_IZkHCvzB7N9iAbSZEfWaIUN9wiDRmivtkAt_jgsDtkxcmSFQcNc3jqxyocoDkxJ0v/w400-h268/IMGP7159.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vince Loschiavo gave the Huskies a 4-3 lead in the third.</td></tr></tbody></table>“I think on our end we probably could have been a little more
tight in our neutral zone and defensive zone there,” said De La Gorgendiere. “We
had a couple of breakdowns there. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It is the ebbs and flows of hockey. It seems like it
happens in every game. This one seemed to be a little more I guess. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“All in all, I thought we competed hard and played well.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies went back out in front 4-3 at the 6:44 mark of
the third after third-year star right-winger Vince Loschiavo scored on the
power play. The host side finished the contest 1-for-4 on the power play.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3wGYqBVwzWC1ojstbW8YKnFcVo6-bgsc_JJlfGzZjoQRFvpr8YvaPW7muiJCfThdBLcIVQ6EmKyi4KuFOYxZx3fLNvW9bf-zaIAw1Wahf2MmGpyAyl_tOtfit55QxstHikbYkry3768xIs4i7hpV6kmjXqB0kE-FKs1Og65cfgv25kiLjhTJNagYeKke/s1712/IMGP7141.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="1712" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3wGYqBVwzWC1ojstbW8YKnFcVo6-bgsc_JJlfGzZjoQRFvpr8YvaPW7muiJCfThdBLcIVQ6EmKyi4KuFOYxZx3fLNvW9bf-zaIAw1Wahf2MmGpyAyl_tOtfit55QxstHikbYkry3768xIs4i7hpV6kmjXqB0kE-FKs1Og65cfgv25kiLjhTJNagYeKke/w400-h351/IMGP7141.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler Preziuso scored for the Golden Bears to force OT.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Golden Bears would even the score at 4-4 with a
power-play goal of their own coming at the 10:49 mark of the third off the stick
of third-year right-winger Tyler Preziuso. The visitors were 1-for-7 on the power
play.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That set the stage for the Golden Bears to get the game and
series winner in overtime from Lategan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Second-year netminder Ethan Kruger made 29 saves to pick up
the win in goal for the Golden Bears. Ross turned away 29 shots to take the
setback in net for the Huskies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Going into this Canada West quarter-final series, the two
sides weren’t separated by a whole lot. The Huskies, who are rated eighth in
the U Sports Top 10 Rankings, finished fourth in the Canada West regular season
standings with a 20-6-1-1 record. The Golden Bears placed fifth with an 18-8-2
mark.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jFq4YMkp_h0svZxypIwgxWfV0-nFcQhz4kCEbjzjCHsM2atB3KgK7ll8mVH1FqXLc8qH3kONojqSKq99pIJ4nyoOolQl2ISSkIuArcfqkZsJvNgMZEYhUDrzT4YZpjUGyxS0O8J5SP6Y_sfnOMH93LK3zaAq9_RRho-uFu9RfVuttt8mkfEozFAcV28k/s2003/IMGP7137.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="2003" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jFq4YMkp_h0svZxypIwgxWfV0-nFcQhz4kCEbjzjCHsM2atB3KgK7ll8mVH1FqXLc8qH3kONojqSKq99pIJ4nyoOolQl2ISSkIuArcfqkZsJvNgMZEYhUDrzT4YZpjUGyxS0O8J5SP6Y_sfnOMH93LK3zaAq9_RRho-uFu9RfVuttt8mkfEozFAcV28k/w400-h335/IMGP7137.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daneel Lategan scored the OT winner for the Golden Bears.</td></tr></tbody></table>U of A will be an underdog in a semifinal series against the
Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds, who are rated fifth in the U Sports Top 10
Rankings, topped the Canada West regular season standings with a 22-4-1-1 mark.
They also won three out of the four head-to-head meeting with the Golden Bears
in the regular season.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With that noted, De La Gorgendiere believes the chemistry of
his Golden Bears side is coming around, and he has faith his squad will give
the Thunderbirds a good battle.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“They are a skilled team,” said De La Gorgendiere. “Obviously,
they have some high end talent up front and some good D-men as well.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVzpbpqJ9R5wdnU2G1l756v69xakHpd6wdclFoLp9lFIIG1ZZIVIJyl-cRalUIBYO4wzPFB3wRQUCHeyL1-Eomu7x0c56tz4IUj5q8Qg6eJZH3Mpy_H2wguRHNllujUUdhrbNHVWDHFn3CZf_PNZksqjBQaSlRhySiGFSljGlAB9dRYurruTXa_fdDmgG/s1996/IMGP7204.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="1996" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVzpbpqJ9R5wdnU2G1l756v69xakHpd6wdclFoLp9lFIIG1ZZIVIJyl-cRalUIBYO4wzPFB3wRQUCHeyL1-Eomu7x0c56tz4IUj5q8Qg6eJZH3Mpy_H2wguRHNllujUUdhrbNHVWDHFn3CZf_PNZksqjBQaSlRhySiGFSljGlAB9dRYurruTXa_fdDmgG/w400-h331/IMGP7204.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Golden Bears celebrate their OT win and series victory on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“We just have to bring our A-game. We have to come ready to
skate and come ready to play, and I think we should find success.”<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
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DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.</i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-68289871939095041682024-02-18T16:21:00.000-08:002024-02-18T17:06:56.175-08:00Dinos’ Wood soaks in homecoming series win<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">U of C downs Huskies 2-0 in series deciding Game
3.<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZwK2cpxvNNrjEwAHYYNG9pJ2-pQeqhrszzFNTalW5Z2hcqgJn9_8OEcJxpOYr807iX0swefqtaQlXVZcbAMGCq0SWqbVlcVnOjF3M1wZE8pw80slnW-KbHhNZbpkUZgJUn_qAX90qkuXQ8cPoeAqq0LJ8A2fSffuinSGjtM3Xp2Q4vLDxSoD3Jf2EYQR/s2008/IMGP7011.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="2008" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZwK2cpxvNNrjEwAHYYNG9pJ2-pQeqhrszzFNTalW5Z2hcqgJn9_8OEcJxpOYr807iX0swefqtaQlXVZcbAMGCq0SWqbVlcVnOjF3M1wZE8pw80slnW-KbHhNZbpkUZgJUn_qAX90qkuXQ8cPoeAqq0LJ8A2fSffuinSGjtM3Xp2Q4vLDxSoD3Jf2EYQR/w400-h326/IMGP7011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriella Durante, left, and Dana Woods celebrate a Dinos series win.</td></tr></tbody></table>Dana Wood got to run it back in Saskatoon.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fifth-year captain of the University of Calgary Dinos
women’s hockey team has experience her share of success in her hometown of
Saskatoon. For three seasons from 2015 to 2018, Wood played defence for the
Saskatoon Stars female under-18 AAA team.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During that period of time, Wood helped the Stars win two
SFU18AAAHL titles, two Western regional playdown series and make two
appearances in the Esso Cup female under-18 AAA national championship
tournament. Wood’s final game with the Stars came in the championship final of
the 2018 Esso Cup played at the County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater, N.S.
The Stars fell in that contest 2-1 to the St. Albert Slash from Alberta.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXug_x5DqL0KBfYvnmO7Qxru1bwHIUvY0AjAjGAFI_bH8QCRq9tW8eTHZ5rUrNk79qEvXHY8CijtjZBa3bGy7E-hl06mYm5Agz0xzW4hJdvpg_bhBVCzp4V1h6HJFU9rwAPq_S9QtJdXffQqxNd0tZE_X8S7MyGxWqOV8_t44KIfk3jPEjD8I-8BA5_e4c/s1990/IMGP6989.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="1990" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXug_x5DqL0KBfYvnmO7Qxru1bwHIUvY0AjAjGAFI_bH8QCRq9tW8eTHZ5rUrNk79qEvXHY8CijtjZBa3bGy7E-hl06mYm5Agz0xzW4hJdvpg_bhBVCzp4V1h6HJFU9rwAPq_S9QtJdXffQqxNd0tZE_X8S7MyGxWqOV8_t44KIfk3jPEjD8I-8BA5_e4c/w400-h331/IMGP6989.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dana Wood is playing her final season with the Dinos.</td></tr></tbody></table>On Sunday at Merlis Belsher Place on the University of
Saskatchewan campus, Wood and the Dinos faced the host Huskies in a series
deciding Game 3 of a Canada West quarter-final series. The 23-year-old picked
up an assist on the Dinos winning goal as they blanked the Huskies 2-0 to take
the series 2-1.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies claimed Game 1 of the set 2-1 on Friday at
Merlis, and the Dinos claimed Game 2 by a 2-0 scored on Saturday at Merlis. Wood
had numerous family and friends in attendance among the 307 spectators on
Sunday and throughout the weekend. It felt like old times for her to experience
a playoff series win in her hometown.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was super awesome,” said Wood, who had career highs in goals
(three), assists (nine), points (12) and plus-minus (plus-nine) appearing in
all of the Dinos 28 regular season games. “I think everyone kind of wanted to
stay in Calgary.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGeeN-A4qOX7XUJEHOjgcjJL-qd-fhK4Mq4LaUBOi1S7Lzev1yJkobESm4AtOejrYQIg4VyZXrXSNBZK_Owr1t9hjY6rKGYzLIuwuampjG-pgBhNWp8dtqN2Ccmc4LSDmzdb7-lRBg5Qsn6YI0AL9XQavhg4k_8BIz2gXj3mq5O2pznvd8jaSSQoTj8rY/s2993/IMGP7016.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="2993" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGeeN-A4qOX7XUJEHOjgcjJL-qd-fhK4Mq4LaUBOi1S7Lzev1yJkobESm4AtOejrYQIg4VyZXrXSNBZK_Owr1t9hjY6rKGYzLIuwuampjG-pgBhNWp8dtqN2Ccmc4LSDmzdb7-lRBg5Qsn6YI0AL9XQavhg4k_8BIz2gXj3mq5O2pznvd8jaSSQoTj8rY/w400-h285/IMGP7016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A number of Dana Wood’s family and friends came to cheer the Dinos.</td></tr></tbody></table>“It was between U of S and MRU for who we were going to play
for this round. Most people wanted to stay in Calgary to avoid the seven drive,
but I was so excited to come home. I just knew that we would get so many fans
out.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think we have seven girls from Saskatchewan at least. We
had so many fans come out too. It felt like I was playing at home partially, so
it was super fun.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the series win, the Dinos advance to play the defending
Canada West champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a best-of-three
Canada West semifinals series in Vancouver. The dates and times for that set
this coming weekend are still to be announced.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiASTCVOmFkCjNsxqElc4HsiH3uAKk2RvM_18DXrHUN2Y_tCwfabNq5444Y-jDCBsj9v5awATqX3ESpprXRJHpqG3cTsZecHwr2MiKBKzCS6J_QSIT9BBMvc8PrtNwkV4C3Os_2WggHqbj6hZ2YxH2XntjuUMATii2dtwX9ixWZzIqbf6z5fPzCDC7PEyR/s1905/IMGP6983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="1905" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiASTCVOmFkCjNsxqElc4HsiH3uAKk2RvM_18DXrHUN2Y_tCwfabNq5444Y-jDCBsj9v5awATqX3ESpprXRJHpqG3cTsZecHwr2MiKBKzCS6J_QSIT9BBMvc8PrtNwkV4C3Os_2WggHqbj6hZ2YxH2XntjuUMATii2dtwX9ixWZzIqbf6z5fPzCDC7PEyR/w400-h348/IMGP6983.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dana Wood had a career high 12 points for the Dinos this season.</td></tr></tbody></table>Skating in her final campaign with the Dinos, Wood is pumped
her final post-season run with the team is going to the Canada West semifinal
round.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I just have a craving for that really high level of competition
getting far into playoffs,” said Wood, who stands 5-foot-3. “Those are the
games you want to play in.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I got really used to playing in those games when I was
younger. It feels awesome to be back in that mindset. The excitement can’t be
beat.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Sunday, the Dinos and Huskies played through a fairly
even opening frame with the host side holding a 13-11 edge in shots on goal. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfakC_K6-2qyo19P1-w3USXLDqMYXKQ_i0HCXcbXmvmYD7wB3zEiFfg43JZRrsmU_sJaF0e2q-w_R_4HACWqdTYpSZJ59pm-rSFYvqBHCWOpk0N3w0R8jkwE83gProvn6CUd0ExsaRC0FIX0QYlU7Xg4HIxyUSozzv5NJTXLDFB_xSsO_ucjTx_rnvaJzh/s1990/IMGP6954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="1990" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfakC_K6-2qyo19P1-w3USXLDqMYXKQ_i0HCXcbXmvmYD7wB3zEiFfg43JZRrsmU_sJaF0e2q-w_R_4HACWqdTYpSZJ59pm-rSFYvqBHCWOpk0N3w0R8jkwE83gProvn6CUd0ExsaRC0FIX0QYlU7Xg4HIxyUSozzv5NJTXLDFB_xSsO_ucjTx_rnvaJzh/w400-h318/IMGP6954.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinos captain Dana Wood is an alumna of the Saskatoon Stars.</td></tr></tbody></table>A big early turning point came at the 13-minute mark of the
opening frame. Huskies centre Kate Ball destroyed Dinos centre Jolie Nafziger
with a big open ice hit in the centre ice zone. Ball was given a minor penalty for
interference.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Dinos struck near the end of the ensuing power play.
During a net scramble, a rebound came out to Dinos third-year right-winger
Josie McLeod at the right side of the U of S net. McLeod popped home the
power-play marker to give the visitors a 1-0 lead with Wood and rookie
left-winger Kyla Mitenko picking up helpers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 11:34 mark of the second, the Dinos got a key
insurance goal to go ahead 2-0. Dinos fifth-year star right-winger Elizabeth
Lang sprung Dinos veteran star left-winger Courtney Kollman on a breakaway. Kollman
ripped a shot past Huskies star fifth-year netminder Camryn Drever to give the
visitors a two-goal edge. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yEHL97uwyDGR3Ew0Cq9zZ0thZtkhrc0tGijOExk-CsHqkv8J_P0wjqVjLsjEVUEHvZKHJcS_GqGhax0kKba4P650P6IaCxYsLF2Kuim0fh-xrG3N8oT6WX3LohvIRz4-dBRwS7pSaADXM37CnWE181Datb6X_Y9cxmVZjaKVsZjFx_Riis26W7im-Tzt/s2505/IMGP6900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="2505" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yEHL97uwyDGR3Ew0Cq9zZ0thZtkhrc0tGijOExk-CsHqkv8J_P0wjqVjLsjEVUEHvZKHJcS_GqGhax0kKba4P650P6IaCxYsLF2Kuim0fh-xrG3N8oT6WX3LohvIRz4-dBRwS7pSaADXM37CnWE181Datb6X_Y9cxmVZjaKVsZjFx_Riis26W7im-Tzt/w400-h280/IMGP6900.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josie McLeod, right, celebrates scoring the Dinos first goal.</td></tr></tbody></table>Sophomore Dinos centre Sydney Mercier, who is another
Saskatoon product and Stars alumna, picked up a second assist on Kollman’s
tally.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wood said getting the first period power-play marker and the
breakaway tally in the second put her squad in a good spot for the rest of the
contest.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It (McLeod’s power-play goal) took a weight off our
shoulders,” said Wood. “When Court (Courtney Kollman) got her goal too, that
really sealed it in a little bit more. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That one goal lead is always just you are on the edge of
your seat. You don’t want to go to overtime in these games. It is like anybody’s
game, if that is the case. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlHmABEui8EGD9wgXxkJ-AWKzFNA8wUPsv3oGSRgnkRrv057J64_eXbLXEzXSjh9mmWB84Oeo8lQx5MEy8GEfh4QkIEJysaPc9IbDkpzjYbSrq7iMA5W65DKIY3Cjb_yfnOQvSzTIXON8AAQfUV6ocAxJc4nlHuu-73LJHcbSDjO_SaTxM4AqPm_WNWOg/s1996/IMGP6920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="1996" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlHmABEui8EGD9wgXxkJ-AWKzFNA8wUPsv3oGSRgnkRrv057J64_eXbLXEzXSjh9mmWB84Oeo8lQx5MEy8GEfh4QkIEJysaPc9IbDkpzjYbSrq7iMA5W65DKIY3Cjb_yfnOQvSzTIXON8AAQfUV6ocAxJc4nlHuu-73LJHcbSDjO_SaTxM4AqPm_WNWOg/w400-h369/IMGP6920.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtney Kollman scored for the Dinos in the second period.</td></tr></tbody></table>“That one goal lead is always a little sketchy. That
two-goal lead was just like a weight off the back.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies had some moments where they could have gotten
some traction near the end of the frame. With just over four minutes remaining
in the second, star fifth-year centre Kennedy Brown was denied with a drive
from the front of the Dinos goal by U of C star netminder Gabriella Durante. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inside the final minute of the second, Huskies third-year
defender Kendra Zuchotzki tried to feed a shot through a maze of players, but
the puck deflected off a player and went wide of the Dinos goal. In the final
seconds of the second, Zuchotzki was stoned by Durante on a mid-range drive.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOd3RVpLeCb8NmJZ5b8qTcQTSR3UWVB5ZxMHauv2q2hDawuLvc62wxGKP5xbb7ERdFNUgvT-J58TaDVpC77EqchOX1dg_Y4YFfBAvCaeWw6HbjBcZ6v4eVVkdvsPg6mpRsufG_yCC0BLhGBfXyqHt5ZpMGlynku4W4bEtNR8cRvqfhSebb13pURBe1HrK/s1897/IMGP7008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="1897" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOd3RVpLeCb8NmJZ5b8qTcQTSR3UWVB5ZxMHauv2q2hDawuLvc62wxGKP5xbb7ERdFNUgvT-J58TaDVpC77EqchOX1dg_Y4YFfBAvCaeWw6HbjBcZ6v4eVVkdvsPg6mpRsufG_yCC0BLhGBfXyqHt5ZpMGlynku4W4bEtNR8cRvqfhSebb13pURBe1HrK/w400-h348/IMGP7008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriella Durante stopped 31 shots to get the Dinos shutout win.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Huskies pressed to continue to get back in the contest
in the third holding a 10-7 edge in shots on goal for the frame. Wood was
pleased with how her squad was able shut things down defensively.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was just chaos a little bit,” said Wood. “It was just reckless
abandon throw your body in front of pucks kind of thing and do what needed to
be done.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Being on defence, you always have that mindset. Our forwards
really turned it around and were getting high and bearing down on pucks and
playing defensive-offence, which was really, really nice from a defensive
perspective. That was huge for us.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkztseWmqI6YjrQ0tsbNnoWt5-3IY_JqkZ5VYAQRzNCBobtkerRPoXcE2FmhK92QZ1L7irxzVVe9zOjw2nMUgxkvsPGjDiAC9XF3j1020MjauXV9ND7iXxz42PW5CgV2iAG0ssrTsbExoQKRPxNId_BlP93IM-jM7pPNtYITWUaWKd0XarjUZZk3USqJOE/s1992/IMGP6896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1751" data-original-width="1992" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkztseWmqI6YjrQ0tsbNnoWt5-3IY_JqkZ5VYAQRzNCBobtkerRPoXcE2FmhK92QZ1L7irxzVVe9zOjw2nMUgxkvsPGjDiAC9XF3j1020MjauXV9ND7iXxz42PW5CgV2iAG0ssrTsbExoQKRPxNId_BlP93IM-jM7pPNtYITWUaWKd0XarjUZZk3USqJOE/w400-h351/IMGP6896.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camryn Drever stopped 22 shots in goal for the Huskies on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Durante stopped 31 shots to pick up a second straight
shutout win in goal for the Dinos. Drever turned away 22 shots to take the
setback in goal for the Huskies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies finished fourth in the Canada West regular
season standings with a 19-7-1-1 record, while the Dinos were fifth in Canada
West with a 12-14-2 mark. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While eliminated from the Canada West Conference playoffs,
the Huskies will have a second post-season life. They will host the elite-eight
style U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship Tournament from March 14 to 17 at
Merlis.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for the Dinos, they turn their attention to the
Thunderbirds knowing they will be huge underdogs going into that series. The
Thunderbirds, who are rated second in the U Sports Top 10 Rankings, topped the
Canada West regular season standings with a 24-1-1-2 record and closed the
regular season with 13 straight wins.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“We are just fired up,” said Wood, who squad split their two
regular season games with the Thunderbirds. “That was all the conversation was
about in our room.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6CPYxsdsM6d3Dhg8ujLWpjnEO-Y4Y_cbfiFN6fnMhKm3qUr063NllEApCORyKaFdV_ckc-tj-6bwFP0rX6k7PWb9Z-tUPPhZUCGuP-0BqzQfK-PSQSZqut5WwdLEQqwiLj3h9UTWbNiduI-jNOfy3WKliS98Mhrwld7hF9EcyxdzyYxQa1n7wwoaXj6C/s2987/IMGP7018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2218" data-original-width="2987" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6CPYxsdsM6d3Dhg8ujLWpjnEO-Y4Y_cbfiFN6fnMhKm3qUr063NllEApCORyKaFdV_ckc-tj-6bwFP0rX6k7PWb9Z-tUPPhZUCGuP-0BqzQfK-PSQSZqut5WwdLEQqwiLj3h9UTWbNiduI-jNOfy3WKliS98Mhrwld7hF9EcyxdzyYxQa1n7wwoaXj6C/w400-h297/IMGP7018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dinos celebrate their series win over the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>“We had our celebration on the ice, but as soon as we got
back in the room, it was just about next weekend and getting in the right mindset
for that knowing that they are a really strong opponent. We have to bring it
exactly what we brought this weekend if not more. It is going to be a battle
here.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-66324728743528300592024-02-17T21:59:00.000-08:002024-02-18T02:02:21.949-08:00Golden Bears say “not so fast,” even series with Huskies 1-1<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Series deciding Game 3 of Can West quarter
Sunday at 6 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkphFbzW5QfjnnBnN66Ttp6HQPCYupHtp2J7Gt5Vtai6DHAKLWzLlWH6fxIQHs7luQrXgxdUXdpNVx5Tk8HsIw6Tw-PRfjFj-sbG5cZ08awr7Vu290_OVfSVA2rngA47R1jcgx_VidONPJUynmYI1d9EVxH-x4uKfBToZ6rUPGPqAy37KRvY4qh2CUw502/s2504/IMGP6860.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="2504" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkphFbzW5QfjnnBnN66Ttp6HQPCYupHtp2J7Gt5Vtai6DHAKLWzLlWH6fxIQHs7luQrXgxdUXdpNVx5Tk8HsIw6Tw-PRfjFj-sbG5cZ08awr7Vu290_OVfSVA2rngA47R1jcgx_VidONPJUynmYI1d9EVxH-x4uKfBToZ6rUPGPqAy37KRvY4qh2CUw502/w400-h329/IMGP6860.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U of A’s Adam Hall (#12) battles U of S’s Landon Kosior for the puck.</td></tr></tbody></table>The University of Alberta Golden Bears weren’t going to make
life easy for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.<p class="MsoNormal">Facing elimination from the U Sports post-season in a
best-of-three Canada West Conference men’s quarter-final playoff series, the
Golden Bears came out with a gutty effort on Saturday at the Huskies home rink in
Merlis Belsher Place. Trailing 2-1 after 20 minutes, Golden Bears third-year
forward Tyler Preziuso scored the equalizer on a power play at the 6:07 mark of
the second period to force a 2-2 tie.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Playing at even strength, Preziuso potted his second of the
night at the 8:08 mark of the third to put the visitors up for good by the game’s
final score of 3-2 to the disappointment of most of the 1,342 spectators in
attendance.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA_vVJu0rKqY1VbLKV-fZtKmOJO-tmWiI8ocJTDG94QBbo-cGnTLtWDAI7qVO00HsJ2IRaaAU-I8I8mmPyzsAOQ5We1LTHNy3vEzUE2DezkTsNXyW9G2XNrob8b0En_H9_sOJNnUtsaULwX-fRwB-ncQdXxP08XDcvjMyazyNRz3IIB7RUV1FpYtHAWOp/s2224/IMGP6847.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1966" data-original-width="2224" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA_vVJu0rKqY1VbLKV-fZtKmOJO-tmWiI8ocJTDG94QBbo-cGnTLtWDAI7qVO00HsJ2IRaaAU-I8I8mmPyzsAOQ5We1LTHNy3vEzUE2DezkTsNXyW9G2XNrob8b0En_H9_sOJNnUtsaULwX-fRwB-ncQdXxP08XDcvjMyazyNRz3IIB7RUV1FpYtHAWOp/w400-h354/IMGP6847.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connor McClennon had a goal for the Golden Bears on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The win allowed the Golden Bears to even the series at 1-1.
