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.”

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Hitmen ready to bring on the brooms against Blades

Calgary claims 4-1 victory in Game 3 in Saskatoon

Tanner Howe (#9) skates off after scoring the Hitmen’s second goal.

Tanner Howe landed a couple of counter punches the Saskatoon Blades couldn’t recover from.

On Tuesday, Howe and his Calgary Hitmen found themselves locked in a 1-1 draw in the second period with the host Saskatoon Blades in Game 3 of a best-of-seven first round series in the WHL Playoffs. At the midway point of the frame, the Blades had a glorious chance to take the lead.

Blades 16-year-old associate player call up right-winger Kohen Lodge received a backdoor pass at the right side of the Calgary net. Lodge fired a puck to what appeared to be an empty cage only to be robbed by Hitmen netminder Anders Miller, who slid across the crease to deflect the puck away with his left skate.

Tanner Howe had one goal and one assist for the Hitmen.

Lodge had been playing with his hometown Red Deer Chiefs under-18 AAA team before joining the Blades for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. Had he scored on that backdoor opportunity, he would have given the Blades their first lead in any game to date of their current post-season series with the Hitmen.

Just moments later with 8:38 remaining in the second, the Hitmen jumped ahead 2-1, when Howe, who is the Hitmen’s start 19-year-old right-winger, put a backhand shot home from the front of the Saskatoon net.

Only 85 seconds later, Hitmen import defenceman Axel Hurtig passed the puck from the left corner in his own zone up the left wing boards to Howe, who was position right before the red-line. 

David Adaszynski scored the Hitmen’s first goal on Tuesday.

Howe proceeded to redirect puck across the ice to Hitmen 17-year-old centre Ben Kindel, who was jetting into the Saskatoon zone along the right wing. Kindel zipped past the Blades defence on the outside, cut across the front of the Saskatoon net and put home a backhand shot to give Calgary a 3-1 advantage.

The Hitmen would cruise from that point to claim a 4-1 victory to disappoint most of the 5,206 spectators in attendance at the SaskTel Centre. With the win, Calgary takes a 3-0 lead in the series.

The Hitmen will try to close the series out in Game 4 slated for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the SaskTel Centre.

The odds are very long that the Blades will be able to make a comeback winning four straight games. Since the WHL started in 1966-67, only three teams have rallied back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series to claim the set.

Anders Miller made 20 saves for the Hitmen on Tuesday.

The Spokane Chiefs, who were guided by Mike Babcock as head coach, trailed the Portland Winterhawks 3-0 before rallying to take a first round series 4-3 in 1996. The Kelowna Rockets fell behind the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-0 in 2013 before rallying back to claim that first round series 4-3. The Blades fell behind the Red Deer Rebels 3-0 in an Eastern Conference semifinal series in 2023 and stormed back to take that series 4-3.

Out of the three games the Blades and Hitmen have collided in during the 2025 post-season, Tuesday’s contest was the best effort that was turned in by the Saskatoon side in the set.

The teams played through a fairly even opening frame with the Hitmen finishing the stanza with a lot of late pressure. With 53.2 seconds remaining in the frame, gritty Hitmen centre David Adaszynski tipped home a shot from captain Carson Wetsch to put the visitors up 1-0. Calgary had a 10-5 edge in shots on goal after 20 minutes thanks to their late offensive pressure.

David Lewandowski scored the Blades lone goal on Tuesday.

The Blades came out with some jump in the second period. Just 2:31 into the frame, import rookie left-winger David Lewandowski, who turned 18-years-old in February, blew home a power-play goal from the right faceoff dot to even the score at 1-1.

Following Lewandowski’s goal, Blades star right-winger Tyler Parr, who turned 20-years-old in January, was denied in close by Miller. That set the stage for the robbery Miller made on Lodge and the Hitmen goals that followed from Howe and Kindel that gave the visitors a 3-1 advantage.

The Blades outshot the Hitmen 10-8 in the second period, while Calgary had the edge in total shots on goal 18-15 after 40 minutes.

Tyler Parr was denied on a key second period scoring chance.

The third period was controlled by the Hitmen, who held a 12-6 edge in shots on goal for the frame.

Hitmen star 20-year-old right-winger Connor Hvidston put to bed the competitive part of Tuesday’s contest scoring with 8:27 remaining in the third to push the Calgary lead out to 4-1. Hvidston had the puck in close in front of the Saskatoon net and put a shot past a Blades defenceman to the top left corner of the goal for his first of the post-season.

Evan Gardner turned away 26 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades. Miller stopped 20 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Hitmen.

The Blades were without 20-year-old left-winger Tanner Scott for a third straight post-season game with an upper body injury. 

Ben Kindel scored the third Hitmen goal on Tuesday.

Scott last suited up in the Blades last regular season contest when they fell 4-3 to the Raiders in Prince Albert on March 22.

For the first three games of the post-season, Calgary has been 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.

Eric Tu, who is a 16-year-old rookie, is serving as Calgary’s backup netminder.

The Hitmen entered the series 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 Hitmen celebrate a goal from Connor Hvidston (#21).

The Blades finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference standings with a 37-23-4-4 mark. They enter 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 on their roster.

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.

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.

