Blades get Hughes, give up Paterson to Winterhawks

The Blades traded Josh Paterson to the Winterhawks on Thursday.

    The Saskatoon Blades added a dynamic and skilled forward on WHL trade deadline day, but it came with a bit of a cost.

    Before Thursday’s 4 p.m. Saskatchewan time league trade deadline, the Blades acquired 19-year-old left-winger Ryan Hughes from the Portland Winterhawks. To get Hughes, the Blades sent veteran 19-year-old centre Josh Paterson, a second round selection in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft and a fourth round pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft to Portland.

    The players involved in the deal are both Edmonton, Alta., products.

    Hughes, who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 153 pounds, made the Winterhawks as a list player in his 16-year-old season. In 223 career regular season games in Portland, Hughes piled up 64 goals and 87 assists.

    In helping the Winterhawks build the WHL’s fourth best record so far this season at 25-11-3-2, Hughes, who was an assistant captain in Portland, has appeared in 36 games collecting 17 goals, 23 assists and a plus-five rating in the plus-minus department.

    Paterson was selected by the Blades in the second round and 25^th overall in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. Since making Saskatoon’s roster as a 16-year-old rookie, Paterson, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds, became a reliable two-way centre.

    In 246 career regular season games with the Blades, Paterson has 74 goals and 64 assists. In helping the Blade build the WHL’s third best record to date at 26-12-5 in the 2018-19 campaign, Paterson, who was a Blades assistant captain, appeared in 41 contests collecting 14 goals, 18 assists and a plus-eight rating.

    “First and foremost, we want to thank Josh (Paterson) for everything he has done for us and his parents, Sheryl and Brad,” said Blades general manager Colin Priestner in a release. “They’re at a lot of games and have become a big part of the Blades family over the past four years.

    “Josh was the first player I ever drafted and him signing with us when we were an unproven young team was a big deal for us, and I’ll always be grateful to Josh for that.”

    Priestner was pleased the Blades could pick up Hughes.

    “To get a first line, dynamic left-winger in Ryan, there’s always a price to pay,” said Priestner in the release. “To acquire a player with the speed and skill that Ryan possesses, along with 27 games of playoff experience, was big for us and for our coaching staff.

    “It’s difficult to find players who can produce like he can, and at the speed he can, and he’s coming from a great program that he’s spent the past four years in. These deals are never easy to make, but we’re very excited to add Ryan to our group and we’re looking forward to seeing him on the ice this weekend.”

    The Blades return to action on Friday, when they host the Calgary Hitmen (20-16-3-1) at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. The Blades and Winterhawks will go at it on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

Raiders add trio before deadline

Boston Bilous in action for the Oil Kings last season.

    The Prince Albert Raiders tweaked with their roster adding a trio of players before Thursday’s WHL trade deadline.

    The Raiders acquired 17-year-old goaltender Boston Bilous from the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for a conditional sixth round selection in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft. Bilous, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 173 pounds, is in his second full WHL season.

    With the Oil Kings, he has appeared in 10 games this season posting a 3-4-1 record, a 3.56 goals against average, a .859 save percentage and one shutout.

    The Raiders also picked up 18-year-old defenceman Loeden Schaufler from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for an eighth round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Schaufler, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 184 pounds, has appeared in 21 regular season games this season split between the Kootenay Ice and Thunderbirds posting two assists and a minus-eight rating.

    The Raiders added 17-year-old forward Bryce Bader and a conditional sixth around WHL Bantam Draft selection from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for WHL rights to 17-year-old forward Quinn Olson and a conditional sixth round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft.

    Bader, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds, has appeared in 10 regular season games in the current campaign with the Hitmen posting four goals and a plus-two rating.

    All three players still possess the potential to make a great impact in the league in the future. At the moment, they add extra depth to the Prince Albert roster.

    The Raiders, who sit first overall in the WHL at 35-5-0-1 and are rated first in the CHL’s Top 10 rankings, return to action on Friday, when they host the Portland Winterhawks at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.

Hofer heads to Portland

Joel Hofer is now a member of the Winterhawks.

    The Portland Winterhawks might have made the most significant trade one day before Thursday’s WHL trade deadline that will likely give them a bigger chance to go on a long playoff run.

