Blades persevere 4-1 past Bedard, Pats in Game 7

Saskatoon claims series deciding contest in front of sellout

The Blades celebrate a third period goal from Vaughn Watterodt (#18).

The Saskatoon Blades finally got past a formidable foe in Connor Bedard and his gritty Regina Pats.

On Monday playing before a sellout and SaskTel Centre CHL post-season record crowd of 14,768 spectators, the Blades gutted their way through 39 scoreless minutes before downing the visiting Pats 4-1 in a series deciding Game 7 in their WHL first round playoff series. The win allowed the Blades to take the best-of-seven set 4-3.

“It was amazing,” said Blades gritty veteran right-winger Vaughn Watterodt, who had a goal and was a plus-two in the plus-minus department for the Blades on Monday. “We have a real special group of guys.

Vaughn Watterodt had a goal for the Blades on Monday.

“I’m really proud of the boys. This is only one step. It was fun.

“It was a great series. It was a big learning lesson for us. I’m just really proud of the boys and how we persevered.”

The Blades entered the series as favourites having finished fourth overall in the WHL standings with a 48-15-4-1 record and were rated 10^th in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Pats finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with a 34-30-3-1 mark. Still, Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock said his squad believed they could take the series.

Drew Sim (#33) makes one of his 36 saves in goal for the Pats.

“We expected to win as anybody should and would,” said Paddock. “We came so close.

“I think it makes it harder right now, because you were right there.”

Saskatoon advances to face the Red Deer Rebels in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Rebels finished fifth overall in the WHL regular season standings and topped the Central Division with a 43-19-3-3 record. They eliminated the Calgary Hitmen in five games in a best-of-seven first round series.

Connor Bedard (#98) is pinned by Aidan De La Gorgendiere.

Following the first round of the playoffs, home ice advantage and seeding is determined just by standings points. As a result, the Blades, who were second in the East Division, will have home ice advantage against the Rebels. Game 1 of that series is set for Friday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

Before focusing on Red Deer, Blades head coach Brennan Sonne marveled at all the twist and turns his squad experienced in the seven-game series victory over the Pats.

“It was a crazy series,” said Sonne. “That was the craziest series I had ever been a part of going down 2-0 at home, two overtime games after that, three total overtime games, right down to Game 7, one goal lead with two minutes left or whatever it was.

Part of the sellout crowd of 14,768 cheer on the Blades.

“That was as entertaining and as crazy as it gets.”

As for Monday’s Game 7 battle between the Blades and Pats, the two sides went through a feeling out process to start the contest as the shots on goal were tied 1-1 after the first 5:30 of the opening frame. After that point in time, the two clubs went back up and down the ice for the rest of the stanza.

The Pats best scoring chance came shortly after the midway point of the frame off a rush by Bedard, who is the Pats 17-year-old phenom centre. Bedard seemingly skated through three Blades players to get in alone on Saskatoon netminder Austin Elliott.

Egor Sidorov (#19) shields the puck in the offensive zone.

The Pats captain tried to shoot between the legs of Elliott, but Elliott stoned the North Vancouver, B.C., product to huge cheers from the SaskTel Centre faithful. Right after that chance, the Blades went back the other way, and Saskatoon star centre Trevor Wong was stoned in close by Pats netminder Drew Sim.

After the first period concluded, the game remained scoreless with the Blades holding a 15-9 edge in shots on goal thanks to the play of Elliott and Sim.

The Blades controlled play for most of the second. Early in the frame, Wong wired a shot on the Regina net but the puck hit the crossbar and post and stayed out.

Jake Chiasson scored the winning goal for the Blades.

The Pats proceeded to have a huge chance to go in front first. Bedard jetted down the right wing of the Saskatoon zone below the icing line. He centered a pass to linemate Tanner Howe, who was alone at the left side of the Blades goal.

Howe was stopped in close by Elliott, but a net scramble ensued. It seemed everyone on the ice converged on the crease and crashed into the Pats goal before the officials blew the play down. The officials went to a video review to confirm no goal was scored.

The Blades finally broke through on the scoreboard with 13.3 seconds left in the second on a goal from an unassuming source. Holding the puck by the right boards in the Regina zone, Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky smartly drifted the puck towards the Pats net, and it was deflected home by Saskatoon utility player Spencer Shugrue to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The Pats were unable to score on this mad scramble in the second.

“It was a very important goal,” said Sonne. “It was a very import time, especially based on that period.

“It was really important that we got something out of all that work. That is how we’re build. That is who we are.”

