Hitmen sweep away Blades, roll to 6-2 victory in Game 4

Blades captain Ben Saunderson (#2) takes part in the handshake line.

Ben Saunderson plans to be watching his Saskatoon Blades proudly as an alumnus.

On Wednesday,  the Blades 20-year-old captain’s WHL career came to an end as his squad fell 6-2 to the visiting Calgary Hitmen in Game 4 of a best-of-seven first round series of the WHL Playoffs. With the win, the Hitmen sweep the set 4-0 and advance to a best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.

Following the game, Saunderson took a skate where he was saluted by the 5,228 spectators in attendance at the SaskTel Centre. Saunderson gave applause back to the Blades faithful.

The Hitmen celebrate their series win on Wednesday.

The Carberry, Man., product joined the Blades on a full-time basis back in the 2020-21 campaign, when Saskatoon club played a shortened 24 game season in a bubble environment at the Brandt Centre in Regina due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world. From that beginning, Saunderson helped the Blades advance to WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series for two straight years in 2023 and 2024.

A year ago, the Blades entered the playoffs having topped the WHL standings with a 50-13-2-3 mark and were loaded with a lot of star veterans. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship series where they fell 3-2 in overtime in Game 7 at the SaskTel Centre to the eventual WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors.

Ben Saunderson (#2) and Grayden Siepmann hug post-game.

The 2024-25 campaign ended up being a reload season for the Blades, who traded a number of veteran stars before the WHL’s trade deadline back on January 9 acquiring needed draft capital and younger players. Even with those moves, the Blades still comfortably landed in a position to qualify for the WHL Playoffs.

With that knowledge, Saunderson said his squad still wanted to have some success in the post-season. He believes this younger Blades squad took big strides in the 2024-25 campaign.

“It is a really good hockey team over there,” said Saunderson, who had four goals, 32 assists and a plus-15 rating in the plus-minus department in 67 regular season contests in the 2024-25 campaign. “I thought every game we elevated ours.

“Obviously, we didn’t get the result we wanted. Our motto every day this year was just to get better every single day. I’m so proud of our group.

Ben Kindel had a hat trick for the Hitmen.

“Our young guys have stepped up tremendously. There is a very bright future for this team, and it is definitely something I’ll be following.”

The Hitmen entered the series as favourites having finished third overall in the WHL with a 45-17-3-3 record. They were also rated ninth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings that were released on March 25.

The Blades finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference standings with a 37-23-4-4 mark. They entered the WHL Playoffs with the second youngest roster out of the 16 teams that are playing in the circuit’s post-season with an average age of 17.9 years.

Still, an upset seemed possible. The Blades actually won the season series in the regular season between the two sides recording two regulation wins and one overtime setback in four head-to-head encounters.

Grayden Siepmann (#21) and Ben Kindel (#11) battle for a puck.

The two sides met twice after the trade deadline. The Hitmen posted a 4-1 victory at home on January 10, and the Blades claimed a 6-3 victory at home on February 14.

For the entire series, Calgary was without the services of star overage netminder Daniel Hauser, who holds the WHL record for career regular season goaltending victories at 123. Hauser is out day-to-day with a lower body injury.

Anders Miller, who is an 18-year-old rookie, was solid as Calgary’s starting netminder in the series, and he made 27 saves to pick up the win in goal on Wednesday. In the four games against the Blades, Miller had a 1.50 goals against average and a .933 save percentage. Eric Tu, who is a 16-year-old rookie, is serving as Calgary’s backup netminder.

Tanner Howe had three assists for the Hitmen on Wednesday.

The Blades had a big absence too as they were without 20-year-old left-winger Tanner Scott for a fourth straight post-season game with an upper body injury. Scott last suited up in the Blades final regular season contest when they fell 4-3 to the Raiders in Prince Albert on March 22.

Blades first year head coach Dan DaSilva said his squad faced a big challenge playing the Hitmen because they are a really good hockey team.

“We’re on two different ends of the spectrum, if we’re being honest,” said DaSilva. “They loaded up to go for it, and we sold off to rebuild and then go for it in a couple of years.

“That is the truth, but our guys never shied away for a second. They showed up, (and) they gave everything they had. What else can you ask for as a coach is for guys to just absolutely leave it all on the ice.

Zach Olsen had the Blades first goal on Wednesday.

“Anyone who tries to tell me otherwise is wrong, and I will argue that until the day I die. I’m extremely proud of this group.”

The two sides played through an even opening frame with the Hitmen holding a 14-11 edge in shots on goal. Blades star netminder Evan Gardner and Miller came up big for their respective sides.

The second period was totally the opposite of the opening frame breaking into a 1980s style firewagon type contest. Just 75 seconds into the stanza, the Hitmen jumped ahead 2-0. Gritty veteran centre David Adaszynski scored 38 seconds into the period and star centre Ben Kindel followed with his own tally 37 seconds later.

At the 6:19 mark of the second, Hitmen star defenceman Carter Yakemchuk got the puck at the right point, zipped up the right boards, cut across the front of the Saskatoon net and tucked home a backhander to give the visitors a 3-0 edge.