The Huskies and Golden Bears will now meet in a series-deciding Game 3 on
Sunday at 6 p.m. at Merlis. U of S took Game 1 of the series 4-2 on Friday at
Merlis.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In Game 2 on Saturday, the Huskies went ahead 1-0 scoring 78
seconds into the contest on a power-play tally from fourth-year forward Justin
Ball.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Just 62 seconds later, a pair of former members of the WHL’s
now defunct Winnipeg Ice franchise combined to pull the Golden Bears even with
the Huskies at 1-1. Second-year forward Jakin Smallwood set up rookie forward
Connor McClennon for the equalizer for the visitors.</p><p class="MsoNormal">At the 12:32 mark of the first, Huskies star third-year
forward Chantz Petruic scored with his team working on a two-man advantage to
give the host side a 2-1 lead.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdKZIAhl7VYHcPu-WmPJwPOEGWgRHHPqb6rH1La7dFbdmVnHBmGqRN-_bCtTnCkT9sa3lg_9W-BnzZy1ezbhRTgnITfH5OALd4vXx5MAe6s5UGoHxFpeAtyagOpQPbSVphabG6tFnOjmhCTCNp8TcgE2gmEcLRvkJaCob0BmBto92umuqOa3pDCH-hLow/s1965/IMGP6865.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1855" data-original-width="1965" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdKZIAhl7VYHcPu-WmPJwPOEGWgRHHPqb6rH1La7dFbdmVnHBmGqRN-_bCtTnCkT9sa3lg_9W-BnzZy1ezbhRTgnITfH5OALd4vXx5MAe6s5UGoHxFpeAtyagOpQPbSVphabG6tFnOjmhCTCNp8TcgE2gmEcLRvkJaCob0BmBto92umuqOa3pDCH-hLow/w400-h378/IMGP6865.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin Ball had a goal for the Huskies on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>That set the stage for Preziuso to come through with his equalizer
and winner.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Second-year netminder Ethan Kruger stopped 28 shots to pick
up the win in goal for the Golden Bears. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Third-year goalie Jordan Kooy stopped 15-of-16 shots playing
the first period in goal for the Huskies. He was pulled after the opening frame
due to illness. Roddy Ross played the rest of the way in relief turning away
17-of-19 shots to take the setback in goal for the Huskies.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies, who are rated eighth in the U Sports Top 10
Rankings, finished fourth in the Canada West regular season standings with a
20-6-1-1 record. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The Golden Bears placed fifth with an 18-8-2 mark.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The winner of the series between the Huskies and Golden
Bears will advance to face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a
best-of-three Canada West semifinal series. The Thunderbirds, who are rated
fifth in the U Sports Top 10 Rankings, topped the Canada West regular season
standings with a 22-4-1-1 mark.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c8fimLbXJdm01S18gffnx8dEAoMVxME9ZVXEZajYKWgG0FZ87wlsngtEVk2nxhWsTImfXa8aWsBy20lBfeiXepfefPW_y7Iltl6pZHsnZ886aMRldLea905na5VE7S_grzWA1xf6pGLYHL_LGvyabGLYno5zGB6wC5ZLK4A85ncTSfyZyYrlVDh3G13U/s2004/IMGP6876.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1880" data-original-width="2004" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c8fimLbXJdm01S18gffnx8dEAoMVxME9ZVXEZajYKWgG0FZ87wlsngtEVk2nxhWsTImfXa8aWsBy20lBfeiXepfefPW_y7Iltl6pZHsnZ886aMRldLea905na5VE7S_grzWA1xf6pGLYHL_LGvyabGLYno5zGB6wC5ZLK4A85ncTSfyZyYrlVDh3G13U/w400-h375/IMGP6876.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Golden Bears celebrate their win on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Mount Royal University Cougars, who are rated third in
the U Sports Top 10 rankings, swept the other Canada West quarter-final series
2-0 against the MacEwan University Griffins in Calgary. The Cougars took Game 1
of the series 4-1 on Friday and Game 2 of the set 6-4 on Saturday.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Cougars finished third in the Canada West regular season
with a 21-6-0-1 mark. The Griffins were sixth in the Canada West regular season
with a 9-17-0-2 record.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Mount Royal will face the defending Canada West champion U
of Calgary Dinos in a best-of-three conference semifinal series with the dates
and times of the contest still to be announced. The Dinos, who are rated sixth
in the U Sports Top 10 Rankings, placed second in the Canada West regular
season with a 21-5-1-1 mark.</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Huskies WHKY forced to go to series deciding
Game 3<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RIqqTynZMW8q4qxGcu4CFNZ8xkiRTBzgv4LW8YAOgX6kklp2Lq_XijVgGtYa5uuwDR4S0aF4ua8PhbAJrTlEkBDVDG5-lQhVhndFNrgCgjx3aN95n8VwPWxEhqz5-ypAAiYIyT5F1xLAqz5SIoCz6sLKTEGf4CBS1-KY_TmAUZ0PNS-z8xSX8RBSPaTR/s1311/Huskies%20WHKY%20Instagram%20playoff%20loss%20to%20Dinos%20on%20February%2017,%202024.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1311" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RIqqTynZMW8q4qxGcu4CFNZ8xkiRTBzgv4LW8YAOgX6kklp2Lq_XijVgGtYa5uuwDR4S0aF4ua8PhbAJrTlEkBDVDG5-lQhVhndFNrgCgjx3aN95n8VwPWxEhqz5-ypAAiYIyT5F1xLAqz5SIoCz6sLKTEGf4CBS1-KY_TmAUZ0PNS-z8xSX8RBSPaTR/w400-h263/Huskies%20WHKY%20Instagram%20playoff%20loss%20to%20Dinos%20on%20February%2017,%202024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Game 2 of a Canada West Conference women’s hockey series
between the U of Saskatchewan Huskies and the U of Calgary Dinos belonged to
the Saskatoon Stars.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday, a pair of alums of the Stars under-18 AAA
program accounted for both Dinos goals as they blanked the Huskies 2-0 before
424 spectators at Merlis Belsher Place to push the best-of-three quarter-final
set to a series deciding Game 3 in the U Sports post-season. Game 3 is set for
Sunday at 2 p.m. at Merlis. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies took Game 1 of the series 2-1 on Friday at
Merlis.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In Saturday’s clash, Sydney Mercier, who is a second year
Dinos forward and a Stars graduate, scored just 22 seconds into the contest to
give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Fifth-year forward Elizabeth Lang and third-year
forward Courtney Kollman picked up assists on Mercier’s tally.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With 3:55 remaining in the second, rookie Dinos
offensive-defender Brooklin Fry banged home a rebound in front of the U of S
net on the power play to give the visitors a 2-0 edge. Lang and Mercier, who is
from Saskatoon, picked up assists on that tally.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Fry played last season with the Stars, and the Shell Lake,
Sask., product skated for two seasons with the Prince Albert Northern Bears
under-18 AAA team from 2020 to 2022.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Dinos fourth-year netminder Gabriella Durante made 28 saves
to pick up the shutout win in goal. Huskies fifth-year star netminder Camryn
Drever turned away 14 shots to take the setback in net for the Huskies.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Dinos were 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Huskies
failed to score on four power-play opportunities.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies finished fourth in the Canada West regular season
standings with a 19-7-1-1 record, while the Dinos were fifth in Canada West
with a 12-14-2 mark. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The winner of their series advances to play the University
of British Columbia Thunderbirds, who are rated second in the U Sports Top 10
Rankings, in a best-of-three Canada West semifinal series in Vancouver. The
Thunderbirds, who are the defending Canada West champions, topped the Canada
West regular season standings with a 24-1-1-2 record and closed the regular
season with 13 straight wins.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Mount Royal University Cougars, who are the defending U
Sports champions, swept the U of Manitoba Bisons 2-0 in the other best-of-three
Canada West quarter-final series in Calgary. The Cougars took Game 1 on Friday
6-0 and closed out the series with a 5-1 win on Saturday.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Cougars, who are rated sixth in the U Sports Top 10
Rankings, finished third in Canada West with a 20-7-1 mark, while the Bisons
were sixth in the conference with a 10-17-1 record. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Mount Royal will face the storied U of Alberta Pandas in a
best-of-three Canada West semifinal series in Edmonton with the times of the
games still to be determined. The Pandas, who are rated fourth in the U Sports
Top 10 Rankings, finished second in Canada West with a 21-3-1-3 mark.</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Raiders pull out miraculous OT win in
Lethbridge<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eoAdBB-V1RqFWzGxtvg7u-rCXbt-1OM7iNYyJxC05HNcjVNt5jfn9uqgbXjETR7nB48CaqhwMAs8-UaH5xxPXRlklMHRR9VXiAPOqtY80MExsj5uBrpX1c_c_zMTFLyNpkqbB1jMz-BgcMw3AHTmMTHVO9Mdc-WP5mZosALNgS72-yHC7X1Nb5eaPb0P/s1833/IMGP6556.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1833" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eoAdBB-V1RqFWzGxtvg7u-rCXbt-1OM7iNYyJxC05HNcjVNt5jfn9uqgbXjETR7nB48CaqhwMAs8-UaH5xxPXRlklMHRR9VXiAPOqtY80MExsj5uBrpX1c_c_zMTFLyNpkqbB1jMz-BgcMw3AHTmMTHVO9Mdc-WP5mZosALNgS72-yHC7X1Nb5eaPb0P/w400-h326/IMGP6556.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloan Stanick scored the OT winner for the Raiders on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Prince Albert Raiders worked a miracle in Lethbridge.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Taking on the host Hurricanes in a WHL regular season
contest on Saturday night, the Raiders trailed 3-0 after 40 minutes of play
while being outshoot 24-11. They rallied scoring three goals in the third
including two tallies in the last minute of the frame and the winner 17 seconds
into overtime to pull out a 4-3 victory before 3,666 stunned spectators at the
Enmax Centre.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal
from 17-year-old left-winger Trae Wilke. The opening 20-minutes also feature a
fight between Raiders defenceman 18-year-old defenceman Terrell Goldsmith and
Hurricanes 20-year-old defenceman Joe Arntsen late in the frame.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In the second, the Hurricanes pushed their lead out to 3-0
on goals from breakout star 17-year-old right-winger Miguel Marques and rookie
17-year-old defenceman Kale Tipler. Tipler’s tally was his career WHL regular season
goal.</p><p class="MsoNormal">At the 8:46 mark of the third, Raiders 18-year-old rookie import
left-winger Krzysztof Macias potted his 19<sup>th</sup> goal of the season to
cut the Hurricanes lead to 3-1. Things proceeded to get really crazy from there.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With just under 41 seconds to play, Raiders
offensive-defenceman Justice Christensen fired a shot on Hurricanes netminder
Harrison Meneghin that got out from under the puck stopper and trickled over
the goal-line. Originally, there was no goal called on the play, but the
officials went to a video review and confirmed Christensen did indeed score to
trim the Hurricanes lead to 3-2.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Christensen’s ninth goal of the season would go down as a
short-handed marker. The Raiders had star netminder Max Hildebrand pulled for
an extra attacker.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After getting back to even strength with Hildebrand again
pulled for an extra attacker, Hurricanes centre Sean Tschigerl fanned on a
clearing attempt that would have sealed victory for the hosts. The puck went to
Raiders overage centre Turner McMillen who buried the equalizer that tied the
contest up at 3-3 with 4.8 seconds remaining in the frame.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Just 17 seconds into overtime, Raiders star 20-year-old
winger Sloan Stanick blew home his 24<sup>th</sup> goal of the season from the
front of the Lethbridge net to deliver the visitors to a 4-3 victory.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hildebrand stopped 29 shots to pick up the win in goal for
the Raiders. Meneghin turned away 22 shots to take the extra time setback in
net for the Hurricanes.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders improved to 26-25-1-3 having won their last
three straight games. They sit seventh in the WHL’s Eastern Conference three
standings points ahead of both the Hurricanes and the Calgary Hitmen.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hurricanes record moved to 24-24-5 and they are tied
with the Hitmen (23-23-6-1) for the eighth and ninth positions in the Eastern
Conference standings. The Hurricanes and Hitmen each have two games in hand on
the Raiders.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Lethbridge gets back at it on Monday traveling to Red Deer
to take on the 28-19-2-6 Rebels (2 p.m. local time, Peavey Mart Centrium).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders return home to host the Brandon Wheat Kings on
Thursday (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre). The “Hockey Town North” crew will played
nine out of their last 13 regular season games at home.</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Minten’s OT winner gives Blades 10<sup>th</sup>
straight win<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClg3KqDDteDKLqZwu4Boj0lO9vtAaw9l0ot5DqLxMmsJXdZr7kmnRTUnSOHWJfh7gMxNWrSmSD1Sng0YovobwV6pLsBq9mUwFrIo_DzUg76p82xNCERcA_il6wFBmoy_vc9_NKyGB4weWXVxA07sUP4VwoDvdHpmatZc0qKnkdzahtD5-f-Ik6AUFBNPh/s2005/IMGP4682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1853" data-original-width="2005" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClg3KqDDteDKLqZwu4Boj0lO9vtAaw9l0ot5DqLxMmsJXdZr7kmnRTUnSOHWJfh7gMxNWrSmSD1Sng0YovobwV6pLsBq9mUwFrIo_DzUg76p82xNCERcA_il6wFBmoy_vc9_NKyGB4weWXVxA07sUP4VwoDvdHpmatZc0qKnkdzahtD5-f-Ik6AUFBNPh/w400-h370/IMGP4682.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraser Minten had the OT winner for the Blades on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Fraser Minten might be developing a habit of coming through
for the Saskatoon Blades in overtime.</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday in Medicine Hat, the Blades went into overtime
locked in a 3-3 tie in a WHL regular season contest with the host Tigers at
Co-op Place. Just 68 seconds into the extra session, the Blades had the puck in
the Medicine Hat zone on a two-on-one break.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Blades star 19-year-old left-winger Brandon Lisowsky had the
puck coming down the left wing. He passed the puck across the front of the
Medicine Hat net to Minten coming down the right wing. Minten measured up his
scoring chance and blew home a goal to the top right corner of the Medicine Hat
net to deliver the Blades to a 4-3 victory to the disappointment to most of the
3,626 spectators in attendance.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The overtime tally was second such goal for Minten on the
season and also his second goal on Saturday to go with a plus-three rating in
the plus-minus department. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades, who are rated first in the CHL Top 10 Rankings,
now have victories in their last 10 straight games improving their WHL leading record
to 41-9-2-3. The Tigers continue to lead the WHL’s Central Division as their
record moved to 32-17-4-2.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period of
Saturday’s clash. The markers came from 18-year-old left-winger Hunter St.