At the 7:56 mark of the third, the Blades extended their lead to 2-0, when star left-winger Jake Chiasson got in close to the left side of the Regina net and snapped home a shot for his second tally of the post-season.

The Pats didn’t go away. With 6:10 remaining in the third, Bedard fired a point shot at the Saskatoon net creating a scramble. Pats star import offensive-defenceman Stanislav Svozil was able to bat home the puck during the scramble to cut the Blades lead to 2-1.

Spencer Shugrue, left, celebrates scoring for the Blades.

Bedard picked up an assist on Svozil’s tally for his final point of the WHL post-season. In the seven game series, Bedard recorded 10 goals, 10 assists and a plus-eight rating in the plus-minus department. The North Vancouver, B.C., product was in on 20 of the Pats 26 goals in the series.

“He (Bedard)probably did more than I thought he would do,” said Paddock. “What he has done all year is outrageous.

“To have 19 points in six games in playoffs like who does that? In the last 10 days or so, I’ve had more people from the league just sort of side conversations they had never seen anything like it what he is able to do. I had an NHL scout say to me after the game on Saturday like he has so much determination to get it done.

Connor Bedard had an assist for the Pats.

“If you want to rate the determination on a scale of 10 like everything else, he is 11. It has been great to have a front row seat to see him for this season.”

With 2:10 remaining in the third, Watterodt rushed in to the left side of the Regina net and snapped home a key insurance goal to give the host side a 3-1. Wong added an empty-net goal just 21 seconds later to round out the 4-1 final.

During the final 30 seconds of the contest, Blades captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere held the puck behind his own net passing it back and forth a couple of times to Chiasson. The Pats didn’t rush the Blades players allowing the remaining time to expire.

Trevor Wong had a goal for the Blades on Monday.

As the final 30 seconds ticked away, the crowd at the SaskTel Centre rose to their feet to salute the Blades on the series win.

“It was unreal to just be able to celebrate with the boys and just listen to how loud the building was,” said Watterodt. “It was amazing.”

Elliott stopped 25 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades. Sim turned away 36-of-39 shots to take the setback in net for the Pats.

Looking back over the seven-game series with the Pats, Watterodt thinks his team’s overall depth allowed his squad to pull things out at the end and advance in the post-season.

The Blades celebrate their seven games series victory over the Pats.

“I think all our lines played great this series,” said Watterodt. “Everyone contributed.

“That just shows the type of team we are and how we need to play moving forward.”

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Bedard lifts Pats to Seventh Heaven with Game 6 win

Blades host series deciding Game 7 on Monday

Connor Bedard had a goal and three assists for the Pats on Saturday.

REGINA, Sask. - Connor Bedard is a miracle worker.

So far in a best-of-seven WHL first round playoff series, the Saskatoon Blades have to be wondering if the Regina Pats 17-year-old phenom centre is human. It might be accurate to say Bedard is not a god, but he appears to be somewhere in between.

On Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 6,499 spectators at the Brandt Centre with the host Pats facing elimination from the WHL Playoffs, Bedard set up the Pats first three goals and scored the winner in a 5-3 over the Blades in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series. With the win, they even the set 3-3 and force a series deciding Game 7.

Connor Bedard does a fly by after scoring for the Pats.

The Blades, who had won three straight before falling in Game 6, will host Game 7 on Monday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

During the six games so far in the series, Bedard has 10 goals, nine assists and a plus-10 rating in the plus-minus department. The North Vancouver, B.C., product has been in on 19 of the Pats 25 goals of the series.

“I think that might have been our best game of the series overall probably that and Game 1,” said Bedard referring to the Pats 6-1 victory to open the set on March 31. “It feels good to have that, but obviously, we know the job is not done here.

“We have to go in their barn Monday and get a win.”

The Brandt Centre faithful cheer a Pats goal.

The Blades entered the series as favourites having finished fourth overall in the WHL standings with a 48-15-4-1 record and were rated 10^th in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Pats finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with a 34-30-3-1 mark.

In Game 6 on Monday, the Pats took a 3-2 lead into the third period. Just 64 seconds into the third, the Blades evened the score at 3-3, when star centre Trevor Wong tipped home a point shot from 19-year-old veteran defenceman Charlie Wright. The tally was Wong’s second goal of the contest.

Connor Bedard has 19 points in six post-season games.

That set the stage for Bedard to have another heroic moment. Just 55 seconds after Wong tied the contest, Pats star import defenceman Stanislav Svozil hit Bedard with a stretch pass to spring him on a break into the Saskatoon zone.