Hayden Harsanyi had the Blades second goal on Wednesday.

“I give Calgary credit,” said DaSilva. “That is a great example for our guys in a year or two years of what a championship team looks like and how they compete and how they play together and how fast they play and how strong defensively they are.

“It is a great example and a great learning lesson for our guys. I hope we can take something from that.”

The Blades responded with some quick strikes of their own. At the 9:25 mark of the second, rookie right-winger Zach Olsen, who turned 17-years-old in March, fired home a shot from the right faceoff circle in the Calgary zone to cut the Hitmen lead to 3-1. Just 44 seconds after Olsen’s tally, Blades centre Hayden Harsanyi slipped home a shot from in close by the right side of the Calgary net to cut the Hitmen’s advantage to 3-2.

Carter Yakemchuk scored a highlight goal for the Hitmen.

Following Harsanyi’s tally, the crowd at the SaskTel Centre was rocking, but that wouldn’t last long. Just 11 seconds after that marker, Hitmen star right-winger Tanner Howe zipped into the Saskatoon zone on a two-on-one break with Kindel.

Howe passed the puck across the front of the Saskatoon net to Kindel at the right side of the goal. Kindel buried his second of the contest to put the Hitmen up 4-2.

In the third, Hitmen star left-winger Oliver Tulk tallied once during four-versus-four action after offsetting penalties and Kindel completed his hat trick with a short-handed empty-net goal to round out the scoring in the contest.

“Ben (Kindel) is a special talent,” said Hitmen head coach Paul McFarland. “He is one of the best players in this league.

David Adaszynski scored the first goal for the Hitmen.

“I’d love to tell you I was surprised by the hat trick, but that is kind of what we expected out of that player. That top line along with the Adaszynski line I thought for us were the difference in the series.”

Howe finished the contest with three assists. He recorded two goals and seven assists and a plus-six rating in the series.

Evan Gardner turned away 30-of-35 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades.

While the Blades ever held a lead in any of the post-season contest against the Hitmen, Saunderson said he believed his squad put up a good battle on the ice and never gave up when things got tough.

Ben Saunderson played in his final WHL game on Wednesday.

“There was no rollover in the room, on the ice or on the bench,” said Saunderson. “No one was every giving up.

“We fought until the very end every single night. We knew they were a really good team over there, and you’ve got to give credit where credit is due. They are a hell of a hockey team, but we never quit.”

The Hitmen are the first team to win a first round series in this year’s WHL post-season. They now wait to find out who their opponent will be for an Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. McFarland said it will be big for his team to get a lengthy rest period.

“You don’t want to play extra games, obviously, at this time of year,” said McFarland. “It is not easy to sweep anybody.

“We have a tonne of respect for that team and that program. We said it at the start of the series. They have got a winning pedigree over there.

The Blades give their fans a final salute for the 2024-25 campaign.

“We were, obviously, because of that taking this series very serious and not lightly whatsoever. I give our players a lot of credit to get the job done.”

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 getting “Scrooged” in December of 2024

Saskatoon falls 4-2 to Wheat Kings heading into Xmas break

The Blades stop Wheat Kings LW Carter Klippenstein on a scoring chance.

December has been nasty for the Saskatoon Blades.

Before December rolled around, the Blades were on a heater.

Back on November 30, they downed the Swift Current Broncos 4-3 after a tiebreaking shootout at the SaskTel Centre. That win allowed the Blades to improve to 17-6-1-1 to have a solid hold on first place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. At the time, that victory was a third straight for the club and also a sixth triumph in the squad’s previous seven contests.

Luke Shipley scored twice for the Wheat Kings on Sunday.

The Blades appeared to be a surprise team in the WHL. Last season, they finished first overall in the WHL regular season standings with a 50-13-2-3 mark. In the WHL Playoffs, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship Series falling 3-2 in overtime in a series deciding Game 7 to the eventual WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors at the SaskTel Centre.

Due to the fact the Blades made some trades to load up for a long post-season run, many weren’t expecting them to have the type of campaign where they would challenge for top spot in the conference. While the Blades had to deal with a number of key graduations, they had enough strong returning players that they expected to be in the post-season mix and not fall to the bottom of the standings.

Brandon Lisowsky scored twice for the Blades on Sunday.

When the 2024 calendar flipped over to December, the wins dried up for the Blades. In six outings so far for December, the Blades have two extra time losses and have dropped their last four straight games in regulation.

On Sunday playing before 5,274 spectators at the SaskTel Centre before heading to their Christmas break, the Blades fell 4-2 to the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Wheat Kings jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Blades rallied to even the score 2-2 at the 8:37 mark of the third period.

Wheat Kings 20-year-old defenceman Luke Shipley scored a pretty goal during a stretch of four-on-four play with 5:56 remaining in the third for the winning tally, and he sealed victory with an empty-net marker with 4.2 seconds remaining in the frame.

Ethan Eskit made 27 saves for the Wheat Kings on Sunday.

Despite the winless stretch, Saskatoon still sits first in the WHL’s East Division with a 17-10-2-2 mark. The Blades trail the Medicine Hat Tigers (19-14-1) for top spot in the Eastern Conference by one standings points with three games in hand.