    On Wednesday in a blockbuster move, the Winterhawks acquired 18-year-old goaltender Joel Hofer from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange six WHL Bantam Draft selections. Portland gave up its first round selections in 2019 and 2021, a second round pick in 2020, a third round pick in 2019, a fourth round pick in 2020 and a fifth round pick in 2020.

    Hofer has appeared in 49 regular season games over two campaigns for the Broncos posting a 14-24-5 record, a 3.55 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and two shutouts.

    He was the Broncos backup goalie last season when they won the WHL title and appeared in the Memorial Cup tournament in Regina. Last June, Hofer was selected in the fourth round and 107^th overall in the NHL Entry Draft held in Dallas, Texas.

    With the Broncos going under a massive rebuild, Hofer has done his best to hold the Swift Current side in games as the starter this season. In 30 regular season games with the Broncos in the current campaign, Hofer has posted a 6-21-3 record, a 4.02 goals against average, a .904 save percentage and one shutout.

    The Broncos sit last in the 22-team WHL with an 8-29-2-1 record.

    The Winterhawks sit fourth overall in the WHL at 25-11-3-2.

    The Broncos return to action on Saturday, when they host the Seattle Thunderbirds (13-21-4) at 7 p.m. at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex.

    The Winterhawks resume play on Friday, when they travel to Prince Albert to take on the Raiders at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.

    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 buck Broncos 5-2 to start new year

Kirby Dach scored for the Blades on Tuesday.

    Saskatoon Blades gave the SaskTel Centre faithful sweet treat on New Year’s Day.

    In an afternoon game played before 3,818 spectators, the Blades received goals from five different players to down the Swift Current Broncos 5-2. The WHL regular season tilt was a competitive one as the Blades held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period and a 2-1 advantage at the end of the second frame.

    The Blades opened the game’s scoring at the 13:33 mark of the first period on a power-play goal from overage right-winger Max Gerlach, who knocked home the puck from the left side of the Swift Current goal.

    Saskatoon extended its edge to 2-0 at the 2:31 mark of the second, when right-winger Josh Paterson knocked home the rebound of a shot taken from linemate Kyle Crnkovic.

    The Broncos didn’t go away. Inside of the final 20 seconds of the second, Broncos 16-year-old rookie defenceman Billy Sowa potted his second goal of the season to cut the Blades lead to 2-1.

    In the third, the Blades jumped ahead 3-1, when captain Chase Wouters converted a tick-tack-toe passing play from Gerlach and left-winger Gary Haden.

    Saskatoon’s lead grew to 4-1, when 17-year-old centre Kirby Dach scored on a breakaway with a backhand shot.

    With 4:55 remaining in the third, Alec Zawatsky scored for the Broncos to cut Saskatoon’s lead to 4-2.

Captain Chase Wouters scored for the Blades on Tuesday.

    The comeback hopes for the visitors were short lived.

    With 62 seconds remaining in the third, Blades left-winger Riley McKay cut across the front of the Swift Current goal and scored on a backhander.

    Nolan Maier made 17 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Blades, who improved to 23-11-5. Joel Hofer turned away 41 shots to take the setback in goal for the rebuilding Broncos, who fell to 7-27-2-1.

    Tuesday’s game had its feisty moments too.

    Near the end of the first period, McKay and Broncos right-winger Tanner Nagel engaged in a fight.

    There was also a skirmish at the 11:48 mark of the second period that saw fighting majors assessed to Broncos defenceman Matthew Stanley, Blades right-winger Zach Huber and Blades centre Randen Schmidt.

    The Blades return to action on Friday, when they host the Regina Pats at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. The Broncos return home to host the Portland Winterhawks on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex.

Raiders put Pats winning streak on ice

Sergei Sapego scored the winning goal for the Raiders on Tuesday.

    The Prince Albert Raiders had to put the pedal to the metal to put away a very game Regina Pats side on New Year’s Day.

    On Tuesday afternoon before 5,877 spectators at the Brandt Centre in Regina, the Pats, who are in a major rebuild, took a 3-2 lead over the Raiders in the third period. The Raiders rallied scoring the final three goals of the contest to pull out a 5-3 victory and bring an end to the Pats three game winning streak.