Bedard snapped home a shot glove side in Blades netminder Ethan Chadwick to put the Pats up 4-3, and the Regina side never trailed in the contest again.

“I liked our game basically from start to finish,” said Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock. “That doesn’t mean it was easy or we were far superior, because it is two teams that are obviously going to Game 7.

“That says a lot about the series. I liked our game from the start.”

Zackary Shantz scored a goal that caused controversy.

While Bedard had another sensational game, the other biggest memory from Saturday’s contest came after the Pats scored a controversial insurance goal with 8:36 remaining in the third. Pats left-winger Riley Ginnell had the puck deep in the left side of the Saskatoon zone and passed the puck across the face of the net to linemate Zackary Shantz.

Ginnell’s pass deflected off Shantz’s skate into the Saskatoon net to put the hosts up 5-3. The officials went to a view reviewed and waved off the goal saying it was kicked in.

Following that ruling, the officials elected to look at the video again, and after the second review, the officials ruled that Shantz’s tally was indeed a good goal.

Jayden Wiens scored to give the Blades a 1-0 lead.

“The refs told me that they called back down because there was a new angle, and then they couldn’t determine from that angle whether it was a distinct kicking motion,” said Blades head coach Brennan Sonne. “That is what I was told.”

Access Communications was showing the game to their provincial network on television on their own channel. Michael Ball was doing the play-by-play work for the Access Communications broadcast, and he wrote on Twitter someone with the WHL asked to look at the replay angles that the broadcast crew had. According to Ball, after the officials saw the video Access Communications had the no goal ruling was reversed to a ruling of a goal.

Trevor Wong scored twice for the Blades on Saturday.

Sonne found it challenging to talk about the situation around Shantz’s goal.

“You’re asking me to comment about or have an opinion about things that absolutely really nothing to do with me aside from the fact that why did it even get into that situation to begin with,” said Sonne. “The rest of it that is for the league to decide whether that is the look they want or if that is the process they want to go through.

“It is up to management to have those discussions. Me, I’m in charge of why it even got there in the first place. I don’t really have a comment about it.

“I want to just focus on what I do.”

Alexander Suzdalev sets to snap home a goal for the Pats.

Paddock said he wasn’t sure what had happened during the reviews of Shantz’s goal.

“I’m just sort of guessing, but that speaks to not the inadequacy but of the video replay in this building or in the league,” said Paddock. “They are all supposed to be up to a standard.

“Obviously, something else happened. He (the referee) wasn’t going to listen to me. Something else happened, so somebody upstairs reviewed it whatever five or eight minutes again for the 14^th time, and they changed it.

“I don’t have an explanation. You would have to ask them, but no, that was strange.”

Pats mascot K9 works his way through the Brandt Centre faithful.

Ultimately, Shantz’s goal stood and the 5-3 score held up as the game’s final outcome.

The Blades actually opening the game’s scoring on a goal from hardworking centre Jayden Wiens at the 9:42 mark of the first. The Pats evened the score at 1-1 just over five minutes later when star import right-winger Alexander Suzdalev one-timed home a Bedard set up pass from a bad angle at the right side of the Saskatoon goal.

At the 5:04 mark of the second, the Pats jumped ahead 2-1, when Suzdalev received another pass from Bedard and snapped home a midrange shot for a power-play goal.

A couple of fans show signs supporting Connor Bedard.

Bedard proceeded to follow up with what might have been his best assist of the contest at the 12:45 mark of the second. Holding the puck along the left board deep in the Saskatoon zone, Bedard made a seeing-eye pass from that spot across the front of the Blades net to linemate Tanner Howe, who one-timed home a shot to increase the Pats advantage to 3-1.

“I can’t really put it into words anymore,” said Paddock about the magic that Bedard can make on the ice. “The assists were because he sees the ice so well.

“The play he made to Howie (Tanner Howe) for the goal there was no way to describe it. It was major league.”

Connor Bedard quarterbacks the Pats offence.

Bedard said his teammates did an outstanding job of burying goals on Saturday.

“When guys are open, I obviously try to find them,” said Bedard. “There were a lot of nice finishes from our guys tonight, so they make it easy when they can put the puck into the net like that.”

The Blades didn’t go away. With 2:26 remaining in the third, Wong wired home a setup pass from Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky from a bad angle at the right side of the Regina net to cut the Pats lead to 3-2.

That set the dramatics in the third, where Wong tied the game only for Bedard and Shantz to score for the Pats to pull out victory.