The Wheat Kings improved to 15-9-3-1 with the win and trail the Blades by four standings points for first in the East Division with three games in hand. The Wheaties still have one game to play before departing on their Christmas break to pull closer to Saskatoon in the standings.

They are back in action on Tuesday hosting the 7-19-3-1 Warriors (7 p.m. local time, Westoba Place). Both the Wheat Kings and Warriors will head on to their respective Christmas breaks after that contest.

Ben Riche set up the Blades first goal.

The Blades have a long stretch to ponder where they are at this point in the 2024-25 campaign. Saskatoon doesn’t play again until hosting the Warriors on Friday, December 27 at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

While the Blades have two extra time setbacks in December, all four of their regulation losses have been heartbreakers. Saskatoon has fallen twice by one goal in those regulation losses. The other two losses have come by two goals, where the opponent has sealed victory with an empty-net tally like Brandon did on Sunday.

Sunday’s clash with the Wheat Kings was played pretty evenly by the two sides. Brandon basically was able to make two more plays than Saskatoon did, but the Blades are likely lamenting missed chances.

Nicholas Johnson had a goal and an assist for the Wheat Kings.

Just 1:51 into the opening frame, the Wheat Kings jumped ahead 1-0 off a Blades turnover in their own zone. A pass between Blades captain Ben Saunderson and 19-year-old centre Lukas Hansen was botched causing the puck to sit on the stick of Wheat Kings breakout centre Matteo Michels.

Positioned midrange off to the right of the Blades goal, Michels roofed a shot to the top left corner of the Saskatoon net for the opening marker of the contest.

The Wheat Kings pushed their edge out to 2-0 scoring on the power play at the 11:30 mark of the opening frame. During a scramble for the puck at the left side of the Blades net, Wheat Kings right-winger Brady Turko fed a backhanded pass across the front of the goal to left-winger Nicholas Johnson at the open right side of the cage. Johnson popped the puck into the empty side of the net to give the visitors their two-goal edge.

Ben Saunderson brings the puck up ice for the Blades.

The Blades came into the second period on fire applying all sorts of pressure in the Brandon zone holding a 15-7 edge in shots on goal for the stanza. Some sharp play by Wheat Kings netminder Ethan Eskit ensured the visitors went into the second intermission still holding the lead.

Saskatoon trimmed Brandon’s lead to 2-1 at the 8:33 mark of the second on a vintage goal by star 20-year-old left-winger Brandon Lisowsky. Entering the Wheat Kings zone on a two-on-one break, Blades breakout star centre Ben Riche drove down the left wing into the Wheat Kings zone with the puck and fed the puck across the front of the Brandon net to Lisowsky. Lisowsky fired a one-timer home to cut the Wheat Kings lead to one.

Matteo Michels scored the Wheat Kings first goal on Sunday.

Just four seconds into a power play at the 4:04 mark of the third, the Blades thought they had the equalizer when right-winger Hudson Kibblewhite tipped home a puck in front of the Brandon net that came off a point blast from 20-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann. The officials immediately waved off the goal ruling Kibblewhite knocked home the puck with a high stick.

The officials went to a video review that determined the call on the ice was correct much to the dismay of the Blades faithful in attendance.

The Blades finally broke through with the man advantage scoring five seconds into their fourth power-play chance. Working low in the left side of the Brandon zone, Kibblewhite sent a smart pass to Lisowsky positioned at the top of the left faceoff circle.

The Blades celebrate an equalizer from Brandon Lisowsky (#8).

Lisowsky one-timed home his second goal of the contest to even the score at 2-2 at the 8:37 mark of the third. With his two tallies on Sunday, Lisowsky now has 139 career goals for the Blades moving him one tally ahead of Josh Nicholls for sixth on the Blades career goal scoring list. Nicholls played five seasons for the Blades from 2008 to 2013.

Shipley proceeded to spoil the comeback party for the hosts. Entering the Blades zone driving down the right wing on a three-on-one break, Shipley weaved around Saunderson, who slide on the ice to break up any potential passing plays.

Brayden Klimpke starts a breakout for the Blades.

After getting around Saunderson along the icing line, Shipley cut to the front of the Saskatoon net and put home a backhander to give the Wheat Kings a 3-2 advantage with 5:56 remaining in the third. He proceeded to add his empty-net goal to round out the game’s scoring.

Johnson picked up an assist on Shipley’s empty-net tally to round out a two-point night with one goal and one assist.

Evan Gardner turned away 26-of-29 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades. Eskit stopped 27 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Wheat Kings.

As the Blades head into their Christmas break, one has to wonder if they are falling back to earth and if the graduations from last season are finally catching up to them.

Evan Gardner stopped 26-of-29 shots for the Blades.

Their 17-10-2-2 record might be an accurate reflection on where they sit. While they played well building a 17-6-1-1 mark after their win over the Broncos on November 30, they likely overachieved and got a couple of wins that they shouldn’t have.

Over their winless last six games that have included two extra time setbacks, the Blades likely deserved some breaks to get victory in a couple of those contests.