Martin scoring his 20<sup>th</sup> goal of the campaign and centre Shane Smith,
who turned 19-years-old in January, potting his 27<sup>th</sup> goal of the
season with the Tigers working on the power play.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Smith’s power-play goal came with Blades captain Trevor Wong
serving a double minor for high-sticking. Wong’s infraction will be
automatically reviewed by the WHL office for a possible suspension.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With 4:08 remaining in the first, Lisowsky netted his 31<sup>st</sup>
of the season to give the Blades a big traction tally cutting the Tigers lead
to 2-1. Lisowsky potted his second of the contest and 32<sup>nd</sup> of the
season with 5.8 seconds remaining in the second to even the score at 2-2.</p><p class="MsoNormal">At the 4:57 mark of the third, Minten netted his first of
the contest to give the Blades a 3-2 lead. Tigers sophomore 17-year-old centre
Tomas Mrsic scored for the host side with 7:32 remaining in the third to even
the score at 3-3.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That set the stage for Minten to become the hero for the
visitors in overtime scoring the winning goal.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Blades star netminder Austin Elliott stopped 20 shots to
pick up the win in goal. Tigers 17-year-old rookie netminder Ethan McCallum
turned away 20 shots to take the extra time setback in net.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Wong picked up a pair of assists in the win.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades return to action on Monday when they travel to
Brandon to take on the 27-21-5-1 Wheat Kings (2 p.m. local time, Westoba
Place).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Tigers also return to action on Monday when they travel to
Edmonton to face the 18-32-2-1 Oil Kings (2 p.m. local time, Rogers Place).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i>stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-16947686354240018482024-02-10T21:56:00.000-08:002024-03-12T00:03:08.037-07:00Raiders wipe out Wheaties 7-3<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56NmDyDMuxFw8gL5AvWheCu24xGMblp5AH98k83sXwciTRzsg9JDxeu6GRvqnhMPwQKc_9SZu4YrcNoPpHHHzmHcuL_s93FYW99IX7t7VMHnPoT-OVkJImxmmrVuAVLPBTDBUFjbJBC_o8CFXSqQR5KK-XipehXq0ynot5uwPUOqfoRRB-p5wL6ebD6N8/s2002/IMGP0043.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="2002" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56NmDyDMuxFw8gL5AvWheCu24xGMblp5AH98k83sXwciTRzsg9JDxeu6GRvqnhMPwQKc_9SZu4YrcNoPpHHHzmHcuL_s93FYW99IX7t7VMHnPoT-OVkJImxmmrVuAVLPBTDBUFjbJBC_o8CFXSqQR5KK-XipehXq0ynot5uwPUOqfoRRB-p5wL6ebD6N8/w400-h344/IMGP0043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloan Stanick had a pair of goals and an assist for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Prince Albert Raiders are heating up at home.<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday, the Raiders thumped the Brandon Wheat Kings 7-3
in a WHL regular season clash to the delight of 2,428 spectators at the team’s
storied home rink in the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders have now won six
straight games at home.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With Saturday’s win, the Raiders improve to 24-25-1-3 and
vault to seventh in the WHL’s Eastern Conference standings. Prince Albert sits
one standings point ahead of the Lethbridge Hurricanes (24-23-3) and the
Calgary Hitmen (22-21-6-1) who are tied for the eighth and ninth positions in
the conference standings. The Hurricanes and Hitmen both have three games in
hand on the Raiders.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saturday’s clash between the Raiders and Wheat kings started
out as a bit of a back-and-forth affair. Centre Nolan Flamand scored 10 seconds
into the contest for the Wheat Kings to give the visitors a 1-0 edge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The lead didn’t last long as Raiders 20-year-old
right-winger Sloan Stanick scored at the 3:57 mark of the first to even the
score a 1-1. Wheat Kings star 20-year-old left-winger Brett Hyland tallied on
the power play at the 6:35 mark of the opening frame to put the visitors back
out in front 2-1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Raiders import left-winger Krzysztof Macias scored to force
a 2-2 tie at the 8:30 mark of the third. Following Macias’s tally, Raiders rookie
right-winger Oli Chenier, who turned 17-years-old in late January, potted his
10<sup>th</sup> goal of the campaign with his squad working on the power play
to put the hosts up 3-2.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 8:29 mark of the second, Raiders 19-year-old
right-winger Niall Crocker scored short-handed to push Prince Albert’s lead out
to 4-2. With 69 seconds remaining in the second, Wheat Kings import centre
Dominik Petr tallied to cut the Raiders lead to 4-3.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders proceeded to pull away from there in the third. Macias,
Crocker and Stanick all netted their respective second goals of the contest to
round out the 7-3 final score in the Raiders favour. Macias, Crocker and
Stanick all finished with three point nights each collecting two goals and one
assist.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Max Hildebrand stopped 21 shots to pick up the win in goal
for the Raiders. Ethan Eskit turned away 38 shots to take the setback in goal
for the Wheat Kings, who fell to 26-20-5-1.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders were still without star 17-year-old right-winger
Ryder Ritchie. Back on December 15, 2023, Ritchie was on the receiving end of a
knee-on-knee hit from Kelowna Rockets 19-year-old left-winger Max Graham in a
4-3 setback to the Rockets at the Art Hauser Centre. Ritchie is listed as being
out week to week.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders were also without 16-year-old rookie centre Luke
Moroz on Saturday. Moroz went down at the 8:21 mark of the third period of a
6-1 loss on Friday to the Blades in Saskatoon after being on the receiving end
of a cross check from Blades captain Trevor Wong. Wong received a minor
infraction on the play.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders are now off until this coming Friday when they
travel to Medicine Hat to face the Tigers (7 p.m. local time, Co-op Place).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Wheat Kings get back at it this coming Thursday when
they travel to Moose Jaw to face the Warriors (7 p.m., Moose Jaw Events
Centre).</p>
<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Hansen lifts Blades to eighth straight win<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PXpSN3tHjuDNtr_rKyt6WQqXRaEYyy9r9LO7Dh4VPfsYHwvCTePnu2ti_3Xmn4FqnmIw11DM-gdGYlP7AQbGtOQW9QR5YBJwszn-6zoV-M3qr-NdnV2U6ArKLDxWFNfbbPAbD_W6DRW6LOUTGuXB02ieQuaX5vS5zxlXd91VhxBjzm_FCcNqu6QrWdaj/s1380/IMGP1875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1328" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PXpSN3tHjuDNtr_rKyt6WQqXRaEYyy9r9LO7Dh4VPfsYHwvCTePnu2ti_3Xmn4FqnmIw11DM-gdGYlP7AQbGtOQW9QR5YBJwszn-6zoV-M3qr-NdnV2U6ArKLDxWFNfbbPAbD_W6DRW6LOUTGuXB02ieQuaX5vS5zxlXd91VhxBjzm_FCcNqu6QrWdaj/w385-h400/IMGP1875.JPG" width="385" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egor Sidorov scored the Blades first goal on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Defensive centre Lukas Hansen put on the hero’s cape to
deliver the Saskatoon Blades to an eighth straight win.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday playing in front of 2,610 spectators at the
InnovationPlex in Swift Current, the Blades found themselves locked in a 2-2
tie against the host Broncos going into the final 10 minutes of the third
period. At the 11:28 mark of the third, Hansen scored his 11<sup>th</sup> goal
of the season that ultimately delivered the Blades to a 3-2 victory. The tally
was Hansen’s fourth winner of the season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the final seconds of the third, Hansen came up with a big
shot block to help preserve the win for the visitors. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The eighth straight win allowed the Blades to improve their
WHL leading record to 39-9-2-3. They also officially locked up a berth in the WHL
Playoffs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saskatoon took a 1-0 lead over Swift Current in Saturday’s
clash with a first period power-play goal from star import right-winger Egor
Sidorov. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 5:20 mark of the second, Blades star overage centre
Easton Armstrong was given a major penalty for goaltender interference and a
game misconduct. That infraction will be automatically reviewed by the WHL
office for a possible suspension. The Broncos were unable to score on that five-minute
power play.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The hosts would even the score at 1-1 in the second with a
tally from 18-year-old left-winger Brady Birnie.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 3:26 mark of the third, Blades star 19-year-old
left-winger Brandon Lisowsky netted his 30<sup>th</sup> goal of the season to
put the Blades up 2-1. Lisowsky has now scored 30-or-more goals in three
straight seasons for the Blades.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Broncos sophomore left-winger Clarke Caswell evened the
score a short time later scoring at the 5:01 mark of the third to force a 2-2
tie. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That set the stage for Hansen to deliver his heroics to
close out the contest.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Austin Elliott stopped 24 shots to pick up the win in goal
for the Blades. Joey Rocha turned away 24 shots to take the setback in net for
the Broncos, who fell to 26-19-4-2.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blades captain Trevor Wong finished the contest with a pair
of assists.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Blades return to action this coming Friday when they
travel to Lethbridge to face the Hurricanes (7 p.m. local time, Enmax Centre). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Broncos get back at it on Wednesday when they host the
Hurricanes (7 p.m., InnovationPlex).</p>
<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Clark, Shirley have sweet homecoming, other
notes<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5BpMeI5hEEHZu0gwGNX6a_vwm3aVdYghJZFNikacojPMgQ-XQ-eN6iESN_nqJBnGWrhofHREdyRJL8AF77AAMdHSeoyc2gWdv3mRqGmXzSPzYoMrGw0WFneBm6kBTvcJmYtaF9nd-mCJACNdbrI6VFZ58mqL-rJ6LnS1uyoOhqc3r8uWPxFvXONR5fFT/s2491/20190812_184541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="1875" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5BpMeI5hEEHZu0gwGNX6a_vwm3aVdYghJZFNikacojPMgQ-XQ-eN6iESN_nqJBnGWrhofHREdyRJL8AF77AAMdHSeoyc2gWdv3mRqGmXzSPzYoMrGw0WFneBm6kBTvcJmYtaF9nd-mCJACNdbrI6VFZ58mqL-rJ6LnS1uyoOhqc3r8uWPxFvXONR5fFT/w301-h400/20190812_184541.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Emily Clark hockey card.</td></tr></tbody></table>Emily Clark and Sophie Shirley got the hometown salutes they
so rightly deserved.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Wednesday, the two skilled forwards dressed for Canada’s
National Women’s Hockey team in Game 5 of their Rivalry Series against the
United States at the SaskTel Centre in their hometown of Saskatoon. A total of
7,576 spectators came out to see the local products wearing Team Canada colours
on home ice for the first time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clark, who is 28-years-old, has been a veteran with Canada’s
senior national team dating back to the 4 Nations Cup in 2014. Shirley, who is
24-years-old, was called up to Canada’s roster just before the start of Game 5.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While they weren’t able to hit the scoreboard in Canada’s
4-2 win on Wednesday, both players had their highlight moments. Clark had a really
energetic game that included getting stopped on a first period breakaway.
Shirley showed her still getting a good scoring chance off a half toe-drag snapshot.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The win allowed Canada to cut the United States lead in the
best-of-seven series to 3-2.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the final seconds of the victory on Wednesday ticked
away, Team Canada head coach Troy Ryan ensured both Clark and Shirley were on
the ice at the same time to be saluted by their hometown crowd.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It blew my expectations out of the water,” said Clark after
Wednesday’s game. “I was feeling the love, our team was feeling the love, and I’m
so proud of our group for getting that win for the crowd.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We showed a lot of character, and this time last year, we
had our backs against the wall. We’re just taking it one game at a time. I’m
proud of our team and so happy the series is still going.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I had about 15 to 20 family in the crowd, and it was a
super cool experience for me,” said Shirley on Wednesday. “I know I was called
in late, but I just wanted to do my best every time I was out there.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was probably in my very first shift, as soon as I got
out there, with the atmosphere and being at home with family made it even more
exciting for me.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Canada trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes on Wednesday before
rallying for the 4-2 victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brianne Jenner, Ashton Bell, Renata Fast and Laura Stacey
netted singles for Canada. Hayley Scamurra and Gabbie Hughes replied with
singles for the United States.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ann-Renee Desbiens stopped 14 shots to pick up the win in
goal for Canada. Nicole Hensley turned away 24-of-27 shots to take the setback
in goal for the United States.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The hometown treatment for Clark and Shirley turned into
warm home province treatment for Game 6 of the series on Friday night at the Brandt
Centre in Regina. After playing through a scoreless opening 40 minutes, Canada
exploded for three goals in the third to post a 3-0 victory and even the series
3-3.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clark had Canada’s second goal in the third-period surge.
Natalie Spooner had Canada’s first goal, and Sarah Nurse has the third goal for
the host country.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 27 shots to pick up the shutout
win for Canada. Maschmeyer now has 11 career shutouts playing for Canada. Aerin
Frankel turned away 19 shots to take the setback in goal for the United States.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fast played in her 100 career international game for Canada
on Friday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At game’s end Clark and Shirley took a victory lap in front
of the Regina crowd.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Canada was down 3-0 in the Rivalry Series before rallying
back for three wins. Game 7 is set for Sunday in St. Paul, Minn., (1 p.m. Saskatchewan
Time, TSN4).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last season, Canada trailed the Rivalry Series 3-0 before
rallying back with four straight wins to take the set.</p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">On Saturday in Medicine
Hat, the host Tigers trailed the Red Deer Rebels 4-1 after 40 minutes in a
WHL regular season encounter. The Tigers roared back with three straight
goals in the third and 20-year-old import defenceman Bogdans Hodass scored
with 19.8 seconds remaining in overtime to give the hosts a wild 5-4
victory.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">Medicine Hat News sports
reporter James Tubb laid out a compelling case for why the City of
Medicine Hat and the Medicine Hat Tigers should bid for the 2026 Memorial
Cup, which is the CHL’s annual championship tournament. That piece can be
found by clicking <a href="https://medicinehatnews.com/sports/local-sports/2024/01/05/soakin-in-the-tubb-a-window-is-open-medicine-hat-must-bid-for-2026-mem-cup/" target="_blank">right here</a>.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">On Saturday in Kelowna,
centre Emmitt Finnie scored four times for the visiting Kamloops Blazers as
they dumped the host Rockets 7-3. The Rockets led the contest 2-1 after
the first period. The Blazers scored three goals in the second to go up
4-2 and roll from there.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">On Saturday in Prince
George, 20-year-old right-winger Zac Funk scored a hat trick for the host
Cougars as they outlasted the visiting Victoria Royals 9-6. Funk leads the
WHL with 49 goals so far this season.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">On Friday, I had new
content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe
Sports Complex. I put together a story on the sport of cricket in
Saskatoon and the growth that sport is seeing in “The Bridge City.”
Officials with Cricket Saskatoon said new facilities are needed for
cricket in Saskatoon to handle the surging interest in the sport. That
piece can be found by clicking <a href="https://howehappenings306.blogspot.com/2024/02/cricket-on-cusp-of-boom-in-saskatoon.html" target="_blank">right here</a>. I also put together a photo
roundup that is highlighted by a visit from members of the Toronto Blue
Jays to the Indoor Training Centre along with various winter happenings. That
post can be found by clicking <a href="https://howehappenings306.blogspot.com/2024/02/blue-jays-visit-highlights-photo-roundup.html" target="_blank">right here.</a></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
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DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><br /></div>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-66778579004798913522024-02-09T21:59:00.000-08:002024-02-10T17:39:13.360-08:00Blades dominant at home, improve to 23-1-1 at SaskTel<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqSyr-zyZLMeOsHHvLlmik0m4JNVB7MLFvJkq6pGqwWh0c1as-R4c4MAo8inp7iaG4v2zNga1Pv7U2snpcPByXoW1HqdiZSkfllHzRssv8roowlqajeYWgvbMw-I6kGLyg2vk2-un36MT7DM3Rj_YEtduiqRYMAA9XfH7ROvG_ToYKQoUhdfVB7iJn-Qk/s1988/IMGP6499.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="1988" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqSyr-zyZLMeOsHHvLlmik0m4JNVB7MLFvJkq6pGqwWh0c1as-R4c4MAo8inp7iaG4v2zNga1Pv7U2snpcPByXoW1HqdiZSkfllHzRssv8roowlqajeYWgvbMw-I6kGLyg2vk2-un36MT7DM3Rj_YEtduiqRYMAA9XfH7ROvG_ToYKQoUhdfVB7iJn-Qk/w400-h346/IMGP6499.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rowan Calvert (#23) celebrates his second period goal on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Saskatoon Blades have replaced Disneyland making the
SaskTel Centre the greatest place on Earth for their fans.<p class="MsoNormal">In the current 2023-24 WHL campaign, opposing teams have to
hang on tight when they visit the SaskTel Centre and hope they can stay close
to the host Blades. As the Blades have jetted to the top of the WHL standings,
they have done so by posting an almost near perfect record at home.</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Friday playing before 5,058 spectators on home ice, the
Blades dumped their archrivals the Prince Albert Raiders 6-1. The two clubs
were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes before the Blades pulled away taking a 3-1 edge
into the second intermission and pouring in the final three tallies of the
contest in the third.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNE-aPzEygwSlL7gbH9eZhHt9bBJhOMEVsyZOEitW3u280oKi8buBZHaTYEi71Rl3QDFKgnX7QY_iULHSJj-Q5uhBw4jjiEQU_vcs5L0tDFooPHexQL7yUBLUj4gTIK2cliqIuPs5Uon0_GqOY1YIjSdyZX6pQb4qFv34Lf72hz0GxPv0i8ODQNpUnRDZ/s1992/IMGP6518.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1992" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNE-aPzEygwSlL7gbH9eZhHt9bBJhOMEVsyZOEitW3u280oKi8buBZHaTYEi71Rl3QDFKgnX7QY_iULHSJj-Q5uhBw4jjiEQU_vcs5L0tDFooPHexQL7yUBLUj4gTIK2cliqIuPs5Uon0_GqOY1YIjSdyZX6pQb4qFv34Lf72hz0GxPv0i8ODQNpUnRDZ/w400-h279/IMGP6518.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraser Minten had one goal and two assists for the Blades.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Blades improved their WHL leading record to 38-9-2-3 and
have gone an impressive 23-1-1 at the SaskTel Centre. Friday’s win concluded a
seven game home stand for the Blades, and they claimed victory in all seven of
those contests in building their current seven-game overall winning streak.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“The Bridge City Bunch” have won their last 12 straight
games at home. The Blades last home loss came back on December 16, 2023, when
they dropped a 5-4 decision in overtime to the Kelowna Rockets.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Saskatoon’s record has been solid on the road too. The
Blades, who are rated first in the CHL Top 10 Rankings, are 15-8-1-3 away from
the SaskTel Centre. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqfZ2lIKMjXsyoDHMqO7I0f8U8VEoKHQoOLIZkZVljMFEm7j1bElDDVL36P12T5V93NqaG0b6j0ovfWeI71t3bTOdbh4t_K__yOxCSINu-gkkO7hPgUlV_BHSmOuAMiMP_dCz1DbJhbhP8z2UkLZEBC78Nx08F0ncOdcHMH4EfNHLtkqwFjKKNrGRHoDc/s3010/IMGP6515.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="3010" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqfZ2lIKMjXsyoDHMqO7I0f8U8VEoKHQoOLIZkZVljMFEm7j1bElDDVL36P12T5V93NqaG0b6j0ovfWeI71t3bTOdbh4t_K__yOxCSINu-gkkO7hPgUlV_BHSmOuAMiMP_dCz1DbJhbhP8z2UkLZEBC78Nx08F0ncOdcHMH4EfNHLtkqwFjKKNrGRHoDc/w400-h297/IMGP6515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raiders goalie Max Hildebrand sprawls to make a save.</td></tr></tbody></table>With the dominance at home and leading the WHL overall
standings, one could be forgiven if you didn’t realize the Blades moved within two standings points of clinching a berth in the WHL Playoffs with their win on Friday.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Once upon a time, the notion of the Blades having a home ice
advantage was passed off. In most seasons, the Blades average around 4,500 at
the SaskTel Centre, which has an NHL sized capacity. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The maximum attendance the Blades can hold at home is
14,768. They achieved that attendance between the regular season and playoffs
last season on three occasions, when they hosted phenom centre Connor Bedard
and the Regina Pats.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUG3nMZKB_tivFIGobRsA16Hx-wJRIM6ukclixOIxkmTavGszYXBTk4Or0Zr7tZ5PvsNG8migy41pOK5Ijpp-4ACWpy8ATwySgI1NbkIZGb3yqAToqP7srABIsbVNn9cnrmXEcGOEv2RfT9LQR9SjrZdv_V4ADrALKX_s3V9M8r4_vPTPrDevQFVXgH7zL/s1918/IMGP6492.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="1918" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUG3nMZKB_tivFIGobRsA16Hx-wJRIM6ukclixOIxkmTavGszYXBTk4Or0Zr7tZ5PvsNG8migy41pOK5Ijpp-4ACWpy8ATwySgI1NbkIZGb3yqAToqP7srABIsbVNn9cnrmXEcGOEv2RfT9LQR9SjrZdv_V4ADrALKX_s3V9M8r4_vPTPrDevQFVXgH7zL/w400-h368/IMGP6492.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexander Suzdalev set up the Blades winning goal.</td></tr></tbody></table>The SaskTel Centre doesn’t have the intimidation factor like
the small centre Saskatchewan rinks do in the Art Hauser Centre, which is home
to the Raiders, or the InnovationPlex, which is home to the Swift Current
Broncos. In both those rinks, it feels like the crowd is on top of you.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As far as the mid-sized Alberta centres go, it feels like
the fans are a force for the Hurricanes at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge, and
aura of the Sutter family gives the Red Deer Rebels an edge in the Peavey Mart
Centrium. Co-op Place in Medicine Hat can be a tough building to play in when a
full house backs the Tigers, but it still doesn’t feel like it gives the edge
the Tigers had in their old historic storied for their first 45 seasons in The
Arena.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOpgNbnWIIYe566CqL1Ip8qjPLsnxjmZJMVIL4teiFpJBot02T0ianzzc0OJmvh6ZCyF-wQvcU0Z1Uu1YDU556dD5b0VGHQSTsy0wb4IMBM46hkv1P_PW96xo_yBK5abDqeH0YPI-It9GAGtPWzdD8b88sDncmuA028mlZl0JLE1_dO1r1n1-Vw7nk0b0/s1992/IMGP6469.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="1992" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOpgNbnWIIYe566CqL1Ip8qjPLsnxjmZJMVIL4teiFpJBot02T0ianzzc0OJmvh6ZCyF-wQvcU0Z1Uu1YDU556dD5b0VGHQSTsy0wb4IMBM46hkv1P_PW96xo_yBK5abDqeH0YPI-It9GAGtPWzdD8b88sDncmuA028mlZl0JLE1_dO1r1n1-Vw7nk0b0/w400-h333/IMGP6469.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rowan Calvert scored the winning goal for the Blades on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>When you go play any of the squads in the WHL’s U.S.
Division, that fans in those rinks go for decibel levels banging on the glass
and getting as close to the ice surface as possible. The five rows nearest to
the ice surface are prime seats in arenas in U.S. Division buildings.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades are averaging 4,917 spectators per game over
their first 25 home days this season, which is the fourth best average home
attendance in the WHL. The Blades have been great at attracting the young fans
of child age that drag their parents along to games.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The youngsters create an excited youthful energy in the
Blades home rink, which has been really positive for the team. Parents in
Saskatoon are learning that if you bring your children to a Blades game it will
be a great night out. It also helps the Blades win seemingly every night out
too.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NCVrP_l11F56xlwPIQPtuE5A7d72THoOximOYqn9Bqq8DuYZIfPNVzjDanl4wd1pU37roD29lfXxaJv_GocOsmQabpEV-oAwma2D0LU3SqPEuGUpJnrDksvjRTXY6RupYZSj0NKtqM7FPLtVb8WINYDKdY7kO1wCO9K4mlkosLTtUc4XJtKYxm366Ptt/s2003/IMGP6533.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1838" data-original-width="2003" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NCVrP_l11F56xlwPIQPtuE5A7d72THoOximOYqn9Bqq8DuYZIfPNVzjDanl4wd1pU37roD29lfXxaJv_GocOsmQabpEV-oAwma2D0LU3SqPEuGUpJnrDksvjRTXY6RupYZSj0NKtqM7FPLtVb8WINYDKdY7kO1wCO9K4mlkosLTtUc4XJtKYxm366Ptt/w400-h368/IMGP6533.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turner McMillen (#27) scored short-handed for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Blades ensured
there was a lot to cheer about on Friday night, and they started scoring just
91 seconds into the contest on their first power-play chance. Star
offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk fired a shot through a screen to put the
hosts up 1-0.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Later on in the frame, Blades import star right-winger
Alexander Suzdalev tried to make all the highlight reels scoring on a Michigan
shot, but he was turned away by Raiders star netminder Max Hildebrand.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With 1:26 remaining in the opening frame, the Raiders got a
big traction moment while on the penalty kill. The visitors sprung overage
centre Turner McMillen, who turned 21-years-old in late January, on a
breakaway. On the short-handed breakaway, McMillen went forehand to backhand
and put his sixth of the season past Blades netminder Evan Gardner to even the
score at 1-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb91b_WzKcjnhEqJYkn89GYvuhoFHpZELEXYwBxOTccz3Yui2IwzyhyTPr1Yx7v3Yrw54KogPQbuZPNPWnNIJzISC8kHescmWEUjO93ZRJrUWyAu-aiTJhG0GNKe11vkilQf5J3YX9dUhN8hr6C8JA5sprRYT22EKjwbTslyquc8c1-RANXAGKnRRAfQnk/s1962/IMGP6477.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1669" data-original-width="1962" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb91b_WzKcjnhEqJYkn89GYvuhoFHpZELEXYwBxOTccz3Yui2IwzyhyTPr1Yx7v3Yrw54KogPQbuZPNPWnNIJzISC8kHescmWEUjO93ZRJrUWyAu-aiTJhG0GNKe11vkilQf5J3YX9dUhN8hr6C8JA5sprRYT22EKjwbTslyquc8c1-RANXAGKnRRAfQnk/w400-h340/IMGP6477.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanner Molendyk had a goal and an assist for the Blades.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Blades retook the lead working on another power play at
the 3:20 mark of the second. Suzdalev had the puck inside the right faceoff
circle. He put a shot pass in the direction of linemate Rowan Calvert in front
of the Prince Albert net, and Calvert deflected home his ninth goal of the
season to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Following that tally, Blades star 19-year-old centre Fraser
Minten proceeded to show why he is one of the WHL’s elite players. With 5:40
remaining in the second, Minten drove hard down the left wing on a rush, blew
by a Raiders defenceman and put a backhand shot past Raiders netminder Max
Hildebrand to push the Saskatoon lead out to 3-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt4QewQEb0eb1nxpVkCoz3jaQKO9VaxQ5RG0th3NLJGqiaUmxao0xT7HKqzBfEg_K0u5DMsreza0TNcu_7zIC6jE10-2sPCr574V0L__hUkd1eK7G_1kFTk3Fk8qvZFHZhi6YVftg4aAgiLz6_93juh16Iz7k85a4fQY-PxQ1VkZNxgqT77EXpixl4qTN/s2005/IMGP6561.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1992" data-original-width="2005" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt4QewQEb0eb1nxpVkCoz3jaQKO9VaxQ5RG0th3NLJGqiaUmxao0xT7HKqzBfEg_K0u5DMsreza0TNcu_7zIC6jE10-2sPCr574V0L__hUkd1eK7G_1kFTk3Fk8qvZFHZhi6YVftg4aAgiLz6_93juh16Iz7k85a4fQY-PxQ1VkZNxgqT77EXpixl4qTN/w400-h398/IMGP6561.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blades enjoy a short-handed goal from Tyler Parr (#20).</td></tr></tbody></table>In the third, the Blades sealed victory scoring a
backbreaking short-handed goal off a two-on-rush at the 10:04 mark of the
frame. On the rush, Minten burst into the Prince Albert zone down the left
wing. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He fed a pass across the front of the Raiders net to winger
Tyler Parr, who jetted into the offensive zone down the right wing. Parr made
no mistake in burying his 10<sup>th</sup> of the season to give the Blades a
4-1 lead. Just 55 seconds later, left-winger Rhett Melnyk scored for the Blades,
and Misha Volotovskii followed with a single for the hosts to round out the
game’s scoring.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hildebrand turned away 31 shots to take the setback in net
for the Raiders. Gardner stopped 19 shots to pick up the win in goal for the
Blades.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjbfWA8dtVrKEhnpuxJor4JvQWmBAXlUdep36SasB05On5WTjYYGnyaDLgOhNdto5UlY6U0xZlj5KdTqdEU1wmougsGY-IqRsi7XS1WtWVUPQctrg86jhqOn0QJ3OMAJtO9jebn22WPe35xmCinMsPZGSgUv9aXvmTxW_WM-0b8auA-ewpySpHCX1kjAE/s2006/IMGP6532.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2006" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjbfWA8dtVrKEhnpuxJor4JvQWmBAXlUdep36SasB05On5WTjYYGnyaDLgOhNdto5UlY6U0xZlj5KdTqdEU1wmougsGY-IqRsi7XS1WtWVUPQctrg86jhqOn0QJ3OMAJtO9jebn22WPe35xmCinMsPZGSgUv9aXvmTxW_WM-0b8auA-ewpySpHCX1kjAE/w400-h334/IMGP6532.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhett Melnyk scored for the Blades on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Minten finished with a three-point night coming off one goal
and two assists to go with a plus-two rating in the plus-minus department.