Tanner Howe had a goal for the Pats on Saturday.

“I think today we were a lot more physical and played our style of game,” said Howe. “We didn’t let them get set up, and I thought that was huge.

“We played hard.”

Drew Sim stopped 27 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Pats. Ethan Chadwick turned away 15 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades.

Stozil finished the contest with three assists.

Sonne didn’t like the start his Blades had to Saturday’s game, and he is looking for his team to have a big response in Game 7 as they face elimination from the post-season for the first time.

“It (Saturday’s game) was not to our standard,” said Sonne. “I think the players agree on that.

The Pats celebrate their win on Saturday.

“Then about halfway through the second we started playing. You can’t play half a game. For us, that is our focus.

“Now, our family is on the line. Our season is on the line. It should be a level of competitiveness, passion (and) desperation that shows that.”

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Blades’ Sidorov finds post-season groove

Saskatoon take 3-2 lead on Pats in thriller WHL series

The Blades celebrate Egor Sidorov’s second goal on Friday.

Egor Sidorov has found his post-season swagger and groove, and the rest of the Saskatoon Blades have too.

On Friday night, the star import right-winger buried a pair of goals to power his Blades past 17-year-old phenom centre Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats 4-2 to the delight of most of the 12,098 spectators at the SaskTel Centre. The win allowed the Blades to claim Game 5 of the best-of-seven WHL first round playoff series between the two clubs and a 3-2 lead in the set.

The Blades will attempt to close out what has been a series full of thrills in Game 6 on for Saturday set for 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre in Regina. If the Pats prevail in Game 6, the two clubs return to Saskatoon to play a series deciding Game 7 on Monday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

The SaskTel Centre faithful cheer on the Blades.

After the Pats took the first two games in series in Saskatoon, the Blades have fought back with three straight wins to take the series lead. The set has also featured three straight overtime games.

At the moment, it appears the turning point of the series came in Game 3 this past Tuesday in Regina. When Pats 17-year-old phenom centre Connor Bedard scored at the 9:39 mark of the third period to give the Regina side a 3-1 lead in front of a raucous sellout crowd of 6,499 spectators at the Brandt Centre, it seemed like the Pats were destined to sweep the series.

Just 53 seconds later, Sidorov scored his first of the post-season to spark the Blades comeback. Star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky netted the equalizer on the power play with 27.2 seconds remaining in the third, and Sidorov potted the winner at the 5:19 mark of overtime to give Saskatoon a 4-3 victory.

Egor Sidorov has five goals in the Blades last three games.

In Game 4 one night later in Regina, Sidorov had a goal and an assist to help the Blades rally from an early 3-1 deficit in the third to pull out another 4-3 overtime victory. Star right-winger Jake Chiasson scored the winner at the 7:20 mark of the extra session.

During the first two games of the series, Sidorov had one assist as the Blades were outscored 12-6 in those two losses. Since the third period of Game 3, the Blades have shown the perseverance they have had for most of the regular season.

The Blades entered the series as favourites having finished fourth overall in the WHL standings with a 48-15-4-1 record and were rated 10^th in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Pats finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with a 34-30-3-1 mark.

Vaughan Watterodt celebrates scoring the Blades first goal.

In Friday’s Game 5 clash, the Blades came storming out of the gate backed by a vocal crowd. Just 3:46 into the contest, Blades right-winger Vaughn Watterodt tucked home a rebound from a shot taken by linemate Lukas Hansen at the left side of the Regina net to open the game’s scoring.

Just 15 seconds later, Pats 20-year-old defenceman Luke Bateman was given a minor for boarding after he slammed Sidorov from behind into the boards. After a short rest, Sidorov took the second shift on the power play and one-timed home a shot from right slot to put the Blades up 2-0 at the 5:26 mark of the first.

Blades captain and star offensive-defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere gave Sidorov the beauty pass to one time. The Blades score their first two goals while recording the game’s first six shots on goal in the contest.

Tanner Molendyk had a pair of assists for the Blades.

Just when it seemed the momentum was going totally the Blades way, it shifted after the midway point of the first period, when the Pats went on the power play for the first time thanks to Bedard.

While working on the power play, Bedard one-timed a shot from the left slot that deflected off power forward Zack Stringer to cut the Blades lead to 2-1 at the 11:24 mark of the first. Pats star import offensive-defenceman Stanislav Svozil fed Bedard with a pass on the Pats power-play goal.