When they return to action after the Christmas break, the Blades will be in the mix in a wide open Eastern Conference. They could get back to the Eastern Conference Championship Series for a third straight year, or they could be eliminated in the first round of the post-season.

Ethan Eskit, left, and Nolan Flamand celebrate the Wheat Kings win.

No matter how the 2024-25 campaign plays out for the Blades, it should be entertaining to watch.

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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Sweep away - Blades turn out the lights on Rebels

Saskatoon advances to WHL Eastern Conference final

Alexander Suzdalev (#91) chases down a puck. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

Like a young Mike Tyson, the Saskatoon Blades landed the knockout blow early.

“The Bridge City Bunch” pounced on a host Red Deer Rebels side that was compromised entering Game 4 of a WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series between the two sides. For the second straight night, the Rebels played a game without both of their regular goaltenders.

Second-year netminder Rhett Stoesser was out due to an undisclosed ailment. Stoesser has yet to dress for a game in the series against the Blades.

Breakout rookie puck stopper Chase Wutzke was out with an undisclosed injury. In the Blades 2-1 overtime victory in Game 2 on Sunday in Saskatoon, Wutzke was bowled over by Blades overage star left-winger Easton Armstrong on an offensive rush at the 5:59 mark of the third when the contest was tied 1-1.

Armstrong was given a major penalty for charging and a game misconduct. On Monday, he was suspended by the WHL, and the league finalized that suspension at four games on Wednesday. Wutzke finished Game 2 playing heroically making 47 saves in the extra time setback.

With Stoesser and Wutzke out, the Rebels started associate player call up Taylor Tabashniuk, who turned 17-years-old in March, in net for a second straight night. He played this season with the Regina Pat Canadians under-18 AAA team before joining the Rebels.

Peyton Shore suited up as the Rebels backup goalie as an associated player call up. Shore, who is 15-years-old, played this season for the Rink Hockey Academy’s Under-17 team in his hometown of Winnipeg, Man.

On top of the netminders who were out, the Rebels were without overage defenceman Elias Carmichael with a lower body injury. Carmichael did not appear at all in the 2024 WHL post-season.

Ben Saunderson (#2) makes a poke check. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

Also, Rebels import right-winger Frantisek Formanek was out serving a one-game league imposed suspension for being assessed a spearing major and a game misconduct in the third period of the Blades 8-5 victory in Game 3 on Tuesday. Associate player call up Steven Steranka, who is 16-years-old, suited up for his first WHL game be it the regular season or playoffs after playing all of this past season with the Pat Canadians under-18 AAA team before joining the Rebels.

In Game 4 on Wednesday, the Blades stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the first period and cruised to a 7-0 victory before 4,415 spectators. The win allowed the Blades to sweep the best-of-seven series 4-0.

For a second straight year, the Blades advance to the Eastern Conference Championship series. They will play the winner of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Swift Current Broncos.

The Warriors downed the Broncos 5-2 in Game 4 of that series on Wednesday at the InnovationPlex in Swift Current to take a 3-1 lead in that set. The Warriors will try and close out that series Friday when they host the Broncos at 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, which is also known as “The Hangar.”

Saskatoon’s series win over Red Deer means the Eastern Conference Championship series will be an all-Saskatchewan battle for the first time since 1993. Back in 1993, the Broncos swept the Regina Pats 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Championships Series. Swift Current advanced to the WHL Championship Series where they got past the Portland Winterhawks in seven games.

As for Wednesday’s encounter between the Blades and Rebels, Blades star import right-winger Egor Sidorov played the role of Tyson in Wednesday’s romp recording a hat trick, two assists and a plus-five rating in the plus-minus department. He got things started wiring home his first of the contest from the top of the left faceoff circle just 3:12 into the opening frame to put the visitors up 1-0.

With Sidorov’s first goal, the Blades have now opened the scoring in all nine of their games in the 2024 post-season.

The Blades and Rebels scrum it up. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

Just under three minutes later, the Blades pushed their lead out to 2-0 on a short-handed goal by centre Rowan Calvert. Left-winger Misha Volotovskii sprung Calvert on a breakaway, and he went forehand to backhand putting his second of the post-season by Tabashniuk to give the Blades their two-goal edge.

With 3:12 remaining in the opening frame, Sidorov netted his second of the contest to give the Blades a 3-0 advantage. The 19-year-old, who has a signed NHL entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks, came in on the right side of the Red Deer net and put home a spinorama backhand shot.

Sidorov proceeded to pick up his first assist of the night on the Blades fourth goal. With 72 seconds remaining in the first, Sidorov got the puck to star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky. Lisowsky broke into the Red Deer zone and slipped a backhand shot five-hole on Tabashniuk to put the Blades up 4-0 heading into the first intermission.

The Blades built their 4-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes holding a 12-6 edge in shots on goal.

Just 2:15 into the second, Sidorov completed his hat trick. He jetted in the Red Deer zone chasing a dump in or a missed stretch pass from offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk.

The puck hit the back boards in the Red Deer zone and bounced right out to an approaching Sidorov. Sidorov potted home a shot where he put his stick between his legs for his 10^th goal of the post-season to give the Blades a 5-0 edge.

