Blades had closer to normal season with unique challenges

Reflections on campaign, recent years go in many directions

The Blades celebrate a win at the SaskTel Centre on April 15.

While they played a full regular season with playoffs, the Saskatoon Blades admit the 2021-22 campaign was still another season like no other due to factors beyond the team’s control.

Even two days after Saskatoon was eliminated from the WHL Playoffs in a 6-3 loss to the Warriors in Moose Jaw in Game 5 of a best-of-seven first round series, the Blades team members all seem to have their own unique spins on what happened this past season and the past two years. Due to challenges associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, there were no WHL Playoffs in 2020 and 2021 for the Blades to take part in.

The Memorial Cup tournament to crown a CHL champion was nixed in both of those years too.

The 2019-20 season was flowing like normal and the Blades had a 34-24-2-3 record in the regular season before all action in the campaign was halted by the league on March 12, 2020. The Blades played an abbreviated 24-game regular season in a bubble environment in Regina against the WHL’s other four Saskatchewan franchises and two Manitoba clubs in March and April of 2021 to account for a 2020-21 campaign.

The Blades posted a 16-5-2-1 record playing in that special situation.

Rhett Rhinehart motors up ice for the Blades.

Going into the 2021-22 season, the Blades were trying to play their first full campaign since 2018-19. They played all 68 of their regular season games finishing fifth overall in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 38-26-3-1 mark before falling to the Warriors 4-1 in a best-of-seven set.

On Sunday, the Blades hosted the local area media for a season ending presser. The standard talk about hockey was there regarding the series against the Warriors, injuries to key players, what the team will look like next year and what the future has in store for the graduating players.

Still, specter of the COVID-19 pandemic was there, and the Blades had to adjust to wrenches that were thrown their way there. That included almost all of the WHL getting put on pause for the first two weeks of January causing games to be rescheduled pushing the end date for the regular season from April 3 to April 17.

“It is a what if year, but it is also a year I’m just honestly grateful for that we got through it,” said Blades general manager Colin Priestner. “I had COVID for three-and-a-half to four weeks where I couldn’t even get out of bed or walk up the stairs.

“Every day, we had one or two new players getting it. It wasn’t like we got it all over with in one weekend. Every week there were the COVID tests over and over and over.

“We had nights with nobody here (in the stands at the SaskTel Centre), because there was COVID going around the city so much. I’m grateful we got a season in.”

Nolan Maier has a WHL record 122 career regular season wins.

Blades head coach Brennan Sonne said it felt normal from the standpoint the team got a full regular season and playoffs in. On top of missing players due to COVID-19 illness, the Blades dealt with numerous injuries throughout the campaign.

Sonne made the analogy that he saw himself being a circus clown due to the fact he was always juggling the team’s lines due to players being out due to injury or illness.

“That is not easy, because your lineup is different every night,” said Sonne. “It is not ideal to be juggling lines all the time.

“You want guys to get some consistency together, some comradery, to jell and all those words. You kind of want that. When you win a game, you want to kind of just roll the lineup the next night as well, and we really couldn’t do that like ever.”

Sonne said it was an adjustment to play a full 68-game regular season once again after playing two abbreviated campaigns. The Blades carried three overage players and had five players skating in their 19-year-old seasons on their final roster.

Due to the fact any type of hockey season was abbreviated including the under-AAA and junior A campaigns in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sonne had more players than ever on his roster experiencing a full 68-game regular season for the first time.

“Guys wore down,” said Sonne. “Guys wore out.

Tristen Robins is signed by the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.

“It was pretty obvious to us as coaches. It happened at different times with different guys. We knew guys were worn out, because guys coming from (under-18 AAA) where they maybe in COVID they played what 10, 15 games, 20 maybe and they’re 16.

“Now they’re coming into 68 with travel and school.”

As far as the post-season was concerned, Sonne believed nerves got the better of his younger player, and the team had good energy going into their series with the Warriors. Still, the bench boss said the grind during the regular season was a challenge.

“It is grind, and guys definitely got worn out,” said Sonne. “There was no question.”

Blades overage defenceman Rhett Rhinehart said he was still mulling over how this past season and everything dating back to March 12, 2020 have played out. 

While he was happy the Blades returned to action, he admits he wondered what might have been in the two post-seasons that were nixed due to COVID-19 and thinks about special moments that could have happened from time to time.