Before the first came to a close, the Blades had a glorious chance to restore their two-goal edge. Star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky had the puck near the right side of the Regina goal. While he was at a bad angle, Lisowsky wired a shot off the post.

Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist for the Pats.

At the 6:25 mark of the second, Blades star offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk, who turned 18-years-old in February, thought he has scored for the Blades. The officials immediately waved off the tally ruling Lisowsky had inadvertent contact with Pats netminder Drew Sim causing the tally to be called off.

That development didn’t deter the Blades. With 4:08 remaining in the second, the Blades pushed their edge out to 3-1, when star right-winger Conner Roulette tipped home a midrange shot from Molendyk.

As the second period came to a close, Blades netminder Ethan Chadwick kept the Pats at bay. He stoned Stringer in close, robbed Svozil with a glove save and turned away Riley Ginnell during a net scramble.

Conner Roulette had the winning goal for the Blades on Friday.

Despite falling behind by two goals being unable to close ground at the end of the second period, the Pats didn’t go away. At the 3:09 mark of the third, Pats import right-winger Alexander Suzdalev came down the right wing and circled behind the Blades net and fed a pass to Bedard, who was positioned at the doorstep to the left of the Saskatoon goal. Bedard made no mistake burying the puck into the Saskatoon net to cut the Blades lead to 3-2.

The tally was Bedard’s ninth goal of the post season to go along with six assists and a plus-eight rating in the plus-minus department. Bedard has been in on 15 of the 20 goals the Pats have scored in the series.

Ethan Chadwick makes a glove save for the Blades.

Like Games 3 and 4, the Blades weren’t going to allow the heroics of Bedard to keep them from pulling out victory.

Just past the midway point of the third, the Blades got another insurance goal to push their lead to 4-2. 

Sidorov entered the Regina zone on a rush down the right wing, and he passed the puck to star Blades centre Trevor Wong. Wong passed the puck back to Sidorov who blew home his second of the contest to give the Blades a two-goal edge.

Wong finished the contest with two assists and a plus-three rating, while De La Gorgendiere and Molendyk each had two assists and a plus-one rating.

The Pats and Blades scrum it up at the end of the third period.

Chadwick stopped 20 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades. Sim turned away 29 shots to take the setback in net for the Pats.

Friday’s contest ended with a big scrum after the third period clock expired with Bedard getting in on the extra-curricular activities. Watterodt showed he was all fired up and ready for a serious bout, but he was pulled away by a referee and then held away from trouble by Sidorov, who helped calm his teammate down.

While this series has had many twists and turns, the Blades have found their post-season stride, and they will be heading into Regina confident on Saturday that they can finish the series off.

The Blades celebrate their win on Friday.

With that said, it is still possible Bedard and the Pats will work more magic causing a climax to happen in Game 7.

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Chiasson has “The Touch” for the Blades in overtime

Saskatoon evens series with Pats at 2-2 with extra time win

Jake Chiasson (#61) celebrates his OT winner with his teammates.

REGINA, Sask. – When it comes to superheroes, Jake Chiasson might be Optimus Prime.

The 19-year-old left-winger with the Saskatoon Blades is a hero in the real world and the hockey world. Before coming to the Blades in a deal before the WHL trade deadline on January 10, Chiasson became a hero in the real world with his former team the Brandon Wheat Kings along with Brandon teammates Calder Anderson, Nolan Ritchie and Ben Thornton.

On November 29, 2022, the four players helped a distressed man who was contemplating suicide on the First Street Bridge in Brandon. They came across the man after volunteering at Samaritan House.

Jake Chiasson scored the OT winner for the Blades on Wednesday.

On Wednesday night, Chiasson was a hero on the ice for the Blades in Game 4 of their best-of-seven first round WHL playoff series against the Regina Pats. With the two teams locked in 3-3 tie in overtime playing before a sellout crowd of 6,499 spectators at the Brandt Centre, Chiasson blew home a midrange shot from near the top of the left faceoff circle to the top right corner of the Regina goal to give the visitors a 4-3 victory at the 7:20 mark of the extra frame.

The win allowed the Blades to even the best-of-seven set at 2-2. Game 5 is set for Friday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

Chiasson does reflect on what he and his Wheat Kings teammates were able to do in saving the man on the bridge in Brandon, and he is still relieved that event turned into a positive one.

The scene around the Pats net after Jake Chiasson’s OT winner.

“That was a situation early in the year that you can never really prepare yourself for,” said Chiasson, who has a signed NHL entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. “We were obviously just so relieved and happy to see that what we did helped.