    The Pats downed the Raiders 2-1 when the two sides met on Sunday in Prince Albert.

    With the Pats holding a 3-2 lead in Tuesday’s WHL regular season clash, Raiders overage centre Sean Montgomery netted the equalizer from the left slot on a beauty backhand set up pass from linemate Parker Kelly to force a 3-3 tie with 8:56 remaining in the third period.

    Raiders import defenceman Sergei Sapego scored the winning goal with a point blast through a screen on the power play with 4:21 remaining in the third. Kelly cemented the win with an empty-net goal with one second remaining in the third.

    Kelly also opened the game’s scoring with a short-handed goal 19 seconds into the second period.

Veteran left-winger Robbie Holmes responded for the Pats to send the two sides into the second intermission locked in a 1-1 tie.

Noah Gregor had three assists for the Raiders on Tuesday.

    Early in the third, star left-winger Cole Fonstad scored to put the Raiders up 2-1. Just 14 seconds after Fonstad’s goal, overage defenceman Liam Schioler netted the equalizer for the Pats to tie things up at 2-2.

    Just 82 seconds after Schioler’s goal, the Pats jumped ahead 3-2 on a goal from left-winger Riley Krane. That set the stage for the Raiders final surge to win the game.

    Brett Balas made 20 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Raiders, who improve their WHL leading record to 34-3-0-1. The Raiders are the top rated team in the CHL’s Top 10 rankings.
    Max Paddock turned away 51-of-55 shots to take the setback in goal for the Pats, who fell to 12-25-0-1.
    Raiders star overage centre Noah Gregor had three assists in the win and has recorded points in his last seven consecutive games. During that stretch, Gregor has recorded 10 goals and seven assists.

    The Raiders return to action on Friday, when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. The Pats are also off until Friday when they travel to Saskatoon to face the Blades at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

    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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Raiders outgun Broncos 7-5, head into Christmas 31-2-0-1

Sean Montgomery, centre, celebrates the Raiders teddy bear goal.

    PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The Prince Albert Raiders didn’t have it easy, but they kept going full steam ahead in what has been a remarkable WHL campaign.

    On Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre, the Raiders outgunned the majorly rebuilding Swift Current Broncos 7-5 in a WHL regular season contest before a packed standing room crowd of 2,809 spectators at the 2,580 seat facility. With the win, the Raiders remained undefeated at home at 16-0 and improved their spectacular WHL leading regular season record to 31-2-0-1.

    With star right-winger Brett Leason and star goaltender Ian Scott unavailable to the Raiders due to taking part in camp activities with Canada’s world junior team, the Raiders have found a way to put together a three game winning streak heading into their WHL Christmas break.

Jakob Brook, right, and the Raiders help with the teddy bear clean up.

    Having downed the Broncos 6-4 in Swift Current on Friday night, Raiders overage right-winger Noah Gregor said it was important for his club to find ways to win without their two star players.

    “These past two days have been probably not the way we want the game to go,” said Gregor. “Probably, it was entertaining for the fans.

    “At the end of the day, we got two big wins for us, and that is a great way to go into the break.”

    Saturday’s contest was the Raiders teddy bear toss game, and overage centre Sean Montgomery wired home the teddy bear goal at the 4:48 mark of the opening frame on a beauty set up by left-winger Parker Kelly. Montgomery’s tally gave the host side a 1-0 edge.

Overage C Sean Montgomery is having a career season for the Raiders.

    Having first joined the Raiders on a full-time basis as a 16-year-old rookie, Montgomery has put up career highs in goals (16), assists (19) and points (35). He had never scored the teddy bear toss goal, so he was happy to net that tally on Saturday.

    “There were a lot more people than I think we’ve had in other years, so it was great,” said Montgomery. “I guess the fifth time is a charm.”

    From that point, Saturday’s game turned into an old fashioned 1980s style shootout.

    The two teams exited the first period locked in a 2-2 draw. Justin Nachbaur scored his first of the night for the Raiders, while Dawson Springer and Ethan O’Rourke replied with singles for the Broncos.

Overage RW Noah Gregor scored twice for the Raiders on Saturday.