At the 13:03 mark of the third, Sidorov had a sweet helper on the tally that put the Blades in front 6-0 on the scoreboard. Holding the puck inside the icing line in the Red Deer end off to the right of the Rebels goal, Sidorov made a smart pass to Blades star centre Fraser Minten. Minten slid home his fifth of the post-season to give the Blades their six-goal edge.

Nicholas Andrusiak (#53) sets defensively. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

The Rebels ran into more tough luck as offensive-defenceman Hunter Mayo was given a double minor for high-sticking at the 3:33 mark of the third. That infraction will be automatically be reviewed by the WHL office for a possible suspension.

On the first half of the four-minute power-play, Blades import right-winger Alexander Suzdalev rounded out the game’s scoring potting home a shot from a sharp angle at the left side of the Red Deer net at the 4:52 mark of the third.

Blades breakout rookie netminder Evan Gardner had a solid night stopping all 26 shots he faced to pick up the shutout win in goal for the Blades. He made a huge stop on a Rebels power-play opportunity late in the third period to preserve his shutout bid.

Rebels offensive-defenceman Mats Lindgren sprung Rebels overage winger Carson Latimer on a contested breakaway. Latimer fired a shot on goal that was denied by a blocker stop from Gardner.

Lisowsky had a pair of assists to go with his goal. Blades defencemen Ben Saunderson and Nicholas Andrusiak each had two assists. Saskatoon was without utility forward Tyler Parr who has missed the team’s last five games with an undisclosed injury.

Tabashniuk turned away 24 shots to take the setback in net for the Rebels. His post-season starts in Games 3 and 4 were his first two career WHL games played in either the regular season or post-season.

Coming into the series between the Blades and Rebels, the Blades were tabbed as the favourites. They topped the WHL’s overall standings with a 50-13-2-3 record and were rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings.

The Rebels had an up and down regular season finishing fifth overall in the WHL’s Eastern Conference and eighth overall on the circuit with a 33-26-3-6 mark.

Last year when the Blades and Rebels met in an Eastern Conference semifinal, the Rebels claimed the first three games of the set, and the Blades rallied back to take the next four games to take the series 4-3. The Blades became just the third team in this history of the WHL to face an 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series to rally back to take the set 4-3.

The Blades and Rebels shake hands. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

This year, the Blades didn’t need any comeback dramatics to eliminate the Rebels from the post-season. Outside of chaotic win in Game 3, the Blades played strong hockey and were full marks in sweeping the Rebels out of the WHL Playoffs.

The Blades were also opportunistic. When the Rebels encountered some rotten luck due to injuries and ailments on the goaltending front, an injury to an overage defensive-defenceman in Carmichael and a suspension to key winger in Formanek, the Blades showed no mercy when it came to piling up the goals.

When the moment came to eliminate a foe with short-handed roster, the Blades cashed in. Now, they move on to play a post-season series where the winner gets a trophy and a banner.

Huge thanks to Lachance for photo help

A big thank you goes out to Red Deer Rebels team photographer Taylor Lachance for the photos that appear in this post.

He did a tremendous job with these photos. The WHL has a tonne of talented team photographers, and they do an outstanding job of capturing memorable moments on the major junior circuit.

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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Saunderson delivers OT win, 2-0 series lead for Blades

Saskatoon outlasts 47-save performance by Rebels’ Wutzke

Ben Saunderson (#2) reacts to scoring the OT winner for the Blades.

Ben Saunderson lived out a dream hockey moment.

On Sunday at the SaskTel Centre, Saunderson’s Saskatoon Blades found themselves locked in a 1-1 tie in overtime against the Red Deer Rebels in Game 2 of a WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series. Late in the extra session, the 19-year-old offensive-defenceman put his instincts in the offensive zone to work.

Blades captain Trevor Wong drove with the puck down the right wing boards into the Red Deer zone. Saunderson elected to pinch down into the left faceoff circle to provide Wong a passing outlet.

The Blades mob Ben Saunderson after he scores his OT winner.

Wong passed the puck across the front of the Rebels goal to Saunderson. Saunderson wired home the winning goal while being hooked down by Rebels rookie import centre Samuel Drancak with 2:59 remaining in the extra session.

The rearguard’s tally gave the Blades a 2-1 overtime victory in front of 8,051 spectators. The crowd did their best to try and blow the roof off the SaskTel Centre after Saunderson’s goal went into the Red Deer net.

“I would say it is something you dream of,” said Saunderson, who was a plus-two in the plus-minus department on Sunday. “You’re playing mini sticks in the basement as a little kid, and you’re counting down the clock or you’re in overtime.

Fans at the SaskTel Centre celebrate the Blades OT win.

“You score a goal like that and hear everyone go crazy it is unbelievable.”

The win allowed the Blades to take 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven set. The series now switches scenes to Red Deer for Games 3 and 4, which will be held at 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively at the Peavey Mart Centrium.

As Saunderson was being hooked to the ground when he scored his overtime winner, he wasn’t able to follow the path of the puck into the Red Deer net.