“There are a few ways you can look at it,” said Rhinehart. “For me, one thing I think about was having the shortened season.

“I missed 15 games this year with injuries. I finished with 261 regular season games in the Western Hockey League. You play a full season last year and a little more healthy this year like I would have played over 300 (games).

Blades HC Brennan Sonne, back left, gives direction in a timeout.

“You have those little milestones and things like that you think about. I definitely think there are things we missed out on with COVID there.”

Blades star overage netminder Nolan Maier, who holds the WHL’s career regular season goaltending wins record with 122 victories, took the glass half full approach when it came to reflecting on everything that happened since March 12, 2020.

“I think we’re the lucky ones, and we are grateful for even getting to play hockey,” said Maier. “I know a lot of guys who weren’t able to.

“There was no point of being kind of bummed out about some things not happening. I’m just grateful that things did happen.”

Blades overage captain and star centre Tristen Robins said he felt fortunate and had a lot of fun playing the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign in the bubble in Regina. Robins, who was hobbled in the post-season with an injured ankle, said was thankful that his WHL career ended where his team played a full regular season and playoffs.

He thought everyone on the team did their best adjusting to factors beyond their control since March 12, 2020 as far as the COVID-19 pandemic was concerned.

“It happened,” said Robins, who has a signed NHL entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks. “We were all in that together.

Nolan Maier, left, and Tristen Robins hug after a win on Feb. 27.

“It affected everyone differently. At the same time, it was tragic on many people. Fortunately enough, we still got to play the game we love, and you guys (the assembled media) got to do your jobs reporting it as well.”

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Family ties makes Blades career special for Robins

Tristen Robins (#11) eyes up a tribute video standing next to his dad, Trevor.

Growing up in Brandon, Man., Tristen Robins said his father, Trevor, divulged small pieces of his memorable past with the Saskatoon Blades.

“He shared a little bit growing up about his time with the Blades,” said Tristen, whose is the 20-year-old captain of the current Blades team. “It was nothing too in depth.

“It was nothing too crazy. I think it was his last year with the Blades where they went on a really far run and ended up losing in the finals, came up a little short. It is pretty cool to even just play for the same organization that my father did.”

Tristen Robin’s WHL rights were originally held by the Regina Pats, who selected him in the fourth round and 76 overall in what was then known as the WHL Bantam Draft. The skilled centre’s WHL rights were acquired in a blockbuster trade on January 8, 2018, when Robins was in his 16-year-old season.

The Pats were loading up their roster that season due to being the host team for the Memorial Cup tournament that crowns a CHL champion. They acquired Blades 19-year-old import Czech defenceman Libor Hajek, who had a signed NHL entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, in exchange for 19-year-old defenceman Dawson Davidson, Robins, and a first round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.

Robins suited up in one game before the trade with the Pats and dressed for his first three games as a member of the Blades as the 2017-18 campaign played to a conclusion. He became a full-time member of the team in his 17-year-old season and rose to star status in 2019-20 putting up 33 goals, 40 assists and a plus-16 rating in the plus-minus department appearing in 62 games with the Blades.

Tristen Robins has 200 points in regular season play with the Blades.

Following that season, Robins would be selected in the second round and 56^th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He would later sign an NHL entry-level contract with the Sharks.

In total, Robins has played in 211 career regular season games with the Blades posting 85 goals and 115 assists for 200 points.

Robins is skating through his final season as a member of the Blades, and he would like create a lasting post-season memory with the team like his father did.

The younger Robins has one last chance to do that as the Blades (38-26-3-1) begin play in the WHL Playoffs taking on the Warriors (37-24-4-3) in Moose Jaw in Game 1 of a best-of-seven first round series on Friday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place. 

The Warriors finished fourth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 81 standings points just edging out the fifth-place Blades by a single point.

Robins missed the Blades last four regular season games due to injury but is probable for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Warriors.

“I would love to go as far as we can eventually, you know hopefully, win a championship,” said Tristen Robins. “It is my last kick at the can here, so I’m going to do everything I can here to help lead this team to a championship.”

Tristen Robins had a career high 78 points this season.

Way back at the start of the 1989-90 season, Trevor has been in training camp with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings before being cut. He was quickly picked up by the Blades and made the team as a 17-year-old rookie backing up overager Damon Kustra.