Molendyk and Calvert each finished with a goal and an assist.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders fell to 23-25-1-3 with the setback to sit ninth
in the Eastern Conference they are one standings point back of the Hurricanes
and the Calgary Hitmen from moving into a playoff position. The Hurricanes sit
seventh in the conference with a 24-23-3 mark, while the Hitmen are eighth in
the conference with a 22-20-6-1 record.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Last season, the Blades posted a 25-6-3 record at home, and
the odds are high they will surpass that win total. Due to the fact they will
play 34 regular season games at home, they won’t get to the WHL record for most
wins at home during the regular season.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklKsD9HhKWzbP5KhogMBIzJNXBQYmhzTFARPZ3Gtv-0s9c-fJIil0vrwpxvOHIfbGgpAJViyJUZPH8vkqZ5P37L7oIRYvCiXD06ypAtfTtNd9qppXzeCiN-zQjc4_VMW7Jz3KuBU-S84JbzU_2Neyy8g2ukbJqf53NgnWymlfB8Bl9qvZ4t3XAKT3U3Bz/s1901/IMGP6475.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="1901" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklKsD9HhKWzbP5KhogMBIzJNXBQYmhzTFARPZ3Gtv-0s9c-fJIil0vrwpxvOHIfbGgpAJViyJUZPH8vkqZ5P37L7oIRYvCiXD06ypAtfTtNd9qppXzeCiN-zQjc4_VMW7Jz3KuBU-S84JbzU_2Neyy8g2ukbJqf53NgnWymlfB8Bl9qvZ4t3XAKT3U3Bz/w400-h361/IMGP6475.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon Lisowsky circles with the puck for the Blades.</td></tr></tbody></table>The 1988-89 WHL and CHL champion Swift Current Broncos and
the Kamloops Blazers and Seattle Thunderbirds both from the 1989-90 campaign
each won 33 home games in a schedule where they hosted 36 regular season home
dates.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Last season, the Winnipeg Ice had the WHL’s best home record
while hosting 34 regular season home games at 30-3-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal">For now in Saskatoon, the faithful in “Blades City” will
have to wait a little bit before seeing their team play at home again. The
Blades play their next four games on the road starting on Saturday when they
travel to Swift Current to take on the 26-18-4-2 Broncos (7 p.m.,
InnovationPlex).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders get back at it on Saturday when they return home
to host the 26-19-5-1 Brandon Wheat Kings (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs7UTvCJDfSBsmsEZRDOrffEdgW7AkCvKWl6TCajSu4DigDCpSKEIkuv2hyphenhyphenJ5lJRZOS1gJiL60eUIawEQSbMQ9R6D3P7Wl7hVIXKeBHO0il2rxzEkXJw_i15XCzmNFPa74Kr0hAvtUcknjZgHYe6dDvTfb7lRPxPYF-b7MRjHgvQPwDsko9o3AH7WAfM1/s2491/IMGP6588.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="2491" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs7UTvCJDfSBsmsEZRDOrffEdgW7AkCvKWl6TCajSu4DigDCpSKEIkuv2hyphenhyphenJ5lJRZOS1gJiL60eUIawEQSbMQ9R6D3P7Wl7hVIXKeBHO0il2rxzEkXJw_i15XCzmNFPa74Kr0hAvtUcknjZgHYe6dDvTfb7lRPxPYF-b7MRjHgvQPwDsko9o3AH7WAfM1/w400-h293/IMGP6588.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blades celebrate their win on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Blades will return home on Friday, February 23 when they
host the Wheat Kings at 7 p.m. At this point, you can’t blame the Blades
faithful if they have dreams of another victory dancing in their heads. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">At the moment for Blades fans, every home game is a
memorable one.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i>stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-50917518552679879202024-02-07T13:07:00.000-08:002024-02-21T14:43:56.560-08:00Raiders’ Hildebrand becomes elite level WHL goalie<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEoEGOudNM8eJ8QopkXxxN9BlBz1ej0WN8h1sLUpIkDIHOTFOClqLq_LLbyvJGVTCe8aQehTU5ZZJT8hSqIwqT8VofH9BmQmIIeEnbH_l8g4-Q6xvqkqSAZXfmJUz-ZCTCo6e_SrZEWjGOqiYwxluCUQ-zECVq4hYJtLLa2itG3Te4pfhSJ6eCoiIctuG/s1986/IMGP1680.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1830" data-original-width="1986" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEoEGOudNM8eJ8QopkXxxN9BlBz1ej0WN8h1sLUpIkDIHOTFOClqLq_LLbyvJGVTCe8aQehTU5ZZJT8hSqIwqT8VofH9BmQmIIeEnbH_l8g4-Q6xvqkqSAZXfmJUz-ZCTCo6e_SrZEWjGOqiYwxluCUQ-zECVq4hYJtLLa2itG3Te4pfhSJ6eCoiIctuG/w400-h369/IMGP1680.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max Hildebrand is having an outstanding season for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>Max Hildebrand is one of the top five goalies in the WHL
right now.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As far as statistics go, he is hovering around 10 or just
outside the top 10 in most goaltending categories in the WHL. For anyone that
has been able to watch the quality of his recent starts with the Prince Albert
Raiders, Hildebrand has grown into one of the WHL’s elite puck stoppers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hildebrand gives the Raiders a real chance to win every time
he skates into the crease of the team’s net. That would also be true if he
played for any other team in the WHL.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A couple of his most impressive outings came in a recent
home-and-home series with the WHL leading Saskatoon Blades. In a 5-4 victory
after a tiebreaking shootout at the Art Hauser Centre on January 26, Hildebrand
made 41 saves over 65 minutes and turned away two-of-three shooters in the
tiebreaking shootout. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The 19-year-old Martensville product kept the Raiders in
striking distance when they entered the third period trailing 4-2. After the
Raiders scored twice to tie the contest up 4-4 and force overtime, Hildebrand
stopped all six shots he faced in overtime to ensure the contest got to a
shootout. From there, the Raiders claimed a 2-1 victory in the tiebreaking
session.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click <a href="https://paherald.sk.ca/raiders-hildbrand-becomes-elite-level-whl-goalie/" target="_blank">right here</a>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-85555379442002407662024-02-03T21:59:00.000-08:002024-02-04T00:54:21.964-08:00Cougars blank Huskies 2-0 in playoff type encounter<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTKrkYYTTQyVnoXpNZsbAHek9ROCOVsTdUqi_aBEVdUwSt3IzXsYp2rDkj5xq3kgexedlkt-nnHdLu_1ExBn-ehcrScjOzTHBtXWLRpL1bhGV6hvx7WuZPwuV7sZ9I9l6ay88CRIAhZqk48VZ3BZmmhC6o7otgFTNEOeQ2UVxpdsp_bnV43_yZKPBCVAk/s2497/IMGP6156.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1781" data-original-width="2497" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTKrkYYTTQyVnoXpNZsbAHek9ROCOVsTdUqi_aBEVdUwSt3IzXsYp2rDkj5xq3kgexedlkt-nnHdLu_1ExBn-ehcrScjOzTHBtXWLRpL1bhGV6hvx7WuZPwuV7sZ9I9l6ay88CRIAhZqk48VZ3BZmmhC6o7otgFTNEOeQ2UVxpdsp_bnV43_yZKPBCVAk/w400-h285/IMGP6156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huskies LW Kenzie Lausberg (#22) shields off a Cougars defender.</td></tr></tbody></table>University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey team got a
tune up for the post-season.<p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday, the Huskies finished out hosting a two-game
regular season set against the defending U Sports champion Mount Royal
University Cougars before 711 spectators at Merlis Belsher Place. In that
clash, the smallest moment in time proved to be the difference when it came to
earning a victory and taking a defeat.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two sides entered the third period locked in a 0-0. The
Huskies, who are rated 10<sup>th</sup> in the U Sports Top 10 Rankings, started
the frame working on the power play, and during that opportunity, star
left-winger Sophie Lalor rang a shot off the crossbar.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWFY2BHPsBnzT-AUB7YM6vF3hEC-EsFwsGr8ljogFstkBfW1NI5N9aGgDM3tXTl8bsOeGssT5PT6Ry_m2zZsypvKagHlz0RcjXZy8wEaRrE20lxOVPRy9clZSbxfQgWRPETZbSTH7T1aCyPlTbeE8W3XJMsd1xj50ugJy_rycejo-8a4PdBDNuyBNgWVp/s1998/IMGP6305.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1823" data-original-width="1998" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWFY2BHPsBnzT-AUB7YM6vF3hEC-EsFwsGr8ljogFstkBfW1NI5N9aGgDM3tXTl8bsOeGssT5PT6Ry_m2zZsypvKagHlz0RcjXZy8wEaRrE20lxOVPRy9clZSbxfQgWRPETZbSTH7T1aCyPlTbeE8W3XJMsd1xj50ugJy_rycejo-8a4PdBDNuyBNgWVp/w400-h365/IMGP6305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cougars celebrate a goal from Athena Hauck (#29).</td></tr></tbody></table>After that power play expired, Cougars fourth-year
left-winger Athena Hauck found herself alone in front of the Huskies net. She
wired home a midrange shot to the top left corner of the Huskies goal to give
the visitors a 1-0 lead at the 5:26 mark of the frame.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With 12.9 seconds remaining in the third, Cougars
fourth-year centre and team captain Lyndsey Janes popped home an empty-net goal
that cemented a 2-0 victory for the visitors, who are rated ninth in the U
Sports Top 10 Rankings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The margin of error tonight was we had a centre who lost an
assignment for like three seconds, and that is the margin of error,” said Huskies
head coach Steve Kook. “That would be playoff hockey.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Outside of that, it was a solid game. Outside of that, we
are going to overtime. Outside of that, we are going to a shootout.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb2Xj8JGTdv5UpEN42pgk2pY-r2LFnZ_BxYbXTfyM-cIA9xhPDVxmID2ENQM5NjSruFkbzcI_pMl6UZITa-ZObuVOc4tCSDuDXUgQc_RCR2meVwT1JvPrU_egaufR1y0hs1DXtOXqkyVJF_v5wYF-B0q9bkGl34Vza7eUM75h8a60ZjnUIivSimjduK8X/s1814/IMGP6330.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1814" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb2Xj8JGTdv5UpEN42pgk2pY-r2LFnZ_BxYbXTfyM-cIA9xhPDVxmID2ENQM5NjSruFkbzcI_pMl6UZITa-ZObuVOc4tCSDuDXUgQc_RCR2meVwT1JvPrU_egaufR1y0hs1DXtOXqkyVJF_v5wYF-B0q9bkGl34Vza7eUM75h8a60ZjnUIivSimjduK8X/w400-h336/IMGP6330.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athena Hauck had the winning goal for the Cougars.</td></tr></tbody></table>While the Huskies came out on the wrong end of the
scoreboard, Kook thought Saturday’s game as a big bounce back one for his squad
after they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Cougars on Friday night at Merlis
Belsher Place. In Saturday’s regular season clash, Kook said the Cougars
ultimately showed the pedigree which saw them win the U Sports championship
last year.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Given our performance last night which I thought was
terrible with the exception of (Huskies star netminder) Cam (Camryn Drever), it was a 180 degree turnaround,”
said Kook. “We just totally got off script yesterday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Today, we played on script. Kudos to them, I think they
blocked probably about 10 or 12 shots in the last five or six minutes, and a
couple of them had to crawl off the ice. They’re a national champion, and that
is what they are willing to do.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC97EyjpLHV1ylVtr1_zm2mvIzuzokM5RM42m1hln1ibGjevjaTA9WO6dODho4CM44SKCUYbyRsrtay1gbOqkUbKjMQvhJB81BcRlxsMbSDEn2peQxWBcbw-LIlb1NmshaaoNFOlC2YeN8-WLsHJbD2t5kZr_R-CgmO6CJ80WXXjB2eoNn9bpH-8kwsyiv/s1992/IMGP6158.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="1992" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC97EyjpLHV1ylVtr1_zm2mvIzuzokM5RM42m1hln1ibGjevjaTA9WO6dODho4CM44SKCUYbyRsrtay1gbOqkUbKjMQvhJB81BcRlxsMbSDEn2peQxWBcbw-LIlb1NmshaaoNFOlC2YeN8-WLsHJbD2t5kZr_R-CgmO6CJ80WXXjB2eoNn9bpH-8kwsyiv/w400-h333/IMGP6158.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris Oleksyn jets into the offensive zone for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>“They block shots right in the gut and the chest and crawled
off the ice.”<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The setback saw the Huskies fall to 17-7-1-1. With two games
left on their regular season schedule, the Huskies are locked into fourth place
in the Canada West Conference standings. They will open the post-season hosting
a best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series against either the 11-13-2 U
of Calgary Dinos or the 10-15-1 U of Manitoba Bisons.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">U of S has lost three straight, and the skid started on Jan.
27 with a 2-0 setback against the U of Alberta Pandas in Edmonton. The Pandas,
who are rated fourth in the U Sports Top 10 Rankings, sit second in the Canada
West Conference with a 19-3-1-3 mark.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Sb3kfEMfcfkdM52kC57NN8OuHfaI35uPjpO_nopZ3IMGdKd-7T_dAF8YMixAH3IkmG2JM9cP-29dBmW-j-S55JuEKis54GWMCT9AXDu1s0EPtUv7_XH_W_yLbt_cX1AbtBzl1pHCn-2EZLqcsYFysAgWTh9RYs5zO-Qpo79SD1qGTCeGVAcc22UMCQBx/s2001/IMGP6166.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2001" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Sb3kfEMfcfkdM52kC57NN8OuHfaI35uPjpO_nopZ3IMGdKd-7T_dAF8YMixAH3IkmG2JM9cP-29dBmW-j-S55JuEKis54GWMCT9AXDu1s0EPtUv7_XH_W_yLbt_cX1AbtBzl1pHCn-2EZLqcsYFysAgWTh9RYs5zO-Qpo79SD1qGTCeGVAcc22UMCQBx/w400-h364/IMGP6166.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camryn Drever stopped 24-of-25 shots in goal for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Cougars improved to 20-6 with the win over the Huskies
to sit third in Canada West just two standings points behind the Pandas. Both
the Cougars and Pandas have two games remaining on their respective regular season
schedules.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The defending Canada West champion University of British
Columbia Thunderbirds, who are rated third in the U Sports Top 10 Rankings,
have first place in Canada West locked up with a 22-1-1-2 mark. They will have
home ice advantage throughout the Canada West playoffs in the U Sports
post-season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Thunderbirds, Pandas, Cougars, Huskies, Dinos and Bisons
will be the six teams taking part in the Canada West playoffs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2dHkGQGKI14Kj7DqBWgahdlR15Sn_wx6Id5aod8GGVzKo5hPzJ3m4uh2UKitVQwY8a6M4McBDP61EW2HTJdSReuk_-UfB5V8_uawNh2TOhzaqGMeLgRr_aUlmQrUP2VkwEOT6zzaUdgMHhhUxOeUrDYwN5d8hp73jNkFAVwUDSeYDof9YlMonowWySUJ/s2486/IMGP6312.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="2486" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2dHkGQGKI14Kj7DqBWgahdlR15Sn_wx6Id5aod8GGVzKo5hPzJ3m4uh2UKitVQwY8a6M4McBDP61EW2HTJdSReuk_-UfB5V8_uawNh2TOhzaqGMeLgRr_aUlmQrUP2VkwEOT6zzaUdgMHhhUxOeUrDYwN5d8hp73jNkFAVwUDSeYDof9YlMonowWySUJ/w400-h339/IMGP6312.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scout Anderson (#30) makes one of her 15 saves for the Cougars.</td></tr></tbody></table>Huskies third-year left-winger Paris Oleksyn said Saturday’s
clash with the Cougars was a game where her squad had to battle for everything.