“It got the attention of the public eye that there is a lot of good in his sport, and I think that is what we really liked about it. It was kind of through a stretch there where hockey was being put down a little bit. It felt good to have a good story come out of junior hockey.

Jake Chiasson (#61) hugs Aidan De La Gorgendiere after his OT winner.

“Obviously ultimately, it was just really a relief that the man was in a good spot afterwards, and we were able to help through that time.”

Chiasson got to enjoy a moment all hockey players live for in scoring an overtime winner in the post-season. When he saw his shot go into the Regina goal, Chiasson couldn’t believe the rush of excitement he had.

“You kind of lose control of yourself a little bit to be honest,” said Chiasson. “(It was) a sense of relief, excitement.

The Blades come off their bench to celebrate an OT win.

“Ultimately, wins are so important at this time of year. Nothing feels better than coming back into that locker room after a win. For me, it was just excitement and kind of look ahead for Friday.”

Blades head coach Brennan Sonne said Chiasson has a levity that allows him to come through in big moments on the ice and in life.

“I just think that Chiasser (Chiasson) has like a low resting heart rate meaning he doesn’t panic,” said Sonne. “He is very poised with it.

“He got the assist on the tying goal yesterday (in a Blades 4-3 OT win in Game 3) too. He doesn’t grip his stick tight or panic or anything like that. That is what you saw tonight.

Egor Sidorov scored the Blades first goal on Wednesday.

“There are all sorts of bodies and meat around the boards, and he come out with it and doesn’t just shoot it right away. He takes a step and knows his spacing, and he makes a really good shot. I just think his calm is what makes him able to perform in those big moments.”

In Wednesday’s clash, the teams played through a tight checking scoreless first period, where the Blades held a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.

The Blades opened the game’s scoring working on the power play at the 7:18 mark of the second on a tally from star import right-winger Egor Sidorov. Sidorov set up in the right slot and one-timed home a setup pass from star centre Trevor Wong to give the Blades a 1-0 edge.

Connor Bedard had two goals for the Pats on Wednesday.

Saskatoon’s power play came courtesy of slew footing double minor given to Pats left-winger Brayden Barnett. The infraction will be automatically reviewed by the WHL office for a possible suspension. The Blades were only able to work on a two-minute power play as 20-year-old defenceman Blake Gustafson was given a roughing minor at the same time.

The 10:50 mark of the second period featured a fight between Blades right-winger Justin Lies and Pats defenceman Corbin Vaughan. The bout was a short one with Lies getting a takedown.

Saskatoon appeared set to take their one-goal edge into the third until Pats 17-year-old phenom centre Connor Bedard stepped into the spotlight. With the Pats working on the power play, Bedard drove home a midrange shot from the front of the Saskatoon net to the top right corner of the goal even the score at 1-1.

Pats D Corbin Vaughan, left, tangles with Blades RW Justin Lies.

The Pats came out flying in the third scoring twice in lightning fashion to take a 3-1 lead. Just 13 second into the frame, Bedard scored his second of the contest banging home the rebound of his own shot from the front of the Saskatoon net.

Just 40 seconds later, Pats star centre Tanner Howe deflected home a midrange shot from star import offensive-defenceman Stanislav Svozil to give the hosts a two-goal edge.

The Blades called a timeout after Howe’s goal in order to regroup. Saskatoon proceeded to calmly roar back.

Trevor Wong has two assists for the Blades.

“Obviously, there is a little bit of I wouldn’t say panic, but desperation kind of kicks in a little bit,” said Chiasson. “You know that it is the most crucial 20 minutes to the season.

“For us, it was just important to stay even keel as best we could, and like we showed out there, we just kind of stuck to how we play, and it ultimately benefited us down the stretch.”

Just 1:53 after Howe’s goal, Blades hardworking centre Jayden Wiens banged home a puck from the front of the Regina net to cut the Pats lead to 3-2. Wiens got the puck from a rebound from a shot taken by Blades captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere.

Tanner Howe (#43) had a goal for the Pats on Wednesday.

With 9:59 remaining in the third, Wong fired a shot from the point on the Regina goal, and the rebound came out to Blades 19-year-old veteran defenceman Charlie Wright, who pinched down to the front of the Pats net. 

Wright put home the rebound to force a 3-3 tie and ultimately set up the dramatics in overtime.

Ethan Chadwick stopped 23 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades. Drew Sim turned away 33 shots to take the setback in net for the Pats.

Wong and De La Gorgendiere each had two assists for the Blades.