Kustra ultimately was dogged by an abdominal muscle injury, and Trevor found himself in the starting role. Trevor posted a 21-21-1 record, a 4.66 goals against average, a .861 save percentage and one shutout helping the Blades make the playoffs with a record of 33 wins 34 loss and 5 ties.

In the high scoring 1980s and early 1990s, Trevor’s statistics were viewed as being good.

The Blades advanced to the second round to play a best-of-seven series against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, who topped the Eastern Conference with a 51-17-4 record. The Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead in the series, but with Robins in goal outside of a short stretch in Game 5, the Blades rallied to even the series at 3-3.

The Hurricanes claimed Game 7 in overtime 4-3 with the winning tally coming from Neil Hawryluk.

The Blades missed the playoffs in Trevor’s second season in 1990-91, but returned to the post-season with a 38-29-5 record in 1991-92. Trevor was named a first team Eastern Conference all-star posting a 24-23-2 record, a 3.50 goals against average and a .884 save percentage.

Saskatoon advanced to the best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference Championship series against their archrivals the Prince Albert Raiders, who finished second overall in the WHL with a 50-20-2 mark. The Blades fell behind 2-1 in the series.

Tristen Robins (#11) smiles after scoring a goal on March 25.

In a critical Game 4, Robins made 29 saves to back the Blades to a 2-1 victory before 9,452 spectators at the SaskTel Centre. The Blades used the momentum from that win to take the next two games of the series for a 4-2 victory in the best-of-seven set to advance to the WHL Final.

In the WHL Final, the Blades faced the Kamloops Blazers, who posted the league’s best record at 51-17-4. The Blades fell in a hard-fought series that went seven games to a Blazers squad that went on to win their first of three Memorial Cup titles in four years as CHL champions.

Trevor completed his major junior career with his hometown Wheat Kings in 1992-92 being once again named a WHL first team Eastern Conference all-star posting a 36-17-4 record, a 3.15 goals against average, a .904 save percentage and two shutouts.

Following that one campaign with the Wheat Kings, Trevor played three seasons in the minor system of the San Jose Sharks after signing a free agent contract with the NHL club. That same Sharks side ultimately drafted and signed Tristen in 2020.

As for Tristen, he has enjoyed his time with the Blades and appreciates hearing old stories from Saskatoon residents about his dad from when he played with the team. The son got a laugh out of hearing how Trevor got kicked out of the Blades Game 5 win in Lethbridge in their 1990 second round playoff series with the Hurricanes.

With the Blades up 6-5 late in the second period, Blades defenceman Mark Wotton was engaged in a fight with Hurricanes rearguard Pat Pylypuik. Trevor got involved in the altercation trying to both break it up and pull Wotton away from the fisticuffs.

Tristen Robins has a signed contract with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.

The officials ruled Trevor was the third man in on the fight booted him from the game, which the Blades would take by a 7-6 final.

Tristen said Trevor talking glowingly of the crowds especially the massive turnouts that came to see the Blades during playoff time that often saw over 10,000 spectators pack into the SaskTel Centre.

“He just said it was crazy back then,” said Robins. “We’re getting glimpses of that this year with the great crowds that we are getting.

“I’m super excited for what is to come.”

Blades head coach Brennan Sonne, who is in his first season with the organization, said Robins has been valuable to the club in many ways both on and off the ice. Sonne has been impressed with how Robins has shouldered the role of becoming captain late in the campaign.

On March 30, the Blades announced offensive-defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere, who is the team’s captain, needed season ending shoulder surgery and wouldn’t be available to return to the team until the start of training camp next season. Robins was given the role of captain for the rest of the current campaign.

“Just like anything, your actions much louder than your words,” said Sonne. “I think Robby has internalized that a little bit.

Tristen Robins will be skating in his last post-season with the Blades.

“I thought he led the way in terms of dig in, buy in and all that kind of stuff. It is really unfortunate that we lost De La (Gorgendiere). We wish him the best with his surgery and recovery.

“Again, we still have a group, and we put in a lot of time. Robby has stepped up to be that central leadership figure for the players.”