The Rebels react to their OT loss on Sunday.

“To be honest, I didn’t see it go in,” said Saunderson. “I just heard the crowd.

“I heard the crossbar. I didn’t see it go in, but I heard the crowd and knew it went in. A goal like that is definitely something I’ll remember for a while.”

Saunderson said he decided to make his pinch, when he saw Wong jet down the right wing of the Red Deer zone. The Rebels skaters also had their eyes locked on the Blades captain creating a backdoor opportunity.

“I saw Wonger (Wong) going down the far side there,” said Saunderson. “I know he is always looking for pass.

Ben Saunderson had a goal and an assist for the Blades on Sunday.

“He is an incredible playmaker, so I thought I would jump in. He found me, and I found the net.”

Saunderson’s winner came at the expensive of Rebels 17-year-old rookie breakout netminder Chase Wutzke. The Debden, Sask., product was spectacular making 47 saves to keep the Rebels in the game.

Rebels interim head coach Dave Struch said Wutzke was fantastic on Sunday.

“He gave us a chance,” said Struch. “It is something that he for us against Medicine Hat (in a first round series win) as well.

Chase Wutzke made 47 saves for the Rebels on Sunday.

“They have a real good team. They have some high end players that create those shots. Overall for Chase (Wutzke) to play the way he did with a good bounce back game for us, it gave us a chance.”

Sunday’s game got out to a tight checking start. At the 13-minute mark of the opening frame, the shots on goal between the two clubs were tied 2-2. After the opening frame ended, the Blades held a 7-2 edge in shots on goal.

Thanks to a power play opportunity that carried over from the opening frame and two more power-play chances inside the first eight minutes of the second for the Saskatoon side, the Blades began to really pepper Wutzke. At the 10:30 mark of the second, the Blades held an 18-3 advantage in the shots on goal department.

Evan Gardner made 24 saves for the Blades on Sunday.

The Blades finally broke through on the scoreboard with 8:50 remaining in second on a tally that was set up by a smart play from Saunderson. He put a long bank stretch pass off the boards that sprung Blades star centre Fraser Minten on a two-on-nothing break into the Rebels zone with right-winger Rhett Melnyk.

Minten kept the puck himself, got in close and slipped home a shot between the legs of Wutzke to give the Blades a 1-0 lead.

During the regular season, Saunderson appeared in 67 games for the Blades posting career highs in goals (five), assists (26), points (31) and plus-minus (plus-39). Blades head coach Brennan Sonne said Saunderson has grown a tonne in various ways that team’s coaching staff has a lot of trust in the blue-liner.

Fraser Minten gave the Blades a 1-0 lead in the second period.

“What can’t he (Saunderson) do,” said Sonne. “We as a staff have felt like this for a while.

“He is bright. He is brainy. He knows the structure like the back of his hand. He skates really well. He is big. He is strong. He can shoot a puck. He can make plays. He is a leader.

“He is a great teammate. There isn’t much he can’t do. Him building that this season and the belief in that as well, I think has been huge for him and for our team.”

With 3:32 remaining in the second, Rebels right-winger Dwayne Jean Jr. was given a double minor for high-sticking. That infraction will trigger an automatic review by the WHL office for a possible suspension. The Blades were unable to score on the ensuing double minor.

Kalan Lind (#13) scored the equalizer for the Rebels.

At the conclusion of the first two periods, the Blades held a 28-10 advantage in the shots on goal department.

In the third, the Rebels increased the possibility that they might be able to steal a victory off Wutzke’s performance. At the 4:10 mark of the third, the Rebels evened the score at 1-1 on a power-play goal by star winger Kalan Lind. Positioned in front of the Saskatoon net, Lind tipped home a point shot from Rebels offensive-defenceman Hunter Mayo for the equalizer.

Sonne liked how his team responded when the Rebels pulled even on the scoreboard.

“I thought we showed maturity when it got tied up actually,” said Sonne. “I didn’t really particularly like our game very much in terms of passion and desperation in the first 40.

Hunter Mayo had an assist on the Rebels equalizer.

“I thought as it got tied up we started feeling a little bit of that ‘OK we’re in a game here.’ I thought we showed desperation, which is maturity, but at the same time, you have to play with that desperation at all times. That will be the main message for the team.

“Third period and overtime, I thought we actually finally got to that level of desperation, so we have to keep that going.”

Following Lind’s equalizer, the Rebels had a huge opportunity to go ahead on the scoreboard.

At the 5:59 mark of the third, Blades overage star left-winger Easton Armstrong bowled over Wutzke on an offensive rush. Armstrong was given a major penalty for charging and a game misconduct. Those infractions will trigger an automatic review by the WHL office for a possible suspension.

Trevor Wong set up the Blades OT winner.

The Rebels were unable to score on the ensuing power play. They peppered the Saskatoon net with chances, but Blades breakout rookie netminder Evan Gardner slammed the door shut to ensure the contest remained tied.

That set the stage for overtime.

In overtime, the Blades got the first six shots on goal, before the Rebels answered with a push back. 