Charlie Wright scored the goal that forced OT on Wednesday.

The Blades entered the series as favourites having finished fourth overall in the WHL standings with a 48-15-4-1 record and were rated 10^th in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Pats finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with a 34-30-3-1 mark.

Regina took the first two games of the series in Saskatoon before the Blades evened the series with two wins in Regina. 

While the road team has won every game of the series so far, Chiasson believes his team can buck that trend in Game 5 on Friday in Saskatoon.

“I think we can turn that around,” said Chiasson. “Obviously our fans back home, they showed in those first two games.

The Blades celebrate their overtime win on Wednesday.

“They’re there to support us. They’re there to kind of grind through this process with our team. We’re excited to get back there and maybe give them a little bit of redemption for opening weekend.”

The last three contests of the series have gone to overtime with the Pats taking Game 2 on Sunday at the SaskTel Centre 6-5 and the Blades claiming Game 3 at the Brandt Centre 4-3.

“It is a good series,” said Chiasson. “It is tight.

“We’re just looking to play every minute the way that we can. It comes down to so many bounces in this time of year. Three overtimes in a row.

“That is the playoff hockey you dream of to be honest. It is the kind you want to play in, and it is exciting to be part of.”

Blades’ Sonne up for WHL coach of the year

Blades HC Brennan Sonne is up for WHL coach of the year.

Saskatoon Blades head coach Brennan Sonne is up for some major hardware.

On Wednesday, the WHL announced Sonne was the coach of the year for the East Division. With that node, Sonne is a nominee for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as the WHL coach of the year.

The 35-year-old Sonne is in his second season as the Blades head coach. Under Sonne’s guidance, the Blades finished fourth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 record, and they were rated 10^th in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Blades collected 101 standings points marking the fifth time since the club was formed in 1964 they’ve recorded 100-or-more standings points in team history.

Mark Lamb of the Prince George Cougars was the B.C. Division coach of the year, Willie Desjardins of the Medicine Hat Tigers was the Central Division coach of the year and Stu Barnes of the Tri-City Americans was the U.S. Division coach of the year. Lamb and Desjardins also serve as general managers for their respective franchises.

The WHL also announced their division winners for executive of the year, and they will be up for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as WHL executive year.

Shaun Clouston, who is the head coach and general manager of the Kamloops Blazers, is the B.C. Division’s executive of the year, Desjardins is the executive of the year for the Central Division, Matt Cockell, who is the general manager of the Winnipeg Ice, is the East Division’s executive of the year and Bil La Forge, who is the general manager of the Seattle Thunderbirds, is the B.C. Division’s executive of the year.

The WHL award winners will be announced from May 2 through to May 10.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Blades create their own “Miracle at the Brandt Centre”

Saskatoon rallies for 4-3 OT victory over Pats in Game 3

The Blades begin to celebrate an OT winner from Egor Sidorov (#19).

REGINA, Sask. – The Saskatoon Blades looked dead and buried.

At the 9:39 mark of the third period in Game 3 of a best-of-seven WHL first round playoff series, the host Regina Pats appeared to be on the cusp of taking a 3-0 lead in the set. Pats 17-year-old phenom centre Connor Bedard poked the puck down the ice, split a pair of Blades defenceman and jetted off on a breakaway.

The North Vancouver, B.C., product snapped home a shot glove side on Blades netminder Ethan Chadwick to give the Pats a 3-1. Bedard assisted on the Pats first two goals to be sitting on a sensational three-point night.

Connor Bedard had a goal and two assists for the Pats on Tuesday.

The sellout crowd of 6,499 spectators nearly blew the roof off the Brandt Centre with their cheers after Bedard gave the Regina side a two-goal edge.

Just 53 seconds later, Blades star import right-winger Egor Sidorov drove home a power-play goal to cut the Pats lead to 3-2. With 1:59 remaining in the third, Pats defenceman Parker Berge took a tripping penalty to put the Blades on the power play once again. With 27.2 seconds remaining in the third, Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky jammed home a power-play goal from the front of the Regina net to even the score at 3-3 and force overtime.

Connor Bedard scores to put the Pats up 3-1.

At the 5:19 mark of overtime, Sidorov got the puck deep in the Regina zone, drove around Pats star import defenceman Stanislav Svozil, cut across the front of the Pats goal and tucked home the winner to give the Blades a 4-3 victory. The Brand Centre that had once been rocking a short time ago had all the life sucked out of it, and you could hear a pin drop after Sidorov’s overtime tally.

