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.

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