In one sequence inside the final eight minutes of the extra session, a scramble occurred in front of the Saskatoon net. A shot from Lind got through Gardner and was trickling toward the goal-line. Blades 19-year-old defensive-defenceman John Babcock stopped the puck with his skate and kicked it under a fallen Gardner to get a stoppage.

John Babcock had a big defensive play for the Blades in OT.

“I unfortunately made a bad turnover to cause that, but I’m glad I could kind of save the game there and get a skate on it,” said Babcock. “I just saw it over Evan’s shoulder there.

“I just slid on it and hoped for the best.”

Shortly after that sequence, Saunderson came through with his winner.

Gardner stopped 24 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades.

He has won his last 15 straight starts including action in the regular season and post-season.

Now the series shifts to Red Deer for Games 3 and 4. 

Brandon Lisowsky gathers the puck in the centre ice zone.

Last year when the Blades dropped the first three games before rallying for four straight wins in an Eastern Conference semifinal series win over the Rebels, the Saskatoon side won two out of three games in Red Deer.

Saunderson said his squad is looking forward to the next two games in Red Deer, and his team will be focused on continuing what they have done in the first two contests of this year’s series.

“It is obviously pretty cool to play the same team two years in a row,” said Saunderson. “I think the series is long from over.

Tanner Molendyk, left, and Ben Saunderson huge after the Blades OT win.

“There are still a lot games to be played that could be played. I think our mentality going in there is do the same thing we did the last two games here. I think if we go in there and play our game we should be good.”

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Blades boot Raiders from first round of WHL Playoffs

Rebels up next for rematch from 2023 post-season

The Blades celebrate an empty-net goal from Trevor Wong (#38).

The Saskatoon Blades delivered a big blow with an early surge of goals their archrivals the Prince Albert Raiders couldn’t recover from.

Now, “the Bridge City Bunch” will meet another post-season foe they achieved a historical accomplishment against a year ago.

On Friday before 9,869 spectators at the SaskTel Centre, the Blades downed the Raiders 6-2 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first round series in the WHL Playoffs. With the win, the Blades take the set 4-1.

The Blades advance to face the Red Deer Rebels in a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Rebels closed out their best-of-seven first round series with a 5-2 victory over the Tigers in Medicine Hat in Game 5 of that set on Friday.

Brandon Lisowsky scored the Blades first goal on Friday.

In the 2023 playoffs, the Blades and Raiders went at it in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal. The Rebels won the first three games of the series, but the Blades claimed the last four games of the set to take the series 4-3. In the process, Saskatoon became just the third team in the history of the WHL to comeback from a 3-0 series deficit to win a series.

As for the series that just wrapped up between the Blades and Raiders, Blades head coach Brennan Sonne appreciated the unique aspect of going against the Raiders for the first time in the post-season as Saskatoon’s bench boss.

“The game on the ice itself was very gritty,” said Sonne. “I really enjoyed the fandom.

Ben Saunderson (#2) reacts to scoring the Blades second goal.

“I love the crowds we got. I enjoyed even the crowds they had. It felt like a real true playoff series.

“I really enjoyed it. I hope the fans enjoyed to, because their support was phenomenal. In both buildings, it was great.”

Entering the first round series between Saskatoon and Prince Albert, the Blades came into the set as heavy favourites. They finished first overall in the WHL’s regular season with a 50-13-2-3 record and were rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings. The Raiders entered the WHL Playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 31-32-2-3 mark.

With the difference in the standings noted, Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt liked the compete level his club displayed against the Blades.

Alexander Suzdalev scored the Blades third goal.

“If you take a look at the series, you are up against a tremendously talented team,” said Truitt. “You always go into every playoff series believing you can win, because the slate is clean.

“As the games go on, you have to tweak and see what they’re doing and what you’re doing. We played to our capabilities. We win one game.

“We lose one in overtime. A couple of them were a little bit more distanced, but I won’t fault our guys for anything on their effort. They played hard.”

As for Friday’s clash itself, the Raiders came out and got the first three shots on goal in the contest. At that point, momentum jumped on the side of the Blades in a big way as they surged ahead 4-0.

Fraser Minten scored the Blades fourth goal on Friday.

At the 3:24 mark of the opening frame, Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky jumped on a mishandled puck by a Raiders defenceman in the Prince Albert zone. Lisowsky proceeded to wire a shot from the left faceoff circle through Raiders star netminder Max Hildebrand for his first of the post-season to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The tally came on the Blades second shot of the game.

During the regular season, Lisowsky appeared in all of the Blades 68 games posting career highs in goals (42), assists (38), points (80) and the plus-minus department (plus-26). While he hadn’t scored in the first four games of the series, Lisowsky, who is a 19-year-old veteran, learned that when he went through scoreless stretches in the past not to press but to play like he normally plays when he is on hot stretches.

The fans at the SaskTel Centre cheer on the Blades.

“Obviously as a goal scorer, you want to score and you want to help the team win,” said Lisowsky. “I kind of know just not to grip the stick too tight and not to go anything about being different.

“I try to be myself. I thought our line has been playing really good, and I thought we got rewarded tonight.”