Robins is having his best season during his final campaign in the major junior ranks. In 62 appearances with the Blades, he has posted 33 goals and 45 assists for 78 points and his assist and point totals were career highs. He also has a plus-four rating.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Robins wasn’t able to skate in any post-season action in 2020 and 2021, because the WHL wasn’t able to hold playoffs due to challenges with the pandemic. The Memorial Cup was cancelled in each of the past two years.

Robins has only been able to experience one post-season in 2019. The Blades finished fourth overall in the WHL in that regular season with a 45-15-8 record but lost a second round series in six games to the eventual WHL champion Raiders, who topped the regular season standings with a 54-10-2-2 record.

The playoff format for that campaign created a bracket that saw the Blades and Raiders meet in the second round.

Robins said it is different to think that the upcoming post-season will be his last in the major junior ranks.

“It is emotional for sure, but at the same time, I’m super grateful for how this organization has treated me after I came from Regina,” said Robins. “It has been nothing but class.

Tristen Robins gives “fives” to his Blades teammates.

“I just want to pass on a legacy of Blades culture and positivity.”

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Contract extensions for Saskies big for Roughriders

A Roughriders “Bring ‘Em Out” T-shirt.

During a season of struggle on the field, the Saskatchewan Roughriders featured three of their most popular “Wheat Province” products on a gift store T-shirt.

The year was 2015 and the Roughriders were suffering through a 3-15 regular season to finish last in the entire CFL. The Roughriders stumbled out of the gate at 0-9 and missed the post-season two years after winning their fourth Grey Cup title.

During the second half of that 2015 campaign, the Roughriders stocked their gift store with a “Bring ‘Em Out” T-shirt, which referenced the team’s pre-game entrance.

The picture on the T-shirt was a shot of the Roughriders storming on to the frozen concrete of their old long time home in Taylor Field.

The three players leading the charge were long snapper Jorgen Hus, left guard Brendon LaBatte and centre Dan Clark. All three are popular products from Saskatchewan.

Hus is from Saskatoon and an alumnus of the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and the University of Regina Rams from the U Sports ranks.

Labatte is from Weyburn and is a Rams alum. Clark is from Regina and is an alumnus of the CJFL’s Regina Thunder.

Having to deal with a campaign that had come off the rails on the field, the Roughriders marketing crew created a product to pull at the heartstrings of the people in the province.

Fast forward to 2020, the Roughriders and the rest of the CFL wasn’t able to take the field due to the coronavirus pandemic that had gripped the world. The Roughriders were looking to build off a 2019 campaign that saw the team finish first in the West Division with a 13-5 record before falling to the eventual Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers 20-13 in the West Final.

Saskatchewan had won 10-or-more games for three straight seasons and had a roster full of popular stars like quarterback Cody Fajardo, receiver Shaq Evans and defensive back Ed Gainey.

Jorgen Hus (#46) sets to snap the ball for the Roughriders in 2019.

With massive vaccination rollouts expected to happen for COVID-19 in the first half 2021, the Roughriders have already started to build their roster for a potential 2021 return to the field campaign.

December of 2020 saw the Roughriders sign a mass load of players, which has included a number of returnees from the 2019 season.

The re-signings have included a number of stars like Evans, running back William Powell and defensive back Nick Marshall.

The re-signings have included contract extensions for Hus, LaBatte and Clark. Hus signed a one-year extension that will carry him through to the end of 2021 CFL campaign.

LaBatte and Clark have signed two-year extensions that will carry them through the end of the 2022 CFL campaign.

While it is huge to have big name stars under contract like Fajardo, Evans or Marshall, players like Hus LaBatte and Clark make up the soul of the Roughriders.

All three have been with their home province club for an extended period of time, and all have come up to the professional ranks playing through Saskatchewan’s minor football system. The presence of Hus, LaBatte and Clark allow young players in Saskatchewan’s minor football system to identify with the Roughriders and see it is possible to have a lengthy professional career.

Hus, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 230 pounds, joined the Roughriders in May of 2015 after his CFL rights were acquired from the Edmonton Football Club. He had previously spent time with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

Brendon LaBatte (#57) in action for the Roughriders in 2017.

The 31-year-old has played 81 career regular season games with the Roughriders making 15 career special teams tackles and one defensive tackle. Hus is good enough at his long snapping craft he could be in the NFL, if the right opportunity ever came his way.