She said those types of games will be the norm for her squad in the
post-season.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“This game was definitely a good stepping stone going into
playoffs,” said Oleksyn. “It kind of taught us what to expect in playoffs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I really thought like we battled like a playoff game. We
worked hard. It sucks that we didn’t get the lucky bounces our way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We hit a few posts and stuff like that. I think as a team
we played a lot better today, and we played like a playoff game.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNccz5ukEdoTdgwThUoirbUO5iZjoEy4TjZBHdyapwVb__pxN5mftFqlOElVMX9jn_sbNFPEZ6VZMEXZtFfjR_55OSLlBTdkAeK2DJ0nySjzjIXDYFBVoSjVFvTEpD-7z-TV96Hf3TZsu6XdgVjZ8TXCXfYVO1Gn_N8KDgsf69EDANwrJyss6gPFB3Ka9/s1996/IMGP6297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="1996" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNccz5ukEdoTdgwThUoirbUO5iZjoEy4TjZBHdyapwVb__pxN5mftFqlOElVMX9jn_sbNFPEZ6VZMEXZtFfjR_55OSLlBTdkAeK2DJ0nySjzjIXDYFBVoSjVFvTEpD-7z-TV96Hf3TZsu6XdgVjZ8TXCXfYVO1Gn_N8KDgsf69EDANwrJyss6gPFB3Ka9/w400-h353/IMGP6297.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie Lalor wired a shot off the crossbar early in the third.</td></tr></tbody></table>Saturday’s encounter started out a tight checking one. The
Huskies first shot on goal in the contest came at the 13:50 mark of the opening
frame from defender Kendra Zuchotzki, and at that point in time, the Cougars
only held a 4-1 edge in shots on goal. Mount Royal held a 7-2 edge in the shots
on goal department after 20 minutes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the first half of the second period, the Huskies had a
pair of power plays. With a one skater advantage, the Huskies had great puck movement
and set up some strong scoring chances. They did everything they could right on
the power plays but weren’t able to crack on to the scoreboard due to solid
work from Cougars second-year netminder Scout Anderson.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMvRRaGrryeZW2iaT7mCDwIjjmikacWu9EsF51sPLZTgWHe8pvTgdvPBSOcpiEViQPX769pM4b33DCno_h02MCvJ_a-BuwCxZ2nXoXzgdTsfYPGjr2HdfbS-MKX7kaf7egMSs4EKDIrdhxpCZZNxepAsPjzCW0Lp5aQ07bcrAp04BpE7-kgB0pzwKluCA/s1969/IMGP6188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1624" data-original-width="1969" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMvRRaGrryeZW2iaT7mCDwIjjmikacWu9EsF51sPLZTgWHe8pvTgdvPBSOcpiEViQPX769pM4b33DCno_h02MCvJ_a-BuwCxZ2nXoXzgdTsfYPGjr2HdfbS-MKX7kaf7egMSs4EKDIrdhxpCZZNxepAsPjzCW0Lp5aQ07bcrAp04BpE7-kgB0pzwKluCA/w400-h330/IMGP6188.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kendra Zuchotzki brings the puck up ice for the Huskies.</td></tr></tbody></table>Both teams went 0-for-4 on the power play on Saturday. The
Huskies seemingly had the stronger chances to score on their power plays, which
played a factor in the game’s final outcome.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“On the power play in the second period, (McKenna) Bolger
hits the top of Scout Anderson’s stick, and it goes out the other way,” said
Kook. “(Sophie) Lalor puts one off the crossbar here (in the third period).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“They blocked probably more shots than we got through.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the Cougars went ahead, the Huskies best chance to get
the equalizer might have come when second-year right-winger Jayde Cadieux was
denied from point-blank range at the right side of the Mount Royal net.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQDmLdnXggyuHsBVkaRv539v75607Wr9biwYI48Vc7bbUgsjBmmdMPOpBii0f7HJuUUHU8dErZHH_l2atYzKSiYdCoV4KTZBzSNAIoXVC3xABhsKsdjt0SxeNlhrRehHbuEI7FCld8mZUoT_XJk4J28MPv7UY0PS5YOuC6KjvuktoO1i48JGuEE6ZX4ze/s2008/IMGP6353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="2008" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQDmLdnXggyuHsBVkaRv539v75607Wr9biwYI48Vc7bbUgsjBmmdMPOpBii0f7HJuUUHU8dErZHH_l2atYzKSiYdCoV4KTZBzSNAIoXVC3xABhsKsdjt0SxeNlhrRehHbuEI7FCld8mZUoT_XJk4J28MPv7UY0PS5YOuC6KjvuktoO1i48JGuEE6ZX4ze/w400-h358/IMGP6353.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cougars celebrate an empty-net goal from Lyndsey Janes (#12).</td></tr></tbody></table>Drever stopped 24-of-25 shots to take the setback in net for
the Huskies. Anderson turned away all 15 shots she faced to pick up her third
shutout win of the campaign.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies close their regular season schedule traveling to
Winnipeg to take on the Bisons this coming Friday and Saturday at the Wayne
Fleming Arena. Friday’s game is set for 7 p.m. local time and Saturday’s clash
is tabbed for 3 p.m. local time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oleksyn said her Huskies will be focused on getting back
into the win column before the post-season rolls around.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We know what we need to do to get the job done,” said
Oleksyn. “We know what we don’t have to do.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We just have to focus on capitalizing on the important
parts of the game and work together as a team.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAl805cfYeHND3QM3jl5jAwqq886Y0k_BxwXH_i4O369tjQ3sIcRmRY11Lc0IvOkCS98Z_VjQ_0XxRmk1Qoa6lqL-hA6Y_utQeu48tq7g2dq3Rv2AaSLbL7r-mAug4YaRJq-CN0irNZrVfk9oqKwUREzxzlDpNtbO88s7KWa7LtQ9jlscYT_AMFLnsLve/s1989/IMGP6098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1812" data-original-width="1989" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAl805cfYeHND3QM3jl5jAwqq886Y0k_BxwXH_i4O369tjQ3sIcRmRY11Lc0IvOkCS98Z_VjQ_0XxRmk1Qoa6lqL-hA6Y_utQeu48tq7g2dq3Rv2AaSLbL7r-mAug4YaRJq-CN0irNZrVfk9oqKwUREzxzlDpNtbO88s7KWa7LtQ9jlscYT_AMFLnsLve/w400-h365/IMGP6098.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huskies captain Kennedy Brown will soon graduate from the team.</td></tr></tbody></table>NOTES</b> – Saturday’s
game was “Seniors Night” as the Huskies honoured their graduating players
presenting them with jerseys in a pre-game ceremony. The Huskies graduating
players include Drever, Lalor, captain Kennedy Brown, Isabella Pozzi, Kara
Kondrat, Kenzie Lausberg and Kate Ball. Ball still has one more season of U
Sports eligibility remaining, but she is slated to graduate from the
Kinesiology program at the U of S and plans to move on to her next life
chapter. The Huskies held a kids skate following Saturday’s game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
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DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><br /><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-63882916309474715282024-01-31T21:59:00.000-08:002024-01-31T23:39:21.327-08:00Blades bash Pats 9-1<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Sidorov scores 100<sup>th</sup> goal of WHL
career in win<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNP7YX0m-4imG129IcPrzcJPGwMCqBF3uBKAqmFxJryzmlttmItvLbqEtARNYo_r6_lpG5u-RC1o3saRD2ExiJnaokpCnQ6E0FUcVowkiy6LCzF5JFm27DRWET7OSuyzg2oB-MpNYbJWY5g7h8Z3gYS_X1NPprUn_safkZLxFQwMe5YdoBSJLjIPVqPRT/s2482/IMGP5677.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2177" data-original-width="2482" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNP7YX0m-4imG129IcPrzcJPGwMCqBF3uBKAqmFxJryzmlttmItvLbqEtARNYo_r6_lpG5u-RC1o3saRD2ExiJnaokpCnQ6E0FUcVowkiy6LCzF5JFm27DRWET7OSuyzg2oB-MpNYbJWY5g7h8Z3gYS_X1NPprUn_safkZLxFQwMe5YdoBSJLjIPVqPRT/w400-h351/IMGP5677.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egor Sidorov scored his 100th career WHL regular season goal.</td></tr></tbody></table>Winning Wednesday was a check the box night for the
Saskatoon Blades.<p class="MsoNormal">Score a season high nine goals – check.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Have goals come from eight different players – check.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Have at least 16 out of 18 skaters register one point –
check.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Have no players end up with a negative rating in the
plus-minus department – check.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Have your goalie post a save percentage over .950 – check.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Score on over 25 percent of your power play chances – check.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWvErE_64-RieaSJ9KpRytryELRusTE2M_OjnP8n1eq3h63e_EdicpRIkJVmqiRjXbNulInw9KZzzCG-QZrNzv2sMCBbgD8SECGIk1HQDRzV27HIEWxRnbPXgJLt7VqUhqHLQkkwvYKotiZ2uR4cKr4ZhRoHag3EOFk2wM6ZI3WVaXZRoQI84UYn4H5Z1/s1922/IMGP5713.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="1922" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWvErE_64-RieaSJ9KpRytryELRusTE2M_OjnP8n1eq3h63e_EdicpRIkJVmqiRjXbNulInw9KZzzCG-QZrNzv2sMCBbgD8SECGIk1HQDRzV27HIEWxRnbPXgJLt7VqUhqHLQkkwvYKotiZ2uR4cKr4ZhRoHag3EOFk2wM6ZI3WVaXZRoQI84UYn4H5Z1/w400-h343/IMGP5713.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hudson Kibblewhite scored twice for the Blades on Wednesday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Go perfect on the penalty kill – check.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Continue to lead the overall WHL standings – check.</p><p class="MsoNormal">And for a bonus, help star import right-winger Egor Sidorov
achieve a milestone scoring his 100<sup>th</sup> career WHL goal in regular
season play – check.</p><p class="MsoNormal">It was pretty safe to say almost all the 3,625 spectators at
the SaskTel Centre went home happy on Wednesday night aside from the supporters
that came out to back the opposition. The host Blades, who are rated first in
the latest CHL Top 10 Rankings, rocked their traditional rivals the Regina Pats
9-1 in a WHL regular season clash.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VZ8zmdJTgXu7D4Km6DJHDXTVmsuQd6r1AKll-qssboIiUfg_GMdM533RlVKBKmOGu_PBcAQvhbVFUaM6dRVTyzOg9cYly1QG-FSkYgQsDe_0xaxsF-eEyuESj5K7v6cgBoB8On2PKBEhCjW037nQAr-1Oh23YSFaPGOje-lNNWkRfYiFAjCZSAKL5yrO/s1998/IMGP5697.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1998" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VZ8zmdJTgXu7D4Km6DJHDXTVmsuQd6r1AKll-qssboIiUfg_GMdM533RlVKBKmOGu_PBcAQvhbVFUaM6dRVTyzOg9cYly1QG-FSkYgQsDe_0xaxsF-eEyuESj5K7v6cgBoB8On2PKBEhCjW037nQAr-1Oh23YSFaPGOje-lNNWkRfYiFAjCZSAKL5yrO/w400-h329/IMGP5697.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Misha Volotovskii scored the Blades second goal on Wednesday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Wednesday’s game marked the last head-to-head encounter
between the two sides in the current regular season. The Blades won six of the
eight head-to-head meetings with the Pats.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">It was about as great of a night as you could have gotten
for the host side. The Blades, who improved their WHL leading record to
34-9-2-3, outshot the Pats 37-31, converted on 2-of-6 power plays and successfully
killed off all three penalty killing situations they faced.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Even a league leading club hopes to have a few nights during
a regular season like this. It is pretty safe to say everyone on the Blades
roster came away with something positive to talk about from this game.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyFFAVZxZnnrRQlAktOf5QCbhyphenhyphenAOa7l0Y4WR0N_8rEW8TVO0dMenyI9N8db4B2AgmzgJoYhIr8Q7JZLlPT1jXPTQ_f0YTWMQoUNgegYO7LlB5gp-gY1sgaZFoX8Ob3Rg3TTKUMHelKy3HLXNkFwWn8ZadIverPSKY7GCUZiz7LHdPBUe7T-Ic8KYDM6wi/s1963/IMGP5593.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1963" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyFFAVZxZnnrRQlAktOf5QCbhyphenhyphenAOa7l0Y4WR0N_8rEW8TVO0dMenyI9N8db4B2AgmzgJoYhIr8Q7JZLlPT1jXPTQ_f0YTWMQoUNgegYO7LlB5gp-gY1sgaZFoX8Ob3Rg3TTKUMHelKy3HLXNkFwWn8ZadIverPSKY7GCUZiz7LHdPBUe7T-Ic8KYDM6wi/w400-h331/IMGP5593.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egor Sidorov (#19) celebrates his 100th career regular season goal.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Blades opened the game’s scoring just 2:22 into the
opening frame on a goal from 16-year-old rookie centre Hudson Kibblewhite.
Kibblewhite tipped home a point shot from star offensive-defenceman Tanner
Molendyk for his fourth goal of the campaign to give the Blades a 1-0 lead.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The officials went to a video review to determine if
Kibblewhite deflected home his tally with a high stick, but they determined the
goal was good.</p><p class="MsoNormal">A little over six minutes later, the Blades pushed their
lead out to 2-0 after 18-year-old centre Misha Volotovskii scored with a spin
around backhand shot for his sixth goal of the season.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0D7MLeRRmBR1IiNfA2tfEfYIjSKp6wajZtQY6D71URUBv_Zz87MsbsYW9t0D4le06Xf8ts1jWMPy9Muy0UQICauj_sbfhEI3_PR7uSKAdn06afwY8fXgt9KvjqDWOmY8n14S-PRsaM2ye9TmI-B26MtQkJXhfcAa_kk6TD51Z71VDN-lceHW6qi32EXo/s2002/IMGP5668.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1831" data-original-width="2002" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0D7MLeRRmBR1IiNfA2tfEfYIjSKp6wajZtQY6D71URUBv_Zz87MsbsYW9t0D4le06Xf8ts1jWMPy9Muy0UQICauj_sbfhEI3_PR7uSKAdn06afwY8fXgt9KvjqDWOmY8n14S-PRsaM2ye9TmI-B26MtQkJXhfcAa_kk6TD51Z71VDN-lceHW6qi32EXo/w400-h366/IMGP5668.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vaughn Watterodt scored early in the second period for the Blades.</td></tr></tbody></table>Moments later, the Blades almost added another goal to their
tally, but a drive from 18-year-old right-winger Rowan Calvert was denied by
the glove hand of Pats netminder Ewan Huet.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">After Huet stopped Calvert, the Pats gained momentum and
fired a barrage of shots at Blades rookie netminder Evan Gardner. Gardner was
up to the challenged and kept the visitors off the scoreboard.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The momentum then swung back to the host side before the
opening frame came to an end. With 24.1 seconds remaining in the first, Sidorov
drove down the right wing and snapped a host shot past Hue to give the host
side a 3-0 advantage.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTaqCdxcgJ_ZXXyaJ5h2zzdE9ATNHmED681Q3_bpaX5ClUY_y70nvMsL-WfFrTT1Qs1w7jVxR6N8h5uDSgray29K-nAh5tOrTpaejC7I_dE8CNuwZhG5oI_tBCebZoxpvAnNy2bpFQV1Wwa7vVPEsWVApmLtVkhDuRG0wziVTFF4NYeoHIz_JY5VWwewk/s1998/IMGP5615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="1998" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTaqCdxcgJ_ZXXyaJ5h2zzdE9ATNHmED681Q3_bpaX5ClUY_y70nvMsL-WfFrTT1Qs1w7jVxR6N8h5uDSgray29K-nAh5tOrTpaejC7I_dE8CNuwZhG5oI_tBCebZoxpvAnNy2bpFQV1Wwa7vVPEsWVApmLtVkhDuRG0wziVTFF4NYeoHIz_JY5VWwewk/w400-h343/IMGP5615.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was one of those tough nights for Kelton Pyne and the Pats.</td></tr></tbody></table>Sidorov’s tally was his 37<sup>th</sup> of the season and
his 100<sup>th</sup> of his regular season career in the WHL. At night’s end,
Sidorov had recorded 100 goals, 74 assists and a plus-35 rating in 157 career
regular season games in the WHL all played with the Blades. He had a pair of
assists to go with his milestone goal on Wednesday.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Pats pulled Huet after the first period. He turned away
7-of-10 shots to take the loss in net for the Pats, who fell to 17-24-4-2. Kelton
Pyne played the final two periods for the Pats in relief turning away 21-of-27
shots he faced.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The onslaught continued in the second. Blades 19-year-old
glue guy right-winger Vaughn Watterodt scored at the 4:19 mark of the second and
star 19-year-old left-winger Brandon Lisowsky tallied on the power play to put
the hosts up 5-0.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRwnPUTove6o_hh2CsQknTeOa06IDZG6b9tp6L0I7_wyfLpd6xJYHwWu2FxDp3jGnrUIwGn9e0NRtfG9h-YprEHERTNbPdp8kt1PpRFq4ZlUtJdtxIA9QXizpDnAKK4RE0FvsVdNnxPC_myywx_oyVxyy7a7CdcP0YHm6go86DIafw9Smzfx_bDdnMHzQ/s2005/IMGP5654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="2005" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRwnPUTove6o_hh2CsQknTeOa06IDZG6b9tp6L0I7_wyfLpd6xJYHwWu2FxDp3jGnrUIwGn9e0NRtfG9h-YprEHERTNbPdp8kt1PpRFq4ZlUtJdtxIA9QXizpDnAKK4RE0FvsVdNnxPC_myywx_oyVxyy7a7CdcP0YHm6go86DIafw9Smzfx_bDdnMHzQ/w400-h358/IMGP5654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon Lisowsky scored a power-play goal for the Blades.</td></tr></tbody></table>Lisowsky scored his 29<sup>th</sup> goal of the season from
the left side of the Regina net after receiving spin-o-rama backhand pass from
21-year-old linemate Easton Armstrong.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With 1:56 remaining in the second, Armstrong scored his 26<sup>th</sup>
goal of the season to push the Blades advantage out to 6-0.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Pats got a highlight at the 7:38 mark of the third period
when 16-year-old rookie left-winger Corban Almen scored on a breakaway off a
nice deke to cut the Blades lead to 6-1. Almen is from Saskatoon, so his tally
helped perk up the family and friends he had in attendance on Wednesday.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades goal barrage resumed after Almen’s tally.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_W4VC53E-dGloGbDFn3k8XamVQDYQ8lcJXs_XzB30hxa2gFXmFNB2WZtJm5dGQ3UxQNqgWHEwJu5dQlySUeRvheEAzDpBLKE-Mwr0nUfAleP8at2mkUNzW_xVH-I5XifqHAgHU_MoZjnGmrrHhCtuNElY8usfg49Vn0Zl1vl003hK-zQyP-qJ-JzVLBQ/s1854/IMGP5716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="1854" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_W4VC53E-dGloGbDFn3k8XamVQDYQ8lcJXs_XzB30hxa2gFXmFNB2WZtJm5dGQ3UxQNqgWHEwJu5dQlySUeRvheEAzDpBLKE-Mwr0nUfAleP8at2mkUNzW_xVH-I5XifqHAgHU_MoZjnGmrrHhCtuNElY8usfg49Vn0Zl1vl003hK-zQyP-qJ-JzVLBQ/w400-h335/IMGP5716.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corban Almen had the Pats lone goal on Wednesday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Just 83 seconds later, Kibblewhite scored his second of the
night popping home a rebound from a shot taken by Calvert to give the Blades a
7-1 advantage. With 4:44 remaining in the third, 19-year-old defenceman Ben
Saunderson netted his fifth goal of the season, and star 19-year-old centre
Fraser Minten popped a power-play goal with 60 seconds left in the frame to
round out the 9-1 final score in Saskatoon’s favour.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Gardner stopped 30 shots to pick up the win in goal for the
Blades. In 20 appearances with the Blades this season, Gardner, who turned
18-years-old on January 25, has posted a 12-5-2 record, a 2.07 goals against
average, a .923 save percentage and two shutouts in his debut campaign in the
WHL.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN65WU2tDhXWQttjQoDUGnaJqVoYC8porgVhwQ22myrZG_PbgfxPtLQ5cX-VejyzljgHjtTYZEfAx8xLgNUU4c8xBRA0mdpAbRFT5RBG3_U_P8bnKx_XZdFhMFHZ7b3DW8UTPUJWXbrl2CpffBCyZ6oM3sOVs47pLmLGOU7nv0HeHJv4No1JRwJCQKacj/s1992/IMGP5553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1992" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN65WU2tDhXWQttjQoDUGnaJqVoYC8porgVhwQ22myrZG_PbgfxPtLQ5cX-VejyzljgHjtTYZEfAx8xLgNUU4c8xBRA0mdpAbRFT5RBG3_U_P8bnKx_XZdFhMFHZ7b3DW8UTPUJWXbrl2CpffBCyZ6oM3sOVs47pLmLGOU7nv0HeHJv4No1JRwJCQKacj/w400-h261/IMGP5553.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler Parr had a pair of assists for the Blades on Wednesday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Molendyk and left-winger Tyler Parr each had a pair of
assists for the Blades. Saunderson, who had an assist to go with his goal,
finished the contest with a plus-five rating.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Pats return to action on Friday when they host the 23-18-3-2
Swift Current Broncos (7 p.m., Brandt Centre).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades also get back at it on Friday when they host the
Medicine Hat Tigers (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre). The Tigers lead the Central
Division with a 29-14-3-1 record.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrjBaPl3qT4dhoKMj-bwGJTcXA7CNeaMojTN3KdSGGEJlGs4-hyZZmopLuvMjb1Z5M6ZD1DRIJ6w9JuknqGfRNro01Hs0BvAh2Cmto-14cEoZsOzt1IvOP7CfOBqBD-njizPoZC1M9v5DAg-m8bXLhprqEoToMcnVDQYRj_DPnUzmY0doluc1bEGtaGmw/s1967/IMGP5727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1659" data-original-width="1967" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrjBaPl3qT4dhoKMj-bwGJTcXA7CNeaMojTN3KdSGGEJlGs4-hyZZmopLuvMjb1Z5M6ZD1DRIJ6w9JuknqGfRNro01Hs0BvAh2Cmto-14cEoZsOzt1IvOP7CfOBqBD-njizPoZC1M9v5DAg-m8bXLhprqEoToMcnVDQYRj_DPnUzmY0doluc1bEGtaGmw/w400-h338/IMGP5727.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blades celebrate their win on Wednesday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Blades, who have won three in a row, know most nights
aren’t going to materialize like Wednesday’s win over the Pats did. Still, it
is always good to have outings where seemingly everything goes right, because
it feels like all the hard work put in up to that point in the campaign is
paying off.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i>stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for stopping
in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-2472666105755357912024-01-28T21:59:00.000-08:002024-01-29T00:31:54.426-08:00Minten rescues Blades in OT<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaiBs_xSSAAYqkRwpi0D_iHEJwSE-s0Ag9J7QM08P4TyjjbkATotzhEsMxIsnkaRQmvq8DtyrlI1x0qZD4Qh0tycFW85OImLVlpB-iCENV3vJHjIrX22wN-WM7LHAtt4gr1iMPcxKUIdsjwb1rrA18LcmI0aZz54yXJNSCFpjxc8AhT67c2kkJ6_Q8Zq7/s1999/IMGP5338.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1999" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaiBs_xSSAAYqkRwpi0D_iHEJwSE-s0Ag9J7QM08P4TyjjbkATotzhEsMxIsnkaRQmvq8DtyrlI1x0qZD4Qh0tycFW85OImLVlpB-iCENV3vJHjIrX22wN-WM7LHAtt4gr1iMPcxKUIdsjwb1rrA18LcmI0aZz54yXJNSCFpjxc8AhT67c2kkJ6_Q8Zq7/w400-h365/IMGP5338.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blades celebrate an OT winner from Fraser Minten.</td></tr></tbody></table>Fraser Minten skated into hero’s role for the Saskatoon
Blades.<p class="MsoNormal">On Sunday night with his Blades locked in a 2-2 tie in a WHL
regular season contest with the visiting Swift Current Broncos at the SaskTel
Centre, Minten shot into the highlight reels. Taking the puck behind his own
net from veteran defenceman Ben Saunderson, Minten went coast-to-coast with the
puck.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After crossing into the Swift Current zone, Minten passed
the puck to himself through Broncos winger Mathew Ward to get a break in alone on
the visitor’s net. Minten proceeded to slip a nifty backhand shot between the
legs of Broncos netminder Reid Dyck for his second tally of the night to lift
the Blades to a 3-2 victory to the delight of the 3,919 spectators in
attendance.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eZRaJfmJGPDQnx9Z5k-BiMH7SctWfGjQiVkDU_xGKNDhCp-hXmoe0VIeP115UMVu5AIo7jGmmhBvzFtARqXfNuPbbekiPldNi_bqawPZQNEDyvTtzZIiIQUk077VL2gW6dLJmNl0YctlbayxlKM2B6wS3MmVoLEwqSaDTnzKju3p9PNsVUqtyeHDrMSd/s2003/IMGP5329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="2003" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eZRaJfmJGPDQnx9Z5k-BiMH7SctWfGjQiVkDU_xGKNDhCp-hXmoe0VIeP115UMVu5AIo7jGmmhBvzFtARqXfNuPbbekiPldNi_bqawPZQNEDyvTtzZIiIQUk077VL2gW6dLJmNl0YctlbayxlKM2B6wS3MmVoLEwqSaDTnzKju3p9PNsVUqtyeHDrMSd/w400-h299/IMGP5329.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraser Minten scored two goals on Sunday for the Blades.</td></tr></tbody></table>The win allowed the Blades, who are rated second in the CHL’s
Top 10 Rankings, to continue to top the WHL’s overall standings improving to
33-9-2-3.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The victory was a gutty one for the Blades due to a
scheduling quark. The Blades, who wore special fan designed jerseys on Sunday,
were playing their third game in three nights. The Broncos were playing their
first contest in eight days have last skated on Saturday, January 20, when they
dropped a 4-3 decision to the Warriors in Moose Jaw at the Moose Jaw Events
Centre.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Broncos record moved to 22-18-3-2 with the extra time
setback to remain sixth overall in the Eastern Conference.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaz9N9fcp4gSIjovT0Os1iAGi_-MqwNfF-_HhhewnfQ-Bl1lPWeJOpXXxciCyjTrJgzv-ZY4MsEebShi6AVbLky_RM6akwkT8q1akYyTCHv3x6isdwLHgrhjSXf9Bwye0lTjJ-7LqWaobgNEyMpRlcq6cM-N_QeTlxMpKrSas33UcH4RnTga_gjzXD6t7/s2003/IMGP5324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="2003" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaz9N9fcp4gSIjovT0Os1iAGi_-MqwNfF-_HhhewnfQ-Bl1lPWeJOpXXxciCyjTrJgzv-ZY4MsEebShi6AVbLky_RM6akwkT8q1akYyTCHv3x6isdwLHgrhjSXf9Bwye0lTjJ-7LqWaobgNEyMpRlcq6cM-N_QeTlxMpKrSas33UcH4RnTga_gjzXD6t7/w400-h330/IMGP5324.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conor Geekie scored twice for the Broncos on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>In Sunday’s clash, the Broncos got the jump on the Blades
scoring at the 8:12 mark of the first period. Broncos star centre Conor Geekie
swept home a shot from the front of the Blades goal to give the visitors or a
1-0 edge.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After Geekie’s tally, the Blades started to find their legs.
