Kyle Crnkovic celebrates his OT winner for the Blades on Friday. |
On Friday
night playing before 4,478 spectators at the SaskTel Centre, the Blades entered
overtime locked in a 1-1 tie with the visiting Regina Pats. The host side went
on the power play 29 seconds into the extra session, when Pats right-winger
Riley Krane was given a minor penalty for tripping.
Working on
the power play, Crnkovic received a backdoor pass from linemate Tristen Robins
by the right side boards in the offensive zone. Crnkovic quickly wired a shot
on goal putting the puck in short side on Pats netminder Spencer Welke.
The left-winger’s
tally just 74 seconds into the extra session gave the Blades a 2-1 victory in
the WHL regular season clash.
Saskatoon improved to 32-24-2-3 and officially
locked up a berth in the WHL playoffs for the second straight year.
“It felt like we were at like one (standings) point is all it took, and it felt like we were there forever,” said Crnkovic. “To have that now and secure a spot, now it is just trying to work our way up (the standings).
Kyle Crnkovic came up clutch for the Blades on Friday. |
“It felt like we were at like one (standings) point is all it took, and it felt like we were there forever,” said Crnkovic. “To have that now and secure a spot, now it is just trying to work our way up (the standings).
“It is just
trying to work our way up now and just keep playing hard.”
The Blades
had to battle through a tough break that went against them late in the third
period. The hosts were nursing a 1-0 lead, and it looked that score would
ultimately be the final result.
With 43.5
seconds remaining in the third, a point shot from Pats defenceman Ryker Evans
deflected up high into the air as a maze of bodies engulfed the crease area of
the Saskatoon goal causing a net scramble.
Logan Nijhoff scores the late third period equalizer for the Pats. |
The
officials went to a video review to determine if there was goaltender
interference or incidental contact on the goalie to possibly disallow the goal
but ruled Nijhoff’s tally was good.
“There is
not really much to say,” said Maier. “I don’t want to get too much into it.
Logan Nijhoff celebrates scoring the late third period equalizer for the Pats. |
“The guys
were really positive on the bench. They were all awesome with me just trying to
keep me under control and not kind of over think or get off my game. It is
good.”
Blades head
coach Mitch Love was pleased with how his team bounced back after the Pats tied
the game.
“I thought
our guys did a good job of resetting themselves, because it was a little
emotional there at the end,” said Love. “I’ll be honest I wasn’t real thrilled
with the call.
Tristen Robins picked up an assist on the Blades OT winning goal. |
“That is an
argument for another day, but our guys stayed with it. We were composed. We
earned that opportunity in overtime on the power play and got one past the
young kid (Welke).”
The Blades
came out with good jump in the opening 20 minutes outshooting the Pats 16-11.
With that noted, the Pats had the best scoring chance in the opening frame when
left-winger Cole Dubinsky wired a shot off the post of the Saskatoon net.
With 3:59
remaining in the second, the Blades took advantage of a positive bounce break.
After the Pats coughed the puck up at their own blue-line, Blades rookie centre
Colton Dach quickly fired home a shot from the right point that handcuffed Welke
to give the host side a 1-0 edge.
Spencer Welke makes one of his 37 saves in goal for the Pats. |
In the
third, Robins had a huge chance to net an insurance goal for the Blades, but he
fired a shot off the crossbar of the Regina goal.
That set
the stage for the dramatics at the end of the third period and overtime.
Maier
stopped 32 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades. Welke turned away
37 shots taking the overtime setback in his second career WHL start for the
Pats as an associate player call-up.
The Pats
record moved to 21-33-5-2.
Welke was
playing for the Prince Albert Mintos, who have been eliminated from the
Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League playoffs.
The Pats, who have been
eliminated from contention for the WHL playoffs, have announced Welke will
remain on their roster for the rest of their regular season schedule.
Nolan Maier (#73) held the fort in goal for the Blades. |
The Pats
were without their two regular goalies as Donovan Buskey is listed day-to-day
with a hamstring injury, while Danton Belluk is out day-to-day with an upper
body injury. The Pats had a backup goalie dressed and sitting on the bench who
was not listed on the gamesheet.
“Give the
kid (Welke) credit over there,” said Love. “He is an AP goalie that played real
well for them.
Ryker Evans controls the puck in the offensive zone for the Pats. |
Regina also
scratched left-wingers Carter Massier with and upper body injury and Cole
Carrier with an undisclosed ailment.
Pats overage
left-winger Robbie Holmes was sitting out the first of a four-game league
imposed suspension, and right-winger Carter Chorney was sitting out the first
of a three-game league imposed suspension. Holmes and Chorney were suspended
for their actions in a melee that occurred at the end of a Pats 7-4 win over
the Moose Jaw Warriors in Regina on Tuesday.