Hus has become a successful mortgage broker in Saskatoon, when he is not playing or training for football. He is seemingly willing to help out anyone who takes up the long snapping craft in his hometown including members of the Hilltops and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the U Sports ranks.

LaBatte, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 320 pounds, has made his mark as one of the best offensive linemen to ever play in the CFL and has to be destined for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

After playing his first for CFL seasons with the Blue Bombers, LaBatte joined as a free agent signee before the start of the 2012 campaign. In 12 CFL seasons, the 34-year-old has played in 181 regular season games including 112 contests with the Roughriders.

LaBatte was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman in 2013, which was a campaign that saw the Roughriders win the Grey Cup at Taylor Field by a 45-23 final over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

He was named a CFL all-star six times, a West Division all-star six times and an East Division all-star three times.

LaBatte prides himself in being a mentor to young offensive lineman who join the team, and he is the perfect person you want in the community to represent the team.

Clark first signed with the Roughriders way back in 2009 as a territorial junior player. He made his debut with the Roughriders in 2012.

He became famous for catching touchdown passes in 2013 and 2014 on a trick play as a tight end in the team’s short-yardage package near the goal-line.

Dan Clark calls signals for the Roughriders in 2019.

Clark, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 310 pounds, found a home as the Roughriders starting centre in 2015. The 32-year-old has appeared in 112 regular season games with the Roughriders.

The 2019 campaign was Clark’s finest personal season being named a West Division all-star, a CFL all-star and the Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

Clark is another local who is sensational at representing the Roughriders in the community.

With the CFL having not played a game in 2020, it is important for the Roughriders to have veteran Saskie products on their roster.

When the Roughriders do return to play, veterans like Hus, LaBatte and Clark will give the community owned team the local pull on the heartstrings asset it needs.

Blades’ Robins signs with NHL’s Sharks

Tristen Robins in action for the Blades in the 2019 WHL playoffs.

Tristen Robins has a spectacular start to 2021.

On New Year’s Day, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks announced they had signed Robins to a three-year, NHL entry-level contract. The 19-year-old centre with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades was selected in the second round and 56^th overall in the NHL Entry Draft held this past October.

Robins, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 173 pounds, has played two full seasons with the Blades. He shot up to star status in 2019-20 piling up 33 goals, 40 assists and a plus-16 rating in the plus-minus department in 62 regular season games.

As an 18-year-old sophomore in 2019-20, Robins kept turning more and more heads of NHL scouts. He was rated 134th among North American Skaters in the midterm ranking put out by NHL Central Scouting.

Robins leaped up to the 86th spot among North American skaters on the final NHL Central Scouting rankings. His stock continued to rise resulting in a second round draft selection.

The 2019-20 WHL campaign was ultimately ended on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Robins helped the Blades post a 34-24-2-3 record to officially lock up a playoff berth before the season was halted.

He has the skating, puck handling, shooting and hockey sense abilities few have. Robins has been a perfect representative for the Blades in the community.

Robins is also following in the footsteps of his father, Trevor, in joining the Sharks. Trevor, who was a Blades goaltender from 1989 to 1992 and played for the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1992-93, signed a free agent contract with the Sharks and played two seasons in their minor system from 1993 to 1995.

In his second season as a professional in 1994-95, Trevor was called up from the International Hockey League’s Kansas City Blades to the Sharks, who dealing with injury problems in goal. Trevor spent about three months going up and down between the two teams but ultimately never saw action in and NHL game.

Tristen has the potential to play for the Sharks one day over an extended period of time. If he gets to skate in just one NHL regular season game, he would one up his father in the process.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tristen (@tristenrobins)

Canada off to semifinals at world juniors

Bowen Byram in action for the Giants in May of 2019.

Canada made the plays it needed to in order to get past the Czech Republic in the quarter-final round at the world junior men’s hockey championship.

Playing in a bubble environment at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., without fans on Saturday due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada blanked the Czech Republic 3-0 in a single-elimination quarter-final game to improve to 5-0 at the event.

Dylan Cozens, who is a star centre with the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes, netted Canada’s first goal scoring on a breakaway at the 8:22 mark of the opening frame.

Bowen Byram, who is a star offensive-defenceman with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, netted his first goal of the tournament sneaking a shot through Czech netminder Nick Malik at the 11:39 mark of the opening frame to give Canada a 2-0 advantage.

Cozens picked up an assist on Byram’s goal for a two-point night.