While working on the power play, Blades star left-winger Easton Armstrong, who
is playing his final season of WHL eligibility, scored a gritty goal whacking
home a backhand shot from the front of the Swift Current net to even the score
at 1-1 with 1:32 remaining in the opening frame. The Blades outshot the Broncos
14-6 in the first period.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades kept rolling in the second but were kept at bay
by Dyck. With 2:55 remaining in the second, Minten wired home a low midrange snapshoot
past from the front of the Broncos goal past Dyck to give the Blades a 2-1
lead. Saskatoon held a 10-6 edge in shots on goal in the second.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In the third period, it appeared fatigue was setting in for
the Blades as the frame marched on, and the Broncos seemed to be able to free
wheel a little bit more. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfz87moThNUT7WSqjyOkwQXJW4LA8-xi4lTFgX-1KexuMQg1r3XhC1_8-UVxpmsZSKWnFiwsYIEpEXSERISMTWeVIVn81Q6fSwmBGH2_9ZjtcaWv6jgFGQe2hKWOhqX_Tx2I8GIzuOvFQlCrRkj_TqxO0vapR5AXPNxlhLeN4ECnFx78LYaD_y1TUpJva/s2001/IMGP5350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1669" data-original-width="2001" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfz87moThNUT7WSqjyOkwQXJW4LA8-xi4lTFgX-1KexuMQg1r3XhC1_8-UVxpmsZSKWnFiwsYIEpEXSERISMTWeVIVn81Q6fSwmBGH2_9ZjtcaWv6jgFGQe2hKWOhqX_Tx2I8GIzuOvFQlCrRkj_TqxO0vapR5AXPNxlhLeN4ECnFx78LYaD_y1TUpJva/w400-h334/IMGP5350.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blades celebrate their OT win on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>With 5:13 remaining in the third, Geekie drove down
the left with of the Blades zone with the puck, cut across the front of the
Saskatoon net and slipped a backhand shot home to even the score at 2-2 and
ultimate force overtime.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That set the stage for Minten to come through with his third
game-winning goal of the campaign.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Austin Elliott made 20 saves to pick up the win in goal for
the Blades. Dyck turned away 31 shots to take the extra setback in net for the
Broncos.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Armstrong had an assist to go with his goal for a two-point
night.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Broncos return to action on Wednesday when they host the
Lethbridge Hurricanes (7 p.m., InnovationPlex).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades also get back at it on Wednesday when they host
the 17-23-4-2 Regina Pats (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre).</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Spencer allows Pats to escape Calgary with
OT win<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEXxZX5RBxJGjT0UxH7TvY8DNcpzDvxlG79TGQ0EThjTT_5iRIvnpv1HvN3U76GpmtKS1S9qEx4crsLkk9hvMhEuRtrHoWnadom2kinHXDtcJ875DGa6r8UKOLTKgUIwQI41yLnRpMKTMqiriBXM59TdCkgw7OISFpbcaxTCD9088qd5uEAFug6Etcg9K/s2008/IMGP4363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2008" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEXxZX5RBxJGjT0UxH7TvY8DNcpzDvxlG79TGQ0EThjTT_5iRIvnpv1HvN3U76GpmtKS1S9qEx4crsLkk9hvMhEuRtrHoWnadom2kinHXDtcJ875DGa6r8UKOLTKgUIwQI41yLnRpMKTMqiriBXM59TdCkgw7OISFpbcaxTCD9088qd5uEAFug6Etcg9K/w400-h333/IMGP4363.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tye Spencer had the OT winner for the Pats on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Tye Spencer’s three-point night allowed the Regina Pats to
steal an overtime victory in Calgary.</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Sunday playing before 7,851 spectators at the Scotiabank
Saddledome, Spencer collected a pair of goals including the overtime winner as
the Pats downed the host Calgary Hitmen 4-3 in a WHL regular season clash. At
the 3:33 mark of overtime, Pats captain Tanner Howe sprung Spencer into the
Calgary zone on a breakaway. The 19-year-old right-winger tucked home a
backhand shot to deliver victory to the Regina side.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Pats victory was aided by the fact netminder Ewan Huet
had a huge night making 49 saves.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Regina jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals coming from
left-winger Sam Oremba. Oremba netted his first goal at the 3:07 mark of the
first period and his second tally 44 seconds into the second frame with the
Pats working on the power play.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Just 53 seconds after Oremba’s second marker, Hitmen
offensive-defenceman Carter Yakemchuk scored the host side’s first goal to cut
the Regina lead to 2-1. The Pats would hold on to their 2-1 advantage heading
into the second intermission despite the fact the Hitmen held a 33-20 edge in
shots on goal after 40 minutes.</p><p class="MsoNormal">At the 4:29 mark of the third with the Pats working on the
power play, Spencer scored his first goal of the contest to push the visitor’s
advantage out to 3-1.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Just 2:11 after Spencer’s power-play goal, the Hitmen cut
the Regina lead to 3-2, when Yakemchuk potted his second goal of the contest,
which was his 20<sup>th</sup> goal of the season.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With 3:41 remaining in the third, Hitmen 16-year-old rookie
right-winger Ben Kindel scored on a wraparound to tie the contest up at 3-3 and
force overtime.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That set the stage for Spencer, who is from Saskatoon, to come through with his
overtime winner.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Alex Garrett turned away 30 shots to take the setback in
goal for the Hitmen. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Howe finished the night recording three assists for the
Pats. Kindel had an assist to go with his goal.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hitmen’s record moved to 19-18-6-1 with the setback and
allowed them to move to sit alone in eighth place and hold the final playoff
berth in the Eastern Conference with 45 standings points. Calgary sits one
point ahead of the Prince Albert Raiders (20-23-1-3) with three games in hand.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Pats improved to 17-23-4-2 with the win. They sit 10<sup>th</sup>
overall in the Eastern Conference and five points back of the Hitmen. The
Hitmen have two games in hand on the Pats.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Pats return to action on Wednesday when they travel to
Saskatoon to face the 33-9-2-3 Blades (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hitmen get back at it on Friday when they travel to
Edmonton to take on the Oil Kings (7 p.m. local time, Rogers Place).</p><h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Rivalry Series match on for Feb. 7 in
Saskatoon, other notes<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_DI2hwQJgAXUVNdnJRgkKduppI6WnQb7iDWsKFXRmDy62GjavW1EHs0uHjghwKTTcfnmni5HjG9rTb_u3lx_gqAn5QNCu0U2XMsyiG6EX-lGQl_O-8HnSFACTImH8KlMvRTmyNTgfNZSxJsgWbdNv046rjNNlu-Wz-_-N8xO0cl7QU_LRkOPfQMgnSUZ/s2048/20190812_184541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1542" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_DI2hwQJgAXUVNdnJRgkKduppI6WnQb7iDWsKFXRmDy62GjavW1EHs0uHjghwKTTcfnmni5HjG9rTb_u3lx_gqAn5QNCu0U2XMsyiG6EX-lGQl_O-8HnSFACTImH8KlMvRTmyNTgfNZSxJsgWbdNv046rjNNlu-Wz-_-N8xO0cl7QU_LRkOPfQMgnSUZ/w301-h400/20190812_184541.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Emily Clark hockey card.</td></tr></tbody></table>For the first time since 2018, the SaskTel Centre will get
to play host one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Wednesday, February 7 at 7 p.m., Canada’s senior national
women’s hockey team will face the United States in Game 5 of the Rivalry
Series. The U.S. leads the 2023-24 edition of the seven-game series 3-1 heading
into Game 5 in Saskatoon.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Canada took Game 4 of the set 3-2 after a tiebreaking
shootout back on December 16, 2023 at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena in
Sarnia, Ont. Last season, the U.S. won the first three games of the series, but
Canada rallied back taking the last four contests to capture the series win.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Canada’s roster will feature power forward and 28-year-old
Saskatoon product Emily Clark. Clark has one goal over the first four games of
the series. She is an assistant captain with Ottawa’s team in the PWHL and has
played two games with the Ottawa side.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Clark is an alumna of the Saskatoon Stars Female Under-18
AAA Hockey Team.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The last time Canada and the U.S. played against each other
in Saskatoon was back on November 10, 2018 in the championship game of the 4
Nations Cup tournament held at the SaskTel Centre. The U.S. claimed a 5-2
victory in that encounter.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Clark wasn’t able to play at that 4 Nations Cup due to an
injured left leg.</p><ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Be prepared to be bombarded
with everything Taylor Swift for the next two weeks as the NFL’s post-season nears a close. With the Kansas City
Chiefs defeating the Ravens in Baltimore 17-10 in the AFC Championship
Game on Sunday, that means you will hear all sorts of talk about Swift and
her boyfriend Travis Kelce, who is the Chiefs star tight end. The Chiefs,
who are the defending Super Bowl champions, will play the San Francisco
49ERS in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on
Sunday, February 11. It will be the most watched Super Bowl of all-time.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Riding a four-game winning
streak, the Portland Winterhawks sit alone in first place in the WHL’s
U.S. Division with a 31-11-2-1 record. The Winterhawks are two standings points
ahead of the 30-15-1-2 Everett Silvertips. Portland has three games in
hand on Everett. The Winterhawks downed the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds
4-1 on Sunday.</li><li class="MsoNormal">I was back in the pages of the Prince Albert
Daily Herald this past week. On Wednesday, I was in the Daily Herald with a
column on how the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders started to fall in the standings
when 17-year-old star right-winger Ryder Ritchie went down to injury due to a
knee-on-knee hit. That piece can be found by clicking <a href="https://paherald.sk.ca/prince-albert-2-7-1-1-since-winger-went-down-to-injury/" target="_blank">right here</a>. On Friday, I
was in the pages of the Daily Herald with a piece featuring Prince Albert Northern
Bears alums Kate Ball and Jasper Desmarais, who now play for the University of
Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey Team. Ball and Desmarais reflected on a
magical 2016-17 season with the Bears where they won the Saskatchewan Female
Under-18 AAA Hockey Championship and appeared in the Esso Cup female national championship
under-18 AAA championship tournament. The piece on Ball and Desmarais can be
found by clicking <a href="https://paherald.sk.ca/bears-alums-accumulate-numerous-great-memories-in-hockey/" target="_blank">right here</a>.</li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i>stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE
button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for stopping
in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-28351532777476334632024-01-27T21:58:00.000-08:002024-01-28T19:54:00.548-08:00Sonne smashes down hammer, Blades roar to 3-2 win<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhZ61isR7jeocBJ5iiPhOXiAkxO5bCoLbhVdtsReLhQYiMRDIcWlWPVBQRCvsdeHUByA4EhpMDXxx3899u8V4Ah6J9cWe91mtaoptYy_DE5IzpGo7i3_ePR72IB_XlS-qLl957Y8DI-BsGqAI5YtoZbqmhuue0Q7zZyVevKKSfbCvhmP5fsAAY3Mv9SR4/s2499/IMGP5058.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="2499" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhZ61isR7jeocBJ5iiPhOXiAkxO5bCoLbhVdtsReLhQYiMRDIcWlWPVBQRCvsdeHUByA4EhpMDXxx3899u8V4Ah6J9cWe91mtaoptYy_DE5IzpGo7i3_ePR72IB_XlS-qLl957Y8DI-BsGqAI5YtoZbqmhuue0Q7zZyVevKKSfbCvhmP5fsAAY3Mv9SR4/w400-h314/IMGP5058.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blades HC Brennan Sonne instructs his player on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Brennan Sonne was mad as hell, and he wasn’t going to take
it anymore.<p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Saskatoon Blades head coach was not happy with the
performance of his team early in their WHL regular season clash with their
archrivals the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday night. Just 29 seconds into
the contest, Raiders 19-year-old right winger Niall Crocker scored a gritty
goal from the front of the Saskatoon net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the 6:28 mark of the first, Blades import star
right-winger Egor Sidorov took an interference penalty when he picked Raiders
standout defensive-defenceman Terrell Goldsmith with a shoulder check that sent
the 18-year-old regard to the ice. When the officials gave that interference
minor to Sidorov, the stoppage for the infraction allowed the first media
timeout of the opening frame to be held. The Blades were holding a 4-2 edge in
shots on goal at that point in the contest.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdWuukAh2mvqfw9ZxlG4Iii9WgYtKb0FHYy_fazDTKQN3b-Qp4LjWhpEjjuk8qatBefpJSG9SC6g2iOOrZlsIEkxRHFec2i4Lris6pVIihCOSEb5mbbDZVL70vz0t641BLoNLc_vpDbmoWGLKLDq0eF2WBavqpJ7ph8UNJVVJz-mtSqQ7ilyaSS8EjEyP/s2004/IMGP4924.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1833" data-original-width="2004" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdWuukAh2mvqfw9ZxlG4Iii9WgYtKb0FHYy_fazDTKQN3b-Qp4LjWhpEjjuk8qatBefpJSG9SC6g2iOOrZlsIEkxRHFec2i4Lris6pVIihCOSEb5mbbDZVL70vz0t641BLoNLc_vpDbmoWGLKLDq0eF2WBavqpJ7ph8UNJVVJz-mtSqQ7ilyaSS8EjEyP/w400-h366/IMGP4924.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raiders enjoy a Niall Crocker goal 29 seconds into the game.</td></tr></tbody></table>During media timeout, Sonne ripped into his team with the riot
act tearing into them for a subpar effort to that point. Sonne’s tirade could
be heard echoing through the SaskTel Centre for all of the 5,650 spectators in
attendance to hear.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also added to the frustration was the fact the Blades fell
5-4 to the Raiders after a tiebreaking shootout one night earlier at the Art
Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. The Blades held a 4-2 lead and a 28-11 edge in
shots on goal in that contest before the Raiders rallied back to claim victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When Sonne was blasting his players on Saturday during that
first media timeout, all the Blades skaters were gathered around their coach
listening intently. The bench boss’s message was received.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2I7nogE4hhyphenhyphenxQrun5EBT9hX8EbMzSPYPqSXlmGwqlaT6fSPEznJNXTig1OLzTPsc4eADulv0G00wZgMuYWHkIl9B34tzxGz4pQ4nr74bSao4eWWCqjVjEHCwVCqTIpF9mLY8A7UIAdNTEuX329R3_nAYzvDr2NCamoq-I6GdksNiQhhbs8uBqRWf8webd/s1575/IMGP5168.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1575" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2I7nogE4hhyphenhyphenxQrun5EBT9hX8EbMzSPYPqSXlmGwqlaT6fSPEznJNXTig1OLzTPsc4eADulv0G00wZgMuYWHkIl9B34tzxGz4pQ4nr74bSao4eWWCqjVjEHCwVCqTIpF9mLY8A7UIAdNTEuX329R3_nAYzvDr2NCamoq-I6GdksNiQhhbs8uBqRWf8webd/w400-h336/IMGP5168.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niall Crocker gave the Raiders an early 1-0 lead on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>From that point onward, the Blades proceeded to outscore the
Raiders 3-1 to claim a 3-2 victory and the host side held 29-7 edge in shots on
goal for a final shots on goal advantage of 33-9. Had it not been for a
spectacular 30 save performance from Raiders star goaltender Max Hildebrand,
the final outcome on the scoreboard might have been worse.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the dust settled, the rivalry between the two sides had
cranked up to a higher intensity level. Both sides threw some hard hits at each
other that borderline could have had worse results had they been closer to the
boards.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Overall, Sonne’s tirade showed there are still times when a
coach can still go off on his players over a lack of effort and the players
still respond. The Blades, who are rated second in the CHL Top 10 Rankings, improved to 32-9-2-3, and they continue to lead the
WHL’s overall standings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideGHmyVOypYINDhFYAKrav6sv74awcPtNKrwCVUD0Is8JJWPzDqHuX3-WsI732LAGBf1swTkhGR9h7Bc_BcoHOx2rmtjMeZ0nZpUEzuKnSeMFmxzTID-LapaFT_kCMm9d6enDQu-Ua5m7wI4wrUHfhrVPtG8ZBztWGcaSiAytau_AvgILwFbPKhuohRT5/s2015/IMGP5127.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="2008" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideGHmyVOypYINDhFYAKrav6sv74awcPtNKrwCVUD0Is8JJWPzDqHuX3-WsI732LAGBf1swTkhGR9h7Bc_BcoHOx2rmtjMeZ0nZpUEzuKnSeMFmxzTID-LapaFT_kCMm9d6enDQu-Ua5m7wI4wrUHfhrVPtG8ZBztWGcaSiAytau_AvgILwFbPKhuohRT5/w399-h400/IMGP5127.JPG" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easton Armstrong scored for the Blades to force a 1-1 tie.</td></tr></tbody></table>Public displays where Sonne went off on his players like he
did during the first media timeout in the first period on Saturday are rare. Sonne,
who was last season’s WHL coach of the year, is an intense coach and his
passion can be visible.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He is also a coach who is very under control and is continually
learning, which is why the Blades were 38-26-3-1 in his first season with the
team in 2021-22 and 48-13-4-3 in his second campaign with the club last season.