Colton Dach had the Blades first goal on Friday. |
The Blades
lost defenceman Rhett Rhinehart and right-winger Evan Patrician in Wednesday’s
4-3 setback at home to the Calgary Hitmen with undisclosed injuries.
As a
result, defenceman Marek Schneider, who is in his 16-year-old season, dressed
for his sixth regular season game as an associate player call-up. Schneider was
playing for the Mintos, and he is eligible to remain with the Blades for the rest
of the 2019-20 campaign.
Brandon
Lisowsky, who is a 15-year-old left-winger, made his WHL regular season debut
for the Blades.
The Blades selected Lisowsky in the first round and ninth
overall in last year’s WHL Bantam Draft.
Nolan Kneen controls the puck for the Blades. |
Maier said
the Pats always play his club hard and gave credit to Pats head coach Dave
Struch for having his side ready.
In their four head-to-head meetings this season, the Blades and Pats have gone to extra time three times and have each posted two wins.
In their four head-to-head meetings this season, the Blades and Pats have gone to extra time three times and have each posted two wins.
“That is
just their culture in Regina,” said Maier. “Dave Struch is really committed to
their hard work.
“They give
us a battle every night. It never changes with them. We know what we are going
to get when we play the Regina Pats.
“They just
never quit, and they work hard all the time. That is all the credit to Dave
Struch.”
The two teams
go at it again on Saturday at 7 p.m. from the Brandt Centre in Regina.
Love is
expecting his club to be better in the second half of this weekend’s
home-and-home series as opposed to last weekend’s home and home series against
the Prince Albert Raiders.
Last Friday, the Blades downed the Raiders 4-2 at the SaskTel Centre before getting dumped 3-0 one night later by the Raiders at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert.
The Blades celebrate their overtime win on Friday. |
Last Friday, the Blades downed the Raiders 4-2 at the SaskTel Centre before getting dumped 3-0 one night later by the Raiders at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert.
“We learned
our lesson that way last weekend,” said Love. “That was mentioned to our group.
“We have to
make sure we remember what that was like. I think our start will be important
in their building and just an opportunity to learn from last weekend. I’m
intrigued to see where our team is at heading into tomorrow night.”
Ayres special guest at Blades Suits Up game
David Ayres, right, is pictured with a minor hockey team from Rosthern. |
Ayres
became famous on February 22 for having to enter an NHL regular season game to
play goal for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the
Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. After the Hurricanes starting and backup goalies
were injured, the 42-year-old Ayres fulfilled his role as the emergency backup
entering the contest in the second period with the visitors holding a 3-1 edge.
He allowed
goals on the first two shots he faced and turned away the next eight shots in a
6-3 victory for the Hurricanes. With that result, Ayres became the first
emergency backup goaltender to earn an NHL win.
At age 42 years and 194 days, he became the oldest goaltender to win his NHL regular season debut.
At age 42 years and 194 days, he became the oldest goaltender to win his NHL regular season debut.
David Ayres, second from right, appears at the a ceremonial faceoff. |
Ayres had a
kidney transplant in 2004, which has allowed him to live his life to the
fullest.
At the
Blades Suits Up game, Ayres took part in the ceremonial faceoff before the contest, and he
signed autographs during the first intermission. The line up to get his autograph was a lengthy one.
For the
Suits Up game, the Blades wore special Hockey Night in Canada themed jerseys
and the coaches wore old school baby blue Hockey Night in Canada blazers. Blades
play-by-play voice Les Lazaruk also wore one of the old school baby blue Hockey
Night in Canada blazers.
The jerseys
and blazers were auctioned off in a blind auction.
All the
proceeds raised from Friday’s game will be donated to Saskatoon’s Kidney
Foundation Branch.
Burtney gets WHL Distinguished Service Award
Bernie Burtney, right, receives a WHL Distinguished Service Award. |
Burtney was
presented with his award by WHL commissioner Ron Robison in a pre-game ceremony
before Friday’s WHL regular season contest that saw the host Blades down the
Regina Pats 2-1 in overtime.
Burtney is
currently the off-ice officials supervisor for the Blades, and he has said this
will be his final season working Blades home games.
For about
the past 30 seasons, Burtney has become a key figure in the Blades off-ice game
operations. He is responsible for scheduling, interviewing, hiring and
management of all off-ice officials at Blades home games.
Burtney has
conducted himself in a professional manner going above and beyond the normal
requirements for the voluntary role. He rarely misses a game and shows up to
the rink well in advance to prepare.
During his
time workings Blades home games, Burtney has consistently provided a welcoming
atmosphere for off-ice officials and makes sure all are briefed and ready to
perform their duties on arrival.
The WHL
Distinguished Service Award was introduced back in 2004 and is presented
annually to individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes on behalf
of WHL franchises. In doing so, those individuals have made an extraordinary
contribution at the club and league level over an extended period.
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comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
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