    Springer, who is a 16-year-old associate player call up from the Prince Albert midget AAA Mintos, was playing in his first career WHL regular season game, so of course, his tally for the Broncos was his first career goal in the major junior ranks.

    By the 6:08 mark of the second period, Joona Kiviniemi and Matthew Culling potted singles for the Broncos to give the visitors a 4-2 edge.

    Raiders starting goalie Donovan Buskey was pulled after the Broncos fourth goal. He stopped six of 10 shots sent his way.

    Associate player call up Brett Balas played in his first WHL game making the relief appearance. The 17-year-old, who was playing in the junior A ranks with the Calgary Canucks, stopped seven of eight shots sent his way to ultimately pick up his first career WHL victory.

Dawson Springer (#37) celebrates his first career WHL goal.

    Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid was pleased his club could pick up the win despite his side having some struggles in between the pipes. He hopes to get a little better effort from his netminders going forward in Scott’s absence.

    “It is all about the win,” said Habscheid. “Some nights, you are going to have little areas that (struggle) whether it be the power play not going or the PK or certain lines, individuals or whatever, you have to find a way.

    “You need your goaltender to stop pucks. That is just the way it is. You win as a team, you lose as a team, but in the end, your goaltender is the most important player.

    “It is difficult with Scotty (Scott) away, because he is our guy. It gives the other guys opportunities too. When they get their opportunities, you want them to perform for sure.”

Justin Nachbaur (#29) watches his second goal of the game go in.

    After making the goaltending change, the Raiders hit their high gear offensively scoring four straight goals before the second period ended to go ahead 6-4.

    Nachbaur started the surge scoring his second of the night. Ozzy Wiesblatt, who is a 16-year-old rookie centre, potted the equalizer at the 12:38 mark of the frame.

    Gregor netted two straight goals to complete the surge for the Raiders. He tipped home a pass from linemate Cole Fonstad for the first goal and scored the second marker on a wraparound.

    “You don’t want to be down going into the third, so we knew that we had to come with a strong push going into the end of that second period,” said Gregor. “We did a great job of that.

    “I think every game I am trying to be a leader and trying to be an offensive guy for this team. With (Brett) Leason being out, he is a huge part of the offence. I try to push myself to try and do even more.”

Ozzy Wiesblatt had a goal for the Raiders on Saturday.

    The Broncos cut the Raiders edge to 6-5, when left-winger Alec Zawatsky scored at the 3:31 mark of the third.

    Raiders power forward Parker Kelly rounded out the game’s scoring with an unassisted marker.

    Joel Hofer turned away 49 shots in goal for the Broncos. Having won the WHL title last season, the Broncos went through a major turnover in their roster, coaching staff and hockey operation staff during the off-season.

    Now placed in a position where they are rebuilding from near scratch, the Broncos sit last in the WHL at 6-24-1-1 heading into their WHL Christmas break.

Montgomery said it was key for the Raiders to ensure Saturday’s game didn’t slip away.

    “It is probably not the way we drew it up, but we got the win,” said Montgomery. “We’re not going to complain about that.

Broncos goalie Joel Hofer gives Raiders C Spencer Moe a shot.

    “We’ve had contributions from all four lines lately. Guys are stepping up and playing up to their potential I think. It has been a really good team effort the last few games.”

    The Raiders return to action on Thursday, Dec. 27, when they travel to Saskatoon to face the Blades (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre). The Broncos get going again on Thursday, Dec. 27, when they travel to Moose Jaw to face the Warriors (7 p.m., Mosaic Place).

    Going into the break, Habscheid said his Raiders are taking time to reflect on the fact they have built a stellar record to this point in the campaign to be rated first in the CHL Top 10 rankings.

    “You might as well talk about it,” said Habscheid. “It is 31-2-0-1. It is crazy.

The Raiders celebrate their victory on Saturday night.

    “It is something we never would have thought of halfway through the season to have that record. Like we talked in there, be proud of that, but the most fun part of any hockey season is the second half.

    “They can be proud of that, go home, enjoy it and forget about the game and enjoy the record so far. We haven’t won anything yet, and we still have a lot of things we want to accomplish. The next three, four months or five months should be real interesting.”

    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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    If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.