The Czech side didn’t go away and controlled play for sizable stretches of the contest.

Canada finally got the knockout blow with an empty-net goal by Connor McMichael, who is a centre with the OHL’s London Knights, with 2:49 remaining in the third period to round out the 3-0 victory. McMichael also had an assist in the contest.

Kaiden Guhle, a star offensive-defenceman with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, had an assist on McMichael’s empty-net goal.

Peyton Krebs, who is a star centre with the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice, had a pair of assists for Canada.

Devon Levi, who is a member of the Northeastern University Huskies men’s hockey team in the NCAA ranks, turned away 29 shots to pick up his second shutout win of the tournament for Canada.

Malik turned away 22-of-24 shots to take the setback in goal for the Czech Republic.

In the other quarter-finals on Saturday, Russia downed Germany 2-1, Finland slipped past Sweden 3-2 and the United States beat Slovakia 5-2.

Canada will face Russia in one semifinal match on Monday (5 p.m. Saskatchewan time, TSN). The United States and Finland will go at it in Monday’s other semifinal (8:30 p.m. Saskatchewan time, TSN).

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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From Blades to Sharks, Robins follows father’s footsteps

Tristen Robins was a second round NHL Entry Draft pick.

At times, it seems like the hockey Gods have predetermined Tristen Robins’ path through the game.

That path sees Tristen following in the footsteps of his father, Trevor Robins. The one big difference between the two is Tristen is a high-scoring centre, while Trevor was a solid puck stopping goalie.

For three seasons from 1989 to 1992, Trevor, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 179 pounds, played in the WHL for the Saskatoon Blades. He was named to the WHL’s Eastern Conference first all-star team in 1991-92, which was a campaign where the Blades advanced to the WHL Championship series and fell in a series deciding seventh game to the eventual Memorial Cup champion Kamloops Blazers.

Tristen Robins is a star with the Blades.

As for Tristen, it appeared at first his WHL career was going to be with the Regina Pats, who selected him in the fourth round and 76^th overall in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

On January 8, 2018, Tristen’s WHL rights were acquired by the Blades in a blockbuster trade. In that trade, Tristen, defenceman Dawson Davidson and a first round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft went to the Blades in exchanged for import Czech defenceman Libor Hajek.

The Pats acquired Hajek in order to load up their roster as the host of the Memorial Cup tournament in May of 2018.

Tristen, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 173 pounds, has played two full seasons with the Blades. He shot up to star status this past campaign piling up 33 goals, 40 assists and a plus-16 rating in the plus-minus department in 62 regular season games.

On Wednesday, the hand of fate saw Tristen once again follow in his father’s hockey footsteps. 

Tristan Robins led the Blades with 73 points last season.

At the NHL Entry Draft that was via video conference call from the NHL Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, the San Jose Sharks picked Tristen in the second round and 56^th overall.

The Sharks happened to be the first professional team Trevor signed with.

Following the 1991-92 season, Trevor was traded by the Blades to the Brandon Wheat Kings, who had finished last in the entire league with a record of 11 wins, 55 loses and six ties. Brandon is the hometown of the Robins family.

With Trevor starting in goal as an overager, the Wheat Kings shot up to fourth overall in the WHL with a record of 43 wins, 25 losses and four ties. He was again named to the WHL’s Eastern Conference first all-star team.

Tristen Robins followed his dad’s footsteps to the Blades.

Trevor ended up signing a free agent contract with the Sharks.

In his second season as a professional in 1994-95, Trevor was called up from the International Hockey League’s Kansas City Blades to the Sharks, who dealing with injury problems in goal. Trevor spent about three months going up and down between the two teams but ultimately never saw action in and NHL game.

One day, Tristen, who is 18-years-old, might be able to one-up his father and hit the ice for an NHL game.

This was first time Tristan was eligible for the NHL Entry Draft due to his birthday being in November. Players need to be born on or before September 15 the year they turn 18-years-old to be eligible for the NHL Entry Draft.

Tristen Robins is following his dad’s footsteps to the Sharks.

Tristan will be playing in his 19-year-old season in the 2020-21 WHL campaign, which is targeted to start late on Dec. 4 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

The NHL is targeting to start its regular season on January 1, 2021.