The Blades advanced to the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series in
2022-23 falling in a series sweep to the Winnipeg Ice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After Sonne laid down the law during the first media break
in the opening frame on Saturday, the Blades proceeded to get the Raiders
pinned in their own zone. They got a pair of power plays just after the
10-minute mark of the opening frame and fired a barrage of shots at the Prince
Albert net, which were turned away by Hildebrand with some assistance from some
scrambling Raiders defencemen.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmOPs2Q6Ua6WNhcqEnmvFiBmeVqgFFO3A7Svz5jFPkM5irxGahnUJG_22Rr6OJfqfsOQl1ONBXDl-VVlwWw0tr-357K99oHl4vJ2gfC885_ASYuh2NXYLedl8oypFxVQjOuybAych2MGyfM3t58yzKcWjR0l8mS5MP9GHRoBEOWpFKg2BSeSgbRxhH2Gp/s1978/IMGP4927.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1978" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmOPs2Q6Ua6WNhcqEnmvFiBmeVqgFFO3A7Svz5jFPkM5irxGahnUJG_22Rr6OJfqfsOQl1ONBXDl-VVlwWw0tr-357K99oHl4vJ2gfC885_ASYuh2NXYLedl8oypFxVQjOuybAych2MGyfM3t58yzKcWjR0l8mS5MP9GHRoBEOWpFKg2BSeSgbRxhH2Gp/w400-h324/IMGP4927.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scene from one of a number of scrums on Saturday night.</td></tr></tbody></table>Despite all the pressure from the hosts, the Blades didn’t
crack on to the scoreboard until there was 1:48 remaining in the frame. With
the Blades again applying pressure in the Prince Albert zone, Saskatoon 20-year-old
defenceman Charlie Wright fired a shot from the point that was deflected home
by star left-winger Easton Armstrong to even the score at 1-1. The tally was
Armstrong’s 24<sup>th</sup> goal of the season as he skates though his final
campaign of major junior eligibility.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The two sides went into the first intermission locked in a
1-1 tie with the Blades holding a 15-3 edge in shots on goal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpPZei0-Q-QH8WwMi6c6dTA-gzQHUjiP_07WagnKAngpmty14NyFYkN6gUa2BuGCUFTNDQEUE0hZ9joc4wWsQ4Fb3_orhsbBOkjOaPHosbD6uyYMl56RN8_8DyKDxPzn8Ks8AiWxRRGbeAbyaiZvrAusa-BLhV7kAn9yLIgQYv2WR490F80FJGpgOgR-u/s1993/IMGP5118.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1893" data-original-width="1993" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpPZei0-Q-QH8WwMi6c6dTA-gzQHUjiP_07WagnKAngpmty14NyFYkN6gUa2BuGCUFTNDQEUE0hZ9joc4wWsQ4Fb3_orhsbBOkjOaPHosbD6uyYMl56RN8_8DyKDxPzn8Ks8AiWxRRGbeAbyaiZvrAusa-BLhV7kAn9yLIgQYv2WR490F80FJGpgOgR-u/w400-h380/IMGP5118.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blades and Raiders engage in a battle on the boards.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Blades express continued to roll in the second period
holding a 15-2 edge in shots on goal, but it looked like their train was going
to be derailed by a brick wall in Hildebrand until near the end of the frame.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With 90 seconds remaining in the second, Blades
offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk blew home a point shot through a screen
with his team working on the power play to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Blades
star 19-year-old left-winger Brandon Lisowsky recorded his 200<sup>th</sup>
career WHL regular season point picking up an assist on Molendyk’s tally.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 205 career WHL regular season games, Lisowsky, who was
selected in the seventh round and 218<sup>th</sup> overall in the 2022 NHL
Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, has recorded his 200 points on 107
goals and 93 assists to go with a plus-46 rating in the plus-minus department. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7D7pJkhA6XWIeOu-0-RUukHZ-fsr-6SHUGBQAe9AukXBvzFditp1Wftzn7h1bfO7AJyUrQVQ3U99BWxAd69OLCfG-ZARk9MlcZog-Oz5-lzkrcsofywh4N1dlbha-I35fwZTkA5cNKyETDM-3vS8T6VOcj8D5_FwP01o14KxIwpkYIWNMIGkcyXSqVnA/s1989/IMGP5158.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1797" data-original-width="1989" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7D7pJkhA6XWIeOu-0-RUukHZ-fsr-6SHUGBQAe9AukXBvzFditp1Wftzn7h1bfO7AJyUrQVQ3U99BWxAd69OLCfG-ZARk9MlcZog-Oz5-lzkrcsofywh4N1dlbha-I35fwZTkA5cNKyETDM-3vS8T6VOcj8D5_FwP01o14KxIwpkYIWNMIGkcyXSqVnA/w400-h361/IMGP5158.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanner Molendyk gave the Blades a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal.</td></tr></tbody></table>Early in the third, the pot likely got stirred between the
two sides with a moment that will be remembered in their final three regular season
meetings. At the 1:41 mark of the third with teams playing four-versus-four
hockey due to offsetting penalties, Sidorov blew into the Prince Albert zone and
wired a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle for his 36<sup>th</sup>
goal of the season to increase the Blades advantage to 3-1.<div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Following the tally, Sidorov skated around the Prince Albert
goal and proceeded to do a chicken dance celebration looking straight at
Hildebrand. After the Raiders beat the Blades on Friday night in Prince Albert,
Hildebrand did a chicken dance celebration at the end of the game to celebrate
victory after making the final stop in the tiebreaking shootout. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgii5pXftqBL24cC7iyewTJh-t1u005rqK8tqgIhTo-ULU60chYBhFHMp-x1qAwdN7sbogaQeHnfPaUKqMjnh1BlMY4-qpekMOI9WyLD0-St1OTk3teSzvwCuPRFxxQBf0Bne3HGw1Gh5WNhEVUo7C-MtiqDxiWlBGukdu5bOiZK4boMUQpz8MjoJWAMg-K/s2503/IMGP5109.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="2503" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgii5pXftqBL24cC7iyewTJh-t1u005rqK8tqgIhTo-ULU60chYBhFHMp-x1qAwdN7sbogaQeHnfPaUKqMjnh1BlMY4-qpekMOI9WyLD0-St1OTk3teSzvwCuPRFxxQBf0Bne3HGw1Gh5WNhEVUo7C-MtiqDxiWlBGukdu5bOiZK4boMUQpz8MjoJWAMg-K/w400-h291/IMGP5109.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max Hildebrand covers up to make one of his 30 saves.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Raiders
were playing that game as a one night rebrand as the Cobra Chickens.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">After the Blades went ahead 3-1, the contest got a lot more
tight in the checking department. The Raiders held a slim 4-3 advantage in
shots on goal in the third.</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the 3:18 remaining in the third and the Blades working
on a power play, Raiders star left-winger Sloan Stanick stole the puck from the
Blades back end at the Prince Albert blue-line. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Stanick jetted down the ice on
a breakaway and roofed a short-handed goal past Blades netminder Austin Elliott
to cut the Saskatoon lead to 3-2. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-4LIenveGgypD0N2_fakSCDcli7u201-VQhbTMevs0AcKxKHMvh2N_5D_o4WyZwqzNcNdpkwnLLbBJmb7APhZcR686aHrAa26p6Adp-BCYqWeold4ZRiy-hzxoEjrMtZlSqEGbwmUx30k11jmd2Z2S5TlFR-_W3sjPPTAaNppL00FlUhWtddOaHiFBxl/s1993/IMGP5145.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="1993" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-4LIenveGgypD0N2_fakSCDcli7u201-VQhbTMevs0AcKxKHMvh2N_5D_o4WyZwqzNcNdpkwnLLbBJmb7APhZcR686aHrAa26p6Adp-BCYqWeold4ZRiy-hzxoEjrMtZlSqEGbwmUx30k11jmd2Z2S5TlFR-_W3sjPPTAaNppL00FlUhWtddOaHiFBxl/w400-h340/IMGP5145.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egor Sidorov (#19) does a chicken dance celly after his goal.</td></tr></tbody></table>The tally was the first short-handed goal the
Raiders had scored as a team on the season.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">While the Blades had controlled play for almost the game’s entirety,
there was still a realistic chance the Raiders could rally back and steal away
victory. </p><p class="MsoNormal">After Hildebrand was pulled for an extra attacker, the visitors
applied pressure in the Saskatoon zone, but were never able to find the
equalizer. The Blades shut things down defensively to get the win.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Elliott stopped seven shots to pick up the win in goal for
the Blades.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sidorov was given a 10-minute misconduct at the end of the
game for an unsportsmanlike engagement with the Prince Albert side.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zt44rCnUUcPx0r_t-FzdHhIA6RRwGr8fBwbddzhDPcb8U-q_W3iDSA5jlNDdueqbkPKMlCE9ChYa17MbrR8mB8fyvlEsDwFJdWnbYniYk3j5QxhKGwoa7Z8JdL3uaCY1pmZH2QHvqvv0S3VZd8pntEpaXG0Jqts4lzAsgTnf_8LZ15L0g5oS7zC3ldQh/s2490/IMGP4960.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2490" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zt44rCnUUcPx0r_t-FzdHhIA6RRwGr8fBwbddzhDPcb8U-q_W3iDSA5jlNDdueqbkPKMlCE9ChYa17MbrR8mB8fyvlEsDwFJdWnbYniYk3j5QxhKGwoa7Z8JdL3uaCY1pmZH2QHvqvv0S3VZd8pntEpaXG0Jqts4lzAsgTnf_8LZ15L0g5oS7zC3ldQh/w400-h246/IMGP4960.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sloan Stanick scored a short-handed goal for the Raiders.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Raiders fell to 20-23-1-3 with the loss and remained
tied with the 19-18-5-1 Calgary Hitmen for eighth place and the final playoff
berth in the Eastern Conference with 44 standings points. The Hitmen have four
games in hand on the Raiders.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Blades return to action on Sunday when they host the
22-18-2-2 Swift Current Broncos (4 p.m., SaskTel Centre).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders get back at it on Wednesday when they return
home to host the Red Deer Rebels (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLq3OosUmKBNihS8OmVGTCIeHw_oMdL2XJNsVZh_vq4-2hbqSqfTbpliwKmm6dhq_06oEYbLnT9NTI08wjOChsyakM15pNV82X8fwfndtgEhqotYmpvRBqrQq0d6txGXX95GmMAbsXuD63kaRl2VTgRucNkzcKjDD8hfqWBGxgDlyPU5sfoh94pjiMjIn/s2005/IMGP5187.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="2005" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLq3OosUmKBNihS8OmVGTCIeHw_oMdL2XJNsVZh_vq4-2hbqSqfTbpliwKmm6dhq_06oEYbLnT9NTI08wjOChsyakM15pNV82X8fwfndtgEhqotYmpvRBqrQq0d6txGXX95GmMAbsXuD63kaRl2VTgRucNkzcKjDD8hfqWBGxgDlyPU5sfoh94pjiMjIn/w400-h338/IMGP5187.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blades celebrate their win on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>In Saturday’s clash between the Blades and Raiders, the game’s
turning point came when Sonne blasted his players during the first media
timeout in the first period. When used with the correct timing, a coach going
off and public yelling out his players can still create a favourable outcome.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to <a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com">stankssports@gmail.com</a>.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<br /></i></p><p></p></div>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-4119899286021022282024-01-26T21:58:00.000-08:002024-01-27T22:03:45.816-08:00What a thrilling comeback!<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Raiders rally past Blades 5-4 after
tiebreaking shootout</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-W_hQm8-wgnC2nJ3bmZIWFXKnRB9JewoC89T39e58dU8XEEf7W6F0-AV7D3ZkkHf2HJUntvbzNPpy5g9wWX4eriGfJW3MnDoJAPgwmwD0aNZ24YXLgbfm0CKBw1hIf1SqGiqN29TcqjNcXewAqak8f2_zsASEPcCEjGQNLFzm-eVQfLThSgMf7rlDs37/s2487/IMGP4904.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="2487" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-W_hQm8-wgnC2nJ3bmZIWFXKnRB9JewoC89T39e58dU8XEEf7W6F0-AV7D3ZkkHf2HJUntvbzNPpy5g9wWX4eriGfJW3MnDoJAPgwmwD0aNZ24YXLgbfm0CKBw1hIf1SqGiqN29TcqjNcXewAqak8f2_zsASEPcCEjGQNLFzm-eVQfLThSgMf7rlDs37/w400-h303/IMGP4904.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raiders celebrate their 5-4 (SO) win on Friday night.</td></tr></tbody></table>PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Like a textbook match by The
Undertaker in WWE, the Prince Albert Raiders came back seemingly from the dead
to pull out victory.<p class="MsoNormal">On Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre, the Raiders, who
were rebranded as the Cobra Chickens for a one night promotion, appeared to be
dead in the water taking on their archrivals in the WHL leading Saskatoon
Blades. After 40 minutes of play, the Blades were up 4-2 and held a 28-11 edge
in shots on goal.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Seemingly out of nowhere, the Raiders found a new higher gear
in their skating legs. Raiders feisty 18-year-old centre Aiden Oiring scored at
the 6:31 mark of the third period to cut the Blades to 4-3.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkRSzmpKURkhAlHTeCMYPOzbQhVdvH2ngGwYzGxeaJ3I2oAVpt8FyXbHTKOn9hLtbY_g1yuHsgdrRooc5ZOKrQAgPvv_OXZldaqg2N_7Igo7ikyHND_WuU4Y-1kkoOgk9ZLG0h3NIKGu9HCyX8msEhnMdgUfNH_Nhy0KCuwOgOwwrxPCFiCHtnPZQbcIf/s2006/IMGP4836.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1823" data-original-width="2006" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkRSzmpKURkhAlHTeCMYPOzbQhVdvH2ngGwYzGxeaJ3I2oAVpt8FyXbHTKOn9hLtbY_g1yuHsgdrRooc5ZOKrQAgPvv_OXZldaqg2N_7Igo7ikyHND_WuU4Y-1kkoOgk9ZLG0h3NIKGu9HCyX8msEhnMdgUfNH_Nhy0KCuwOgOwwrxPCFiCHtnPZQbcIf/w400-h364/IMGP4836.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aiden Oiring scored the Raiders third goal on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Working on the power play and with netminder Max Hildebrand
pulled for an extra attacker, Raiders 20-year-old centre Turner McMillen popped
home the equalizer during a net scramble at the left side of the Saskatoon goal
with 40.3 seconds remaining in the third to force a 4-4 tie and overtime.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Following a scoreless overtime period, the two sides went to
a tiebreaking shootout. In the three round shootout, star import right-winger
Egor Sidorov scored for the Blades. Star 20-year-old left-winger Sloan Stanick
and 19-year-old import left-winger Krzysztof Macias tallied for the Raiders to
give the host a 2-1 win in the tiebreaking session and a 5-4 victory in the WHL
regular season contest.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After stopping Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky on
the final attempt in the shootout, Hildebrand did a sort of a chicken dance as
he was mobbed by his teammates. The 2,709 Raiders faithful in attendance at the
2,580 seat building soaking in the playing of “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon” by
The Guess Who as the host side brought an end to a five-game losing streak.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyiZkSmi86PdaxUqjC-vQlPvg3XEOOMuTG8E__nM6n7V7Poq6jQ2aNrpXBtH2L7B5-njuLOqneARv-BZLiE_dXvp17_Jj8EGy_ozJpMCBip4uDoUmOxX3RTd3P3iZrfD4zpgKluaoB-0eGovYeFYtymMQUX0UNo8ZyErOCx-IxS95Xyu2Wh_3gND-0W6m/s1907/IMGP4843(1).JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1819" data-original-width="1907" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyiZkSmi86PdaxUqjC-vQlPvg3XEOOMuTG8E__nM6n7V7Poq6jQ2aNrpXBtH2L7B5-njuLOqneARv-BZLiE_dXvp17_Jj8EGy_ozJpMCBip4uDoUmOxX3RTd3P3iZrfD4zpgKluaoB-0eGovYeFYtymMQUX0UNo8ZyErOCx-IxS95Xyu2Wh_3gND-0W6m/w400-h381/IMGP4843(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turner McMillen (#27) celebrates scoring the equalizer for P.A.</td></tr></tbody></table>“It is a big character win,” said Raiders rookie centre Oli
Chenier, who turned 17-years-old on Friday. “We showed that we really can
compete with anyone in this league tonight.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“If we play a full 60 (minutes), I don’t think a lot of
teams have a chance with us. It is just up to us to show up prepared for every
game.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Raiders opened the game’s scoring tallying on the power
play just 2:41 into the opening frame. Raiders winger Brayden Dube had the puck
on the left wing boards and centred a pass to Chenier in front of the Saskatoon
net. Chenier tipped the puck home to give the host side a 1-0 edge.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Chenier was pumped to score on his birthday.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeVq0qFGWPQGzNko6q8P8zxwksIt76IHoa8HNEUIhPvMkZ8TiGi6XVinE_Tzv0bdFLkUaVDLU6LSHYFYD68Qr-eJleW_oPa-6fbsm1PkVxgAAEjBOxdtjecOJ_XJV5HwEN4NPU9z8CVoNWEELXv8uRC_GKph5I-zmCmfVQfRJLoe_T3akYHSqns87r836/s2509/IMGP4700.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1937" data-original-width="2509" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeVq0qFGWPQGzNko6q8P8zxwksIt76IHoa8HNEUIhPvMkZ8TiGi6XVinE_Tzv0bdFLkUaVDLU6LSHYFYD68Qr-eJleW_oPa-6fbsm1PkVxgAAEjBOxdtjecOJ_XJV5HwEN4NPU9z8CVoNWEELXv8uRC_GKph5I-zmCmfVQfRJLoe_T3akYHSqns87r836/w400-h309/IMGP4700.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max Hildebrand (#30) covers a loose puck during a net scramble.</td></tr></tbody></table>“I couldn’t ask for a better gift right there,” said Chenier.
“That was really good to start off the night like that.”<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades evened things up at 1-1 scoring a power play of
their own with 8:04 remaining in the first, when veteran centre Tyler Parr
snuck in a shot from the front of the Prince Albert net.</p><p class="MsoNormal">With 3:36 remaining in the opening frame, Stanick circled
from the right boards to the front of the Saskatoon goal and blew home his 20<sup>th</sup>
tally of the season to give the hosts a 2-1 edge.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades controlled a lot of the zone play in the opening 20
minutes outshooting the Raiders 12-5 in the frame.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LBmeQ36SsHatcqPKbku7BxdFju0bGKSC9sqnoaKprMBSDgyPJxhyphenhyphenVaXNVVjjYVffGE6bHI5GlV0saGnkMmabhyphenhyphenlK2PIhMJN3YtB-kDrlhGVEZhw_jB2w_c548IxJJLu2WEPYKBSbBkYfLheKr7EdajEE3RvqjvesO-g7ZaCN0tFv9RSw_w920qrApKC3/s1999/IMGP4877.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="1999" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LBmeQ36SsHatcqPKbku7BxdFju0bGKSC9sqnoaKprMBSDgyPJxhyphenhyphenVaXNVVjjYVffGE6bHI5GlV0saGnkMmabhyphenhyphenlK2PIhMJN3YtB-kDrlhGVEZhw_jB2w_c548IxJJLu2WEPYKBSbBkYfLheKr7EdajEE3RvqjvesO-g7ZaCN0tFv9RSw_w920qrApKC3/w400-h339/IMGP4877.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon Lisowsky scored twice for the Blades on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>At the 4:08 mark of the second, the Blades evened the score
at 2-2 when Lisowsky slipped home his 27<sup>th</sup> goal of the season from a
bad angle from the left side of the Prince Albert net.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Blades proceeded to go ahead for the first time on the
night when star 20-year-old left-winger Easton Armstrong snapped home his 23<sup>rd</sup>
goal of the tally of the season from the front of the Prince Albert net to give
the visitors a 3-2 edge. With 5:37 remaining in the second, Lisowsky scored on
the power play to account for their second tally of the contest to push the
Blades edge out to 4-2.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt said the players said to
themselves in the second intermission they weren’t going to give up. They made
a renewed commitment to get back into the contest.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AF1X8Ev5ZNgnOgn-vXUevuKZnocX7dsO9IFke-qBor4yDbPdFnBiI0sJNlWqb5oRVNHLcML7z1JVNR8C3FeQkgSeSDpA8PRuBFujJ_519urJYIfOO4JKFjJjdLHd-toz57Mts7OwGCbqsgQXnuhhxzNUINqWR7G0EDDeuTawvZgj6jBQ9KEPhZubYcAC/s1978/IMGP4736.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="1978" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AF1X8Ev5ZNgnOgn-vXUevuKZnocX7dsO9IFke-qBor4yDbPdFnBiI0sJNlWqb5oRVNHLcML7z1JVNR8C3FeQkgSeSDpA8PRuBFujJ_519urJYIfOO4JKFjJjdLHd-toz57Mts7OwGCbqsgQXnuhhxzNUINqWR7G0EDDeuTawvZgj6jBQ9KEPhZubYcAC/w400-h373/IMGP4736.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easton Armstrong scored the Blades third goal on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“It is a character builder,” said Truitt. “It is a lesson,
and our guys just seemed to rise to the occasion at times against a very good
team.”<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the third period, the Raiders outshot the Blades 14-11 on
their way to getting goals for Oiring and McMillen to pull even on the
scoreboard. McMillen, who is from Cairevale, Sask., played two seasons for the
Prince Albert Mintos Under-18 AAA team from 2018 to 2020 before embarking on
his junior career.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After playing a little over four seasons with the Kelowna
Rockets, McMillen was released this past October, and he moved to the junior A
ranks joining the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins. The Raiders added McMillen to their
roster on January 8.</p><p class="MsoNormal">McMillen said he remembered everything with his equalizer as
just being a blur. He remembered hearing the crowd at the Art Hauser Centre
sounding really loud and was pumped to help the Raiders get the comeback win.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVn-XUIaDU6MRd2KSVa1nZ4oVp6peGR3dz3yRSaat4qBYI9VD54QquT-FXhC9oTtMoZYQZ9IpiRCqOYffYS9EJK4L6-ErFIGKS_BBKBfcYNwu7SakF_E8Sci-B-jO1PJNFXraSmoMClwEPZTg6x9oW0LZQusq0X_eV_qtqZBhusCpLeTs-EAhG2OB7bIJ/s2000/IMGP4722.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2000" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVn-XUIaDU6MRd2KSVa1nZ4oVp6peGR3dz3yRSaat4qBYI9VD54QquT-FXhC9oTtMoZYQZ9IpiRCqOYffYS9EJK4L6-ErFIGKS_BBKBfcYNwu7SakF_E8Sci-B-jO1PJNFXraSmoMClwEPZTg6x9oW0LZQusq0X_eV_qtqZBhusCpLeTs-EAhG2OB7bIJ/w400-h364/IMGP4722.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oli Chenier scored the Raiders first goal on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table>“I love it here,” said McMillen, who had an assist to go
with his goal. “I love the city.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“It was definitely one of my favourite rinks. I can say that
again. The fans are amazing.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hildebrand stopped 41 shots in goal for the Raiders over 65
minutes and two-of-three shooters he faced in the shootout. The Raiders
improved to 20-22-1-3 with the win and remained tied with the Calgary Hitmen
(19-18-5-1) for eighth place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 44 standings
points. The Hitmen have three games in hand on the Raiders.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Evan Gardner turned away 21 shots in net for the Blades over
65 minutes and turned back one-of-three shooters in the shootout. The Blades, who are rated second in the CHL Top 10 Rankings, continued to top the WHL’s overall standings as their record moved to 31-9-2-3.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrT0Q2x2ktTnR7FkqxB_pdwqImnJypWN-fjGTMhpY5iNsYSkU02X-a7cdV8oZbg6meAFEKVrLVSUAbNVakcRvMXOwYD5tFICKvOsV_kRgBGaYioz4gq7J_vnq2oKF-v0feyyhLQxG2QTdm9IO6rgMlLmIYdBvARKfKxCoOUllYVbuytkcSY6VyA-h8osYB/s3006/IMGP4745.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1991" data-original-width="3006" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrT0Q2x2ktTnR7FkqxB_pdwqImnJypWN-fjGTMhpY5iNsYSkU02X-a7cdV8oZbg6meAFEKVrLVSUAbNVakcRvMXOwYD5tFICKvOsV_kRgBGaYioz4gq7J_vnq2oKF-v0feyyhLQxG2QTdm9IO6rgMlLmIYdBvARKfKxCoOUllYVbuytkcSY6VyA-h8osYB/w400-h265/IMGP4745.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raiders mascot PIMS hangs with the Art Hauser Centre faithful.</td></tr></tbody></table>The two sides go at it again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the
Art Hauser Centre.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Overall, Truitt was proud of how his players rallied to pull
out the come-from-behind victory.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“It was no easy task,” said Truitt. “It was a bit of an
emotional game.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“The emotions were up 2-1 and were down 4-2 and comeback to
4-4. To do it against this team, you respect your opponent there is no doubt.