Blades defenceman Ben Saunderson proceeded to convert a backdoor feed at the left side of the Prince Albert net to put the Blades up 2-0 at the 5:57 mark of the opening frame. Saunderson cashed in a beauty setup feed from Blades captain Trevor Wong, who was positioned beside the right faceoff dot. Saunderson’s tally was the Blades third shot on goal of the contest.

Niall Crocker reacts to scoring for the Raiders in the first period.

Just 73 seconds later, Blades star 19-year-old right-winger Alexander Suzdalev tipped home a shot from the point by Lisowsky to push the host side’s advantage out to 3-0.

With 7:24 remaining in the first, Blades star centre Fraser Minten wired a midrange shot home from the Prince Albert goal to cap the surge that put Saskatoon up by four goals. Minten’s tally came on the Blades 10^th shot of the contest.

“It is a nice way to start a game that is for sure instead of chasing it or anything like that,” said Sonne. “Having a big start like that just makes it a lot easier.”

The Blades and Raiders get into some rough stuff on Friday.

The Raiders tried to stop the bleeding. With 5:47 remaining in the first, Raiders right-winger Niall Crocker popped home his third goal of the post-season to cut the Blades lead to 4-1.

With 18.5 seconds left in the first, Blades breakout rookie netminder Evan Gardner was knocked into by Raiders offensive-defenceman Justice Christensen after Christensen was pushed from behind by Blades defenceman Charlie Wright. Christensen was given a minor for goaltender interference on the play.

Gardner was checked by a Blades trainer but stayed in goal for the rest of the frame.

When the teams came out for the start of the second, Austin Elliott came out to take up the goalie spot for the Blades, and Gardner wasn’t on the bench. Gardner stopped 8-of-9 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades. Ellliott turned away 15-of-16 shots playing the rest of the way in goal in relief for Saskatoon.

Austin Elliott makes one of his 15 saves in goal for the Blades.

Blades star overage left-winger Easton Armstrong also missed the final two periods of the contest. Sonne didn’t have any updates to pass along about either player at game’s end.

Frustration started to boil over at points for the Raiders in the second. With 6:06 remaining in the frame, Raiders import left-winger Krzysztof Macias nailed Blades centre Lukas Hansen with an elbow to the head. Macias was given a major for checking to the head and a game misconduct. The penalty to Macias will trigger an automatic review from the WHL office for a possible suspension to be applied next season.

The Blades were unable to score on the subsequent man advantage.

The Raiders enjoy a goal from Harrison Lodewyk (#29).

Raiders 16-year-old rookie right-winger Luke Moroz was serving Macias’s penalty, and when the infraction expired, Moroz came out of the penalty box and found himself on a breakaway. Lisowsky jetted up ice on the backcheck and poked the puck away from Moroz to prevent a scoring chance.

“I knew the penalty was getting to an end,” said Lisowsky. “I don’t really know how the puck got there.

“I’m going to have to watch it on video. I just saw a guy out of the box. I just wanted to catch him.

“It could have been a different game, if he scored that. It definitely could have been a different game, so I really wanted to get him and kind of show a 200-foot game from myself. I just had my legs, and I was trying to move as fast as I can.”

Trevor Wong scored a goal for the Blades.

With 4:54 remaining in the third, Raiders left-winger Harrison Lodewyk broke into the Saskatoon zone down the right wing, cut wide around the Blades defence to get alone in front of the Saskatoon net and tucked home his first of the post-season. That tally trimmed the Blades lead to 4-2.

“That is the big thing about our club is they will never give up,” said Truitt. “It has been like that all year long.

“We’ve come from behind to win games. We’ve stuck to it when we’ve had to defend. We won some shootout games and things like that.

“We’ve been down three or four goals before this year and have come back. The belief was still there, but we knew it was going to be a challenge. Again, our guys worked and competed right to the end.”

The Blades start celebrating their series win on Friday.

The Blades called a timeout a short time after the tally by Lodewyk. They snuffed out the attempted rally with an empty net goal from Wong with four minutes remaining in the frame to give the Blades a 5-2 advantage.

Wright added a short-handed empty-net goal with 2:11 left in the frame to round out the 6-2 final in favour of the host side. The tally came on the Blades 40^th shot of the contest.

Hildebrand turned away 35-of-39 shots to take the setback in net for the Raiders.

While the Blades will face the Rebels in one Eastern Conference semifinal series, the other Eastern Conference semifinal will see the Moose Jaw Warriors take on the Swift Current Broncos in a rivalry clash. 

The Raiders react to their campaign coming to an end.

The Warriors swept the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round, while the Broncos had the brooms out to take out the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Game 1 of the series between the Blades and Rebels is set for this coming Friday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. Before thinking about what is to come against the Rebels, Sonne wants his club to enjoy the series win against the Raiders and some down time too.

“They hear from me so much they don’t need to hear from me for a day or two for sure,” said Sonne. “For all of us and the staff too, we have to get around our family a little bit too.

Max Hildebrand (#30) and Egor Sidorov (#19) pass on well wishes.

“We have to be human beings a little bit. It is the only way you stay centred and grounded and maintain the perspective you need to be a really good coach. They don’t need to hear from me for a day or two that is for sure.”

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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