As an 18-year-old sophomore, Tristen kept turning more and more heads of NHL scouts. He was rated 134th among North American Skaters in the midterm ranking put out by NHL Central Scouting.

Tristen Robins (#11) celebrates one of his 33 goals last season.

Tristen leaped up to the 86th spot among North American skaters on the final NHL Central Scouting rankings. His stock continued to rise resulting in a second round draft selection.

The 2019-20 WHL campaign was ultimately ended on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but had Tristen been able to participate in the playoffs for a second straight year, he might have further increased his draft stock.

Tristen helped the Blades post a 34-24-2-3 record to officially lock up a playoff berth before the season was halted.

He has the skating, puck handling, shooting and hockey sense abilities few have. Tristen has also been a perfect representative for the Blades in the community.

It would not be a surprise to see Tristen put all of those characteristics on display in the NHL some day. He has the potential to make the Sharks brass look very wise for selecting him.

Tigers G Garin Bjorklund was picked by the Capitals.

The NHL Entry Draft concluded on Wednesday with teams selecting players in rounds two through seven. Over the draft’s two days, 28 players from the WHL were picked up NHL clubs.

Left-winger Cross Hanas of the Portland Winterhawks was the first WHL player taken in Wednesday’s NHL Entry Draft proceedings going in the second round and 55^th overall to the Detroit Red Wings. The Highland Village, Texas, product posted 22 goals, 27 assists and a plus-20 rating in 60 games with the Winterhawks.

Of some of the other various notables, Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Daemon Hunt was taken in the third round and 65^th overall by the Minnesota Wild. The Brandon, Man., product was limited to 28 games this past season due to a skate cut injury to his arm.

Hunt had 15 assists in those games and was playing for the Warriors when the campaign was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brandon’s Ben McCartney (#22) was picked by the Coyotes.

Kamloops Blazers goalie Dylan Garand was selected in the fourth round and 103^rd overall by the New York Rangers. The Victoria, B.C., product posted a 28-10-3 record, a 2.21 goals against average, a .921 save percentage and four shutouts in 42 games last season with the Blazers.

Medicine Hat Tigers right-winger Lukas Svejkovsky was taken in the fourth round and 108^th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The Point Roberts, Wash., product recorded 18 goals, 20 assists and a plus-38 rating in 52 games split between the Vancouver Giants and Tigers. The Tigers acquired Svejkovsky via a trade.

Portland Winterhawks left-winger Jaydon Dureau was selected in the fifth round and 147^th overall. The White City, Sask., product recorded 19 goals, 51 assists and a plus-41 rating in 61 regular season games.

Tristen Robins (#11) celebrates a Blades win with Riley McKay.

Tigers netminder Garin Bjorklund was picked in the sixth round and 179^th overall by the Washington Capitals. The Grande Prairie, Alta., product posted a 20-5-1 record, a 2.91 goals against average, a .897 save percentage and one shutout last season as a 17-year-old rookie.

Wheat Kings left-winger Ben McCartney was selected in the seventh round and 204^th overall by the Arizona Coyotes. The Macdonald, Man., product collected 25 goals, 36 assists and a plus-eight rating in 61 games last season for the Wheat Kings.

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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Banner NHL Entry Draft day for “Hockey Town North”

Raiders’ Wiesblatt and family highlight of opening round

Ozzy Wiesblatt was selected by the San Jose Sharks.

For arguably the first time ever, the most memorable moment of the first round of the NHL Entry Draft was the final pick.

On Tuesday night, the NHL Entry Draft was held via video conference call from the NHL Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, as opposed to being live in an NHL centre due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As the opening round was broadcast on TV, the players who were to be selected watched the proceedings at home with their families.

The TV broadcast had the use of Internet cameras to get live looks into the home of the players who were selected in the first round.

The San Jose Sharks made the final selection at the 31^st overall spot in the opening round. Doug Wilson Jr., who is the Sharks director of scouting, announced the pick using American Sign Language and his voice that his club had picked Ozzy Wiesblatt of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.

Ozzy Wiesblatt finished second in Raiders scoring last season.

The picture cut away to a picture of the Wiesblatt household, which was a scene of a euphoric and joyous celebration.

Wilson announced the pick via sign language because Wiesblatt’s mom, Kim White, has been deaf since birth.

She had to raise Ozzy, his three brothers and one sister as a single mom since 2014. Ozzy’s brothers are all high level hockey players.