There is a reason why they are ranked number one.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qba-qP61gN1SIWGiJCqjnGIEDNmmL4tLNtGobyJTCR6zhEzkA8PP2UnlYtFhQm_0yT5qyz7Mja5qh74Mr8T3i63D09rxc66yKq-Lk9pW3zvevpu2OmbBrxtsQzmkI73Yon_eZsoMbqDlWJHIMEJg8iTo7t81MKSlZ4WglrB6rtyjzUMVR90XpGH-rzkw/s3015/IMGP4909.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="3015" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qba-qP61gN1SIWGiJCqjnGIEDNmmL4tLNtGobyJTCR6zhEzkA8PP2UnlYtFhQm_0yT5qyz7Mja5qh74Mr8T3i63D09rxc66yKq-Lk9pW3zvevpu2OmbBrxtsQzmkI73Yon_eZsoMbqDlWJHIMEJg8iTo7t81MKSlZ4WglrB6rtyjzUMVR90XpGH-rzkw/w400-h276/IMGP4909.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raiders salute their fans after Friday’s win.</td></tr></tbody></table>“They’ve got a deep, deep lineup and good players all over
the place. I have to give our guys a lot of credit here tonight for coming back
the way they did.”<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to <a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com">stankssports@gmail.com</a>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">-------</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-15806161610766694682024-01-20T21:57:00.000-08:002024-01-20T23:09:55.772-08:00Lalor hits milestone, Huskies win sixth straight<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg89SFWBE4kN43wGvQGG97JNFz7H0aXD1XRNhdnbnbbjc2W9jVBb_Gur-ElQ1L5JABSNn8Bw4plbcUq6SG4u9tfuESahjOdklCCJqPLnq4AEJqCEXhw6K7-BxZWckrh52JaMhluokDHThxWj2_MDzmmpAQSct5XFo7YnERXZloXe0OEOmdZGvxJKbLfUwa/s2003/IMGP8942.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1974" data-original-width="2003" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg89SFWBE4kN43wGvQGG97JNFz7H0aXD1XRNhdnbnbbjc2W9jVBb_Gur-ElQ1L5JABSNn8Bw4plbcUq6SG4u9tfuESahjOdklCCJqPLnq4AEJqCEXhw6K7-BxZWckrh52JaMhluokDHThxWj2_MDzmmpAQSct5XFo7YnERXZloXe0OEOmdZGvxJKbLfUwa/w400-h394/IMGP8942.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie Lalor scored her 10th goal of the regular season on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Sophie Lalor became a member of “Club 10.”<p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday night, Lalor became the first member of the
University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey Team to hit the 10-goal
plateau in regular season play in four years. The fourth-year winger scored the
Huskies first goal in a 2-1 U Sports regular season victory over the visiting
MacEwan University Griffins before 450 spectators are Merlis Belsher Place.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The win was the sixth straight for the Huskies, who are
rated 10<sup>th</sup> in the U Sports Top 10 Rankings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lalor netted her milestone goal with a power-play marker at
the 11:18 mark of the first period, which gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the
contest. With the tally, Lalor finished the night having recorded 10 goals and
eight assists to go with a plus-eight rating in the plus-minus department
appearing in all of the Huskies 22 regular season games.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Penticton, B.C., product’s 10 goals and 18 points are
career highs. Her eight assists equals a career high set back in the 2019-20
season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before Lalor hit the 10-goal mark, the last Huskies player
to score 10-or-more goals in one regular season was heart-and-soul forward
Bailee Bourassa back in the 2019-20 campaign. In 2019-20, Bourassa appeared in
all of the Huskies 28 regular season games recording 12 goals, seven assists
and a plus-five rating.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Offensive-defender Isabella Pozzi, who is in her fifth season of U Sports eligibilty, picked up the lone assist
on Lalor’s power-play goal against the Griffins. With the helper, Pozzi now has
career highs in goals (four), assists (eight) and points (12) this season to go
along with a plus-six rating.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies outshot the Griffins 18-7 in the opening 20
minutes, but the visitors managed to send the contest into the first
intermission locked in a 1-1 draw. At the 14:41 mark of the first period,
forward Joie Simon netted the equalizer for the Griffins with rookie defender
Ali Macaulay picking up the lone assist on the play.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0-sb4WvAJYB88LsSN_6KiPGgXi2HOOwI47Ko40KpFjT4fG3y6agIHfV1V5kvAfdt82b_WOLkVU7kH2lT6U_-cAh8RXZ_M5J9Vd4qYZo7_SKNpzLEfW3md4PLMuw6BYxEejqbXHNtvwvZ2sJL0ERSEhrMZWTd-gZuZi4x_MZnKVF3pXUtzgY-ZX7PJlrS/s2002/IMGP8943.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="2002" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0-sb4WvAJYB88LsSN_6KiPGgXi2HOOwI47Ko40KpFjT4fG3y6agIHfV1V5kvAfdt82b_WOLkVU7kH2lT6U_-cAh8RXZ_M5J9Vd4qYZo7_SKNpzLEfW3md4PLMuw6BYxEejqbXHNtvwvZ2sJL0ERSEhrMZWTd-gZuZi4x_MZnKVF3pXUtzgY-ZX7PJlrS/w400-h335/IMGP8943.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie Lalor has career highs in goals (10) and points (18).</td></tr></tbody></table>The teams played through a fairly even second period with
the Huskies holding a 12-11 edge in shots on goal for the frame.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">At the 9:13 mark of the third, Huskies third-year winger
Kelsey Hall potted her seventh goal of the season that held up as the winner in
the Huskies 2-1 victory. The tally was Hall’s third game winner of the
campaign.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the season, Hall has career highs in goals (seven),
assists (six) and points (13) to go with a plus-four rating appearing in all
the Huskies 22 regular season games.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rookie forward Ava Bergman picked up the lone assist on Hall’s
goal. The helper was Bergman’s first career regular season point in U Sports
play. She has appeared in six regular season contests for the Huskies in the
current campaign.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Colby Wilson made 20 saves to pick up the win in goal for
the Huskies. Brianna Sank turned away 34 shots to take the setback in goal for
the Griffins.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the win, the Huskies improve to 16-4-1-1 to sit fourth
in the Canada West Conference. The lowest they can finish in the Canada West
standings is fourth, which means they will have home ice advantage for at least
one series in the conference playoffs. The Huskies will host the U Sports Women’s
Hockey Championship Tournament from March 14 to 17 at Merlis Belsher Place.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies sit two standings points behind the defending U
Sports champion Mount Royal University Cougars (18-4) for third in the
conference and four standings points back of the U of Alberta Pandas (18-2-1-1)
for second in the conference. The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
top the Canada West standings with a 20-1-1-2 mark.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Griffins fell to 3-20-1 with the loss and sit last in the
nine-team Canada West.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Hxqr7wzLC2RToFVfgRzM_GaOi3yldDN2_26v0RDfjqVoyo7XyNyitj-Jan5sNT3lSIAae94gc86QMkxKVDdS85brXP-RpQv8dPbKiQ3ZVRhozyssdoH0-e14UmRTZHpPbuDXsPADu4N4cOz-owW97dINTOA_iE_mhPd8Eyj1dslXWFJ-yE0JIMxoJTJ/s2001/IMGP9001.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="2001" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Hxqr7wzLC2RToFVfgRzM_GaOi3yldDN2_26v0RDfjqVoyo7XyNyitj-Jan5sNT3lSIAae94gc86QMkxKVDdS85brXP-RpQv8dPbKiQ3ZVRhozyssdoH0-e14UmRTZHpPbuDXsPADu4N4cOz-owW97dINTOA_iE_mhPd8Eyj1dslXWFJ-yE0JIMxoJTJ/w400-h351/IMGP9001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabella Pozzi picked up an assist on Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>The Huskies return to action on Friday when they travel to
Edmonton to take on the Pandas (7 p.m. local time, Clare Drake Arena).<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like
this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the
DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you<a name="_GoBack"></a> for
stopping in.</i></p><p></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263168224522398908.post-2583804213170681182024-01-17T00:49:00.000-08:002024-01-17T00:56:59.091-08:00Blades will be fun to watch for rest of 2023-24 campaign<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjgEvmcS7qGOz5s6PqVIbSVC4ju03ibBcK4c7uZ8TDxN2ZNwcFWd4O2Do0Mo5W0qh6LgvXT1j4ofxOrj2dFW-PfuGRYzI10b1IoYHbfL79LvslCjhX1yKuKajDxE0jBdFD68b2wQFxjem2r0n3Hs1qbqtnGBwItbrqQQlvC11bFKNZy2Gt4997a7XFN4s/s2009/IMGP4396.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="2009" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjgEvmcS7qGOz5s6PqVIbSVC4ju03ibBcK4c7uZ8TDxN2ZNwcFWd4O2Do0Mo5W0qh6LgvXT1j4ofxOrj2dFW-PfuGRYzI10b1IoYHbfL79LvslCjhX1yKuKajDxE0jBdFD68b2wQFxjem2r0n3Hs1qbqtnGBwItbrqQQlvC11bFKNZy2Gt4997a7XFN4s/w400-h311/IMGP4396.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blades celebrate a win over the Pats this past Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Brennan Sonne will get to be the hockey equivalent of the “mad
scientist” offensive coordinator you would see in football for the next little bit.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Saskatoon Blades head coach has a wonderful mix of
skilled and good character players to work with for the rest of the current
2023-24 WHL campaign. The Blades sit first overall in the WHL with a 29-8-2-2
record, and they were rated first in the CHL’s Top 10 Rankings that were
released on Tuesday. That marks the first time the Blades have topped the CHL
Top 10 Rankings this season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over a little past the first half of the regular season,
Blades general manager Colin Priestner did a fantastic job of solidifying the team’s
roster through the trade route. All trades came to a conclusion for the current
campaign when the WHL’s trade deadline passed at 4 p.m. Saskatchewan time on
January 10.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Priestner was able to add assistance around a solid core
group of players in the likes of captain Trevor Wong, Brandon Lisowsky, Egor
Sidorov, Vaughn Watterodt, Tyler Parr, Lukas Hansen, Tanner Molendyk, Charlie
Wright, Ben Saunderson and Austin Elliott. The biggest additions via the trade
route include forwards Fraser Minten, Easton Armstrong, Alexander Suzdalev and
defenceman John Babcock. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuPvxqQz0ycZsL4H-cyjslzaz5bMmEMt-sh5yb4nvHV7e5glsfKYhwgD5S18OMmEkWhv050eS5uFcAkEtykpptt-pRxrXVVJHc8MZxXcra86zq-xblk8qj69nEAmiginJqaNLmAYTOnn7Jpp4sYVnTV05BoSS90_q5n5I6-gynXoCN9NkoLK1qp5C2B1U/s2005/IMGP4381.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="2005" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuPvxqQz0ycZsL4H-cyjslzaz5bMmEMt-sh5yb4nvHV7e5glsfKYhwgD5S18OMmEkWhv050eS5uFcAkEtykpptt-pRxrXVVJHc8MZxXcra86zq-xblk8qj69nEAmiginJqaNLmAYTOnn7Jpp4sYVnTV05BoSS90_q5n5I6-gynXoCN9NkoLK1qp5C2B1U/w400-h320/IMGP4381.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraser Minten in action for the Blades this past Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Babcock was acquired on trade deadline day in a three-way
deal with the Kelowna Rockets and Edmonton Oil Kings. The Blades sent a second
round selection in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft and a fourth round pick in the
2026 Prospects Draft to the Rockets and second round Prospects Draft pick in
2026 to the Oil Kings.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Rockets sent Babcock, who is a sound 19-year-old
defensive-defenceman, to the Blades and 17-year-old defenceman Ismail
Abougouche to the Oil Kings. The Oil Kings sent 18-year-old defenceman Carter
Kowalyk and a fourth round selection in the 2025 Prospects Draft to the
Rockets.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saskatoon had to make some give ups to acquire Suzdalev from
the Regina Pats on December 31, 2023 and Minten from the Kamloops Blazers on
November 24, 2023. In those two deals, the Blades dealt away three roster
players, one list player and six Prospects Draft selections. That included
sending the Blazers first round picks in 2024 and 2025 Prospects Drafts and the
Pats a first round selection in 2026 Prospects Draft.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglvV7jk0bJqJkZs5ziUajYDg7b2xg_3WHEp48QnpadR9HyQFDZy_uvej20fllhyW181YLwqJ167aC2bC3wBsgjDtmRFJioMKuw5p1XmvSIyiekaN48NxBFfgnzUvY-VTGqOd73ZMUEG-MiMJZedERMMW1THsaYpkQdqiBbB_1EU8exp3e3LSWyiX0KMKl/s2003/IMGP4313.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1853" data-original-width="2003" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglvV7jk0bJqJkZs5ziUajYDg7b2xg_3WHEp48QnpadR9HyQFDZy_uvej20fllhyW181YLwqJ167aC2bC3wBsgjDtmRFJioMKuw5p1XmvSIyiekaN48NxBFfgnzUvY-VTGqOd73ZMUEG-MiMJZedERMMW1THsaYpkQdqiBbB_1EU8exp3e3LSWyiX0KMKl/w400-h370/IMGP4313.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexander Suzdalev in action for the Blades this past Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table>With those moves, the Blades were able to get Minten,
Suzdalev and a sixth round pick in the 2025 Prospects Draft.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Blades didn’t have to give up near that much to get
Armstrong from the Wenatchee Wild on October 10, 2023. Due to the fact
Armstrong is a 20-year-old, the Blades set the Wild a third round selection in
the 2025 Prospects Draft and a conditional sixth round pick in the 2027
Prospects Draft.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saskatoon acquired 19-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann
in a significant trade with the Calgary Hitmen on October 10, 2023 and 19-year-old
defenceman Nicholas Andrusiak in a deal with the Red Deer Rebels for a fifth
round pick in the 2025 Prospects Draft on December 12, 2023. Siepmann and
Andrusiak have been solid and consistent since joining the Blades, and their
experience has shown through.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With world juniors having wrapped up on January 5, the trade
deadline in the rearview mirror and Molendyk having returned from healing up a
fractured wrist, this past weekend was the first time the Blades had pretty
much everyone on their roster available to be used. They were without two
defencemen due upper body injuries in 18-year-old veteran Carter Herman
(week-to-week) and rookie Morgan Tastad (day-to-day), who turned 18-years-old on
January 10. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMMCX18Vdl6X-phxrDT6EyFdhUSyCk3ow6MrBhDSm-6v5n8NKlF_2PW-O2laUW5xPEWrT2W8Ux_iO-S-boH0ZLU1UNAZ4FmNb3OBVnhLwUYpx3HVaYDNQS27Wzo9Vm90_DyMWrnQAsXqIGtWV9JJF-76cke6jI8JeBCAe5sjE2cdMddFKX_5T1sDcUbbX/s1909/IMGP4099.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1909" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMMCX18Vdl6X-phxrDT6EyFdhUSyCk3ow6MrBhDSm-6v5n8NKlF_2PW-O2laUW5xPEWrT2W8Ux_iO-S-boH0ZLU1UNAZ4FmNb3OBVnhLwUYpx3HVaYDNQS27Wzo9Vm90_DyMWrnQAsXqIGtWV9JJF-76cke6jI8JeBCAe5sjE2cdMddFKX_5T1sDcUbbX/w400-h334/IMGP4099.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egor Sidorov in action for the Blades this past Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>Both Herman and Tastad can be everyday players, so they will
add greatly to the Blades back end depth when they return.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a 5-4 overtime win over the Victoria Royals this past
Saturday and a 6-1 triumph over the Pats this past Sunday both at the SaskTel
Centre, the Blades coaches mixed up their forward lines, especially in the
clash with the Royals. The line of 19-year-old left-winger Rhett Melnyk,
18-year-old centre Misha Volotovskii and 18-year-old right-winger Rowan Calvert
was the one unit that stayed together.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the victory over the Pats, the Blades coaches put
imports Suzdalev and Sidorov together on a line. The two had a strong
pre-existing friendship before Suzdalev came over to the Blades. Wong centred
the line with Suzdalev playing left wing and Sidorov on right wing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Still, the Blades coaches have a number of line combinations
to tinker with in order to find which forward units have the best chemistry.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the next week, the Blades should be well tested due to
the fact the number one rating in the CHL Top 10 Rankings should see them be a
target foes get up a little extra for. The Blades are back at it on Wednesday,
when they travel to Red Deer to take on the 22-13-1-4 Rebels (7 p.m. local
time, Peavey Mart Centrium).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQMV8-RwgIGhH1AcyBlcnKYRuxb7HHO-TuGLwYkRcVf6lWvkfG8fQVCc4L-X09F7PjsNT2DEDIIebsVLLXc9dhgvotk8n3PbBl0xzyeRIvtCqj3G7jcQJ4xqzVUDaWwieACbAy9LAIdF1D8majVF_pqPIGcCYiqHSpGx8M6ewZ4-hgzxSgvJNIT2dswWH/s1585/IMGP4152.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="1561" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQMV8-RwgIGhH1AcyBlcnKYRuxb7HHO-TuGLwYkRcVf6lWvkfG8fQVCc4L-X09F7PjsNT2DEDIIebsVLLXc9dhgvotk8n3PbBl0xzyeRIvtCqj3G7jcQJ4xqzVUDaWwieACbAy9LAIdF1D8majVF_pqPIGcCYiqHSpGx8M6ewZ4-hgzxSgvJNIT2dswWH/w394-h400/IMGP4152.JPG" width="394" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Babcock plays for the Blades this past Saturday.</td></tr></tbody></table>To the credit of the Blades coaches and management, they
aren’t getting ahead of themselves. They know having a strong roster doesn’t
guarantee success or a long playoff run. They just focus on what they have to
do that day to their best of their abilities, and so far good results have
followed.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Going forward, this will be a fun Blades team to watch. So far
this season, the Blades have done a good job drawing younger fans who are often
players on minor hockey teams in Saskatoon and area as the team has averaged
4,972 spectators over 18 home dates. The ground work the Blades players put in
for years with elementary school visits and making guest coach appearances with
minor hockey teams is paying off.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The youngsters bring a good healthy enthusiasm that creates
a great atmosphere to the games. It is evident those Blades players on the ice
are their heroes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you follow the lead of the youngsters as a ticket buyer,
the SaskTel Centre is going to be a great place to be.</p>
<h1><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Rivalry Series game set for Feb. 7 in Saskatoon, other
notes<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pT8Mey7eR-qy-a_oddBq52_7mzCwFPPw5HybG8Li9bv4FH_av5iRHeoGs781Q4vNxm0DcxOQlJh2D42tKA8lRaHU642UWXNKfn53SpEVzS5vLNlipj11h68d5mk6b921UyukmiFsFpzZHzzLX3ixWl09UZsNXJ287GgVmsajPtZvz9oPDXTB6mR4iFMh/s2907/IMGP5294.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2748" data-original-width="2907" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pT8Mey7eR-qy-a_oddBq52_7mzCwFPPw5HybG8Li9bv4FH_av5iRHeoGs781Q4vNxm0DcxOQlJh2D42tKA8lRaHU642UWXNKfn53SpEVzS5vLNlipj11h68d5mk6b921UyukmiFsFpzZHzzLX3ixWl09UZsNXJ287GgVmsajPtZvz9oPDXTB6mR4iFMh/w400-h378/IMGP5294.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily Clark walks out to the SaskTel Centre in November of 2018.</td></tr></tbody></table>For the first time since 2018, the SaskTel Centre will get
to play host one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Wednesday, February 7 at 7 p.m., Canada’s senior national
women’s hockey team will face the United States in Game 5 of the Rivalry
Series. The U.S. leads the 2023-24 edition of the seven-game series 3-1 heading
into Game 5 in Saskatoon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Canada took Game 4 of the set 3-2 after a tiebreaking
shootout back on December 16, 2023 at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena in
Sarnia, Ont. Last season, the U.S. won the first three games of the series, but
Canada rallied back taking the last four contests to capture the series win.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Canada’s roster will feature power forward and 28-year-old
Saskatoon product Emily Clark. Clark has one goal over the first four games of
the series. She is an assistant captain with Ottawa’s team in the PWHL and has
played two games with the Ottawa side.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clark is an alumna of the Saskatoon Stars Female Under-18
AAA Hockey Team.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last time Canada and the U.S. played against each other
in Saskatoon was back on November 10, 2018 in the championship game of the 4
Nations Cup tournament held at the SaskTel Centre. The U.S. claimed a 5-2
victory in that encounter.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clark wasn’t able to play at that 4 Nations Cup due to an
injured left leg.</p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Saskatoon product Berkly
Catton is having a sensational sophomore WHL season playing centre for the
Spokane Chiefs. Appearing in all the Chiefs 39 games this season, Catton
has posted 64 points coming off 27 goals and 37 assists to go with a
plus-11 rating in the plus-minus department. Catton turned 18-years-old on
Sunday. Entering play on Wednesday, he sits seventh in the WHL’s scoring
race.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Gavin McKenna is having an
outstanding rookie season playing left wing for the Medicine Hat Tigers.
In 36 games with the Tigers, McKenna has 52 points coming off 17 goals and
35 assists. McKenna turned 16-years-old on December 20, 2023. Due to his
December birthday, McKenna will play two more full more seasons in the WHL
before becoming eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 2026.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">On January 9, I had new content appear on the
Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put
together a feature on 16-year-old Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club skater
Melissa Scutchings, who skated in the Canada Winter Games that ran February 18
to March 5, 2023 across Prince Edward Island. The piece on Scutchings can be
found by clicking <a href="https://howehappenings306.blogspot.com/2024/01/scutchings-focus-on-fun-opens-doors-in.html" target="_blank">right here</a>. I also put together a photo roundup that shows
photos of some of the facilities at the Complex on January 3 when warm weather
winter conditions still existed. The photo roundup also showed fun at the
Indoor Training Centre. That post can be found by clicking <a href="https://howehappenings306.blogspot.com/2024/01/warmer-than-seasonal-outside-lots-of.html" target="_blank">right here</a>.</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to </i><a href="mailto:stankssports@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stankssports@gmail.com</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 111.75pt;">-------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you like what you
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stopping in.</i></p>Darren Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02905003550164445166noreply@blogger.com