The win allowed the Blades to get back into the series as they cut the Pats lead in the best-of-seven set to 2-1. Game 4 is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre.

The sellout Brandt Centre crowd celebrates Connor Bedard’s goal.

“It feels good to win,” said Sidorov, who two goals were his first two tallies of the series. “It doesn’t matter how many goals I score.

“It means we won. I will try and do my best for a win.”

Sidorov said he is actually already starting to get focused for Game 4 on Wednesday.

“It doesn’t matter where we win in overtime or the three periods,” said Sidorov. “It is fine.

Egor Sidorov’s first goal cut the Pats lead to 3-2.

“We won, and it is history already. Tomorrow is the next game, and we will play hard like today.”

The Blades entered the series as favourites having finished fourth overall in the WHL standings with a 48-15-4-1 record and were rated 10^th in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Pats finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with a 34-30-3-1 mark.

The Pats claimed the first two games of the series in Saskatoon including a 6-1 win in Game 1 on Friday and a 6-5 overtime triumph in Game 2 on Sunday. For the longest time, it looked like the Regina side was going to keep the good times rolling.

Brandon Lisowsky scored with 27.2 seconds in the third to force OT.

Just 2:32 into the opening frame, Svozil potted the rebound from his own shot to give the Pats a 1-0 edge.

At the 12:21 mark of the first, Blades hard-working centre Jayden Wiens scored on the power-play to even the score at 1-1.

Regina jumped back out in front 2-1 just 64 seconds later. Jetting down the left wing in the Saskatoon zone on a two-on-one break, Bedard fed a pass across the front of the Blades net to import right-winger Alexander Suzdalev, who popped home his first of the post-season to the hosts their one-goal edge.

Trevor Wong had three assists for the Blades on Tuesday.

With 3:55 remaining in the first, Bedard appeared to give the Pats a 3-1 advantage after driving home a midrange shot to the top right corner of the Saskatoon goal. The goal went to a video review and it was disallowed due to the Saskatoon net being dislodge on the right post after being knocked ajar by Chadwick.

The Pats had a 14-9 edge on shots on goal after 20 minutes and a 21-18 advantage in shots on goal after 40 minutes. As the game went on, the Blades started to carry the play more. In the third period and overtime, the visitors had a 19-3 edge in shots on goal.

The two squads played through a scoreless second period thanks to Chadwick making a huge glove save on a right slot shot from Bedard to set up the dramatics in the third period and overtime.

Egor Sidorov scored the OT winner for the Blades.

“I think we played good for two periods,” said Svozil. “The last period, we took stupid penalties.

“That overtime goal that was a little unlucky. We lost, so it is not good. We know it is 2-1, and tomorrow is the next day and the next game.

“We have to do it for tomorrow.”

Blades head coach Brennan Sonne thought Tuesday’s game when his players started to play with more belief.

“We weren’t playing with like confidence, swagger or mojo early,” said Sonne. “As the game got going more and more and more by the third period and especially in overtime that was just us.

Ethan Chadwick makes one of his 21 saves for the Blades.

“That was the confidence we needed to play with the mojo, the swagger and the enthusiasm. Guys were into it on the bench, especially in overtime. That is what we need to continue to do.”

Chadwick made 21 stops to pick up the win in goal for the Blades in his first career post-season start. Drew Sim turned away 33 shots to take the setback in net for the Pats.

Star centre Trevor Wong had three assists for the Blades on Tuesday after being held pointless in the first two games of the series. The Blades converted on 3-of-4 power-play chances on Tuesday after going 0-for-6 with the man advantage in the first two games of the series.

Blades HC Brennan Sonne chats to his players during a timeout.

During the regular season, the Blades had the fourth best power play in the WHL converting on 73-of-265 chances for a 27.5 per cent success rate.

The Pats failed to score on three power-play chances on Tuesday.

“They’ve got good players on power play,” said Svozil. “They are so smart.

“We have to be ready for everything. We tried Sidorov’s shot, and he fakes it. We have to be ready for everything.”

Sonne was pleased to see his team get back in the series. When asked if justice was served after the Blades won Game 3 after having a strong effort in Game 2 and coming up short on the scoreboard, Sonne chose not to over think things.

“It is hockey, and breaks happen and bounces happen and bad luck happens,” said Sonne. “That is what is so fun about sport.

The Blades celebrate their OT win on Tuesday.

“Would I use the words ‘justice served?’ Probably not. I would just say more it feels good to comeback in a game and play Blades hockey especially in the third and overtime.”

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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