The oldest brother, Ocean, played in the junior A ranks with the Portage La Prairie Terriers last season. The second oldest brother, Orca, is a member of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, and the youngest brother, Oasiz, is highly touted prospect with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.

Wilson’s special touch in announcing Ozzy Wiesblatt’s selection gave the opening round its signature moment.

Ozzy Wiesblatt with the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

Left-winger Alexis Lafreniere of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic may have gone first overall to the New York Rangers, but it felt like the night really belonged to Wiesblatt and his family.

 Adding to the story is the fact the 18-year-old Calgary, Alta., product is a really good player, who deserves to be a first round selection.

As a 16-year-old rookie in 2018-19, Wiesblatt, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 182 pounds, appeared in 64 regular season games posting 15 goals, 24 assists and a plus-30 rating. By the end of that season, Wiesblatt often found himself on a line at right wing with star overage centre Noah Gregor and star left-winger Cole Fonstad as the Raiders topped the WHL regular season standings with a 54-10-2-2 record.

Wiesblatt played in all of the Raiders 23 games in the WHL playoffs posting five goals, five assists and a plus-six rating helping deliver a WHL championship to “Hockey Town North” for the second time in history.

Ozzy Wiesblatt is one of the Raiders top offensive players.

This past season as a 17-year-old sophomore, Wiesblatt skating in all of the Raiders 64 regular season games finishing second in team scoring with 25 goals, 45 assists and a plus-20 rating. He helped the Raiders post a 36-18-6-4 record and finish first in the WHL’s East Division for the second straight year.

Wiesblatt’s draft selection was the topper for banner day for Prince Albert at the NHL Entry Draft.

Kaiden Guhle, who is the Raiders ultra-talented offensive-defenceman, was taken 16^th overall by the Montreal Canadiens. The 18-year-old Sherwood Park, Alta., product’s selection alone normally would give the Raiders a memorable night.

Back in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, Guhle was selected by the Raiders in the first overall in the first round. Since that time, he has been living up to that high selection.

Kaiden Guhle was selected by the Montreal Canadiens.

As a 16-year-old rookie in 2018-19, Guhle played in 65 regular season games collecting three goals, 14 assists and a plus-17 rating in the plus-minus department. He focused more on playing a defensive role on a defensive starting six where the other five members were all 19-year-old veterans.

Last season as a 17-year-old sophomore, Guhle, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 184 pounds was thrust into a bigger role and was looked upon to provide more offence. He appeared in all of the Raiders 64 regular season games piling up 11 goals, 29 assists and a plus-23 rating.

As a blue-liner, Guhle has a special blend of talents very few have.

The selections of Wiesblatt and Guhle marked the third time in team history the Raiders have had two players picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.

Wiesblatt and Guhle weren’t the only individuals with Prince Albert ties to shine in the opening round of the NHL Entry Draft.

Prince Albert product Braden Schneider, who plays for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, was selected 19^th overall by the Rangers.

Braden Schneider was selected by the Rangers.

The 19-year-old Schneider, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 202 pounds, had a breakout campaign posting seven goals, 35 assists and a plus-nine rating in 60 regular season games with the Wheat Kings last season.

The graduate of the Prince Albert Mintos Under-18 AAA team has established himself as one of the WHL’s elite offensive-defencemen.

Portland Winterhawks right-winger Seth Jarvis, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 172 pounds, was the first WHL player to be picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft going 13^th overall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Jarvis racked up 42 goals, 56 assists and a plus-53 rating in 58 games last season with Portland.

Saskatoon, Sask., product and 19-year-old centre Connor Zary, who plays for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, went 24^th overall to the Calgary Flames. Zary, who stands 6-feet and weighs 181 pounds, recorded 38 goals, 48 assists and a plus-30 rating in 58 games with the Blazers this past season.

Ozzy Wiesblatt (#19) enjoys a WHL title win.

The NHL Entry Draft wraps up on Wednesday with rounds two to seven. Before Tuesday’s opening round started, the NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced they are targeting to begin the upcoming regular season on January 1, 2021.

The opening round of the NHL Entry Draft on Tuesday will always be a memorable night for the players who were selected.

For Wiesblatt and Prince Albert as a city, it will go down as a forever cherished feel-good night.

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.