The Hitmen enjoy their win on Tuesday.

Now, they will need a major effort on Wednesday in order to continue to be part of the WHL post-season.

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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Hitmen take command of first round series with Blades

Calgary smokes Saskatoon 5-1 in Game 2

Grayden Siepmann had a goal for the Blades on Sunday.

The Calgary Hitmen were good in Game 1 and even better in Game 2.

On Sunday afternoon playing before 4,430 spectators at the Scotiabank Saddledown, the Hitmen skated to a convincing 5-1 victory over the visiting Saskatoon Blades in Game 2 of a best-of-seven first round series in the WHL Playoffs. Combined with Calgary’s sound 4-2 victory in Game 1 on Friday, the favoured Hitmen lead the series 2-0.

In the Game 2 clash on Sunday, it was a great afternoon to be a fan of the Hitmen. They led 2-0 after the first period holding a 15-8 edge in shots on goal.

Calgary scored twice more holding a 22-5 edge in shots on goal for the second period to push their advantage out to 4-0. At that point, the Blades elected to pull star netminder Evan Gardner, who has turned away 33-of-37 fired his way over the first 40 minutes.

The third period was a more competitive with the Hitmen holding an 11-10 edge in shots on goal. Blades 20-year-old offensive-defenceman Grayden Siepmann wired home a shot from the left faceoff circle dot at the 10:27 mark of the frame to trim the Hitmen lead to 4-1.

Hitmen star centre Tanner Howe rounded out the game’s scoring with an empty net tally with 1:47 remaining in the third round.

Ethan McCallum stopped all 10 shots he faced in a relief effort in the third period in goal for the Blades.

The Hitmen opened the game’s scoring at the 10:03 mark of first period when left-winger Brandon Gorzynski, who turned 18-years-old earlier this month, popped home a shot close in from the right side of the Saskatoon net.

Just over two minutes later and working on the power play, the Hitmen jetting into the Saskatoon zone on an offensive rush. Hitmen standout right-winger Ethan Moore, who turned 19-years-old in February, wired home a shot from inside the right faceoff circle to give the host side a 2-0 edge.

The Hitmen train continued to roll in the second. They struck again in the power play at the 7:34 mark of the frame to push their lead to 3-0.

Hitmen star 17-year-old centre Ben Kindel had the puck at the left faceoff dot and put a pass to the front of the Saskatoon net to Calgary captain Carson Wetsch. Wetsch redirected the puck past Gardner to give the hosts their three-goal lead.

Evan Gardner stopped 33-of-37 shots over two periods on Sunday.

Just over four minutes later, Hitmen 20-year-old star offensive-defenceman and Saskatoon product Kalem Parker got in on the fun. He netted his first of the post-season to make the Hitmen lead sit at 4-0.

In the first two games of the series, rugged Hitmen 19-year-old centre David Adaszynski made a number of big hits. He made another big collision in the third period leveling Blades sophomore defenceman Jack Kachkowski.

The goals by Siepmann and Howe followed after that hit to close out the notable moments of the contest.

Anders Miller made 22 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Hitmen. For the first two games of the post-season, Calgary has been 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.

Eric Tu, who is a 16-year-old rookie, is serving as Calgary’s backup netminder.

In Sunday’s win over the Blades, Gorzynski, Moore and Howe each finished with a one goal and one assist for the Hitmen. Kindel had a pair of assists for the Calgary side.

The Hitmen entered the series 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 Tuesday.

The Blades finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference standings with a 37-23-4-4 mark. They enter 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 on their roster.

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.

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.

Now, the series between the Hitmen and Blades switches over to Saskatoon for Games 3 and 4 to be held Tuesday and Wednesday respectively at 7 p.m. both nights at the SaskTel Centre. The Blades, who were 20-8-4-2 at home during the regular season, will be looking to find a boost inside the friendly confines of the SaskTel Centre as they attempt to make some noise in this series.

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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Gardner’s 40 stops can’t save Blades in Game 1

Hitmen look the part of favourites in 4-2 win

Evan Gardner made 40 saves in net for the Blades on Friday.

Evan Gardner gave his Saskatoon Blades a chance, but the Calgary Hitmen weren’t going to be denied.

On Friday night, the Hitmen looked the part of favoured team in Game 1 of a best-of-seven first round series in the WHL Playoffs against the Blades. Gardner, who is the Blades star netminder, did his best to steal the contest making 40 saves and showing why he backstopped the Saskatoon side to being one win shy of advancing to the WHL Championship Series one year ago.

In the series opener, the Hitmen proved to be too much for the Blades to handle. The Calgary side skated away with a 4-2 victory they had to work for while holding a 44-17 edge in shots on goal playing before a home crowd of 3,770 spectators at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The Hitmen entered the series 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 Tuesday.

The Blades finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference standings with a 37-23-4-4 mark. They enter 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 on their roster.

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.

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.

While Calgary finished higher in the standings, Saskatoon could still enter the series with some confidence. 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.

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.

Calgary went into Game 1 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, started in goal for the Hitmen, and he was backed up by 16-year-old rookie Eric Tu.

The Hitmen broke on to the scoreboard at the 4:26 mark of the opening frame with a short-handed goal. On a clearance into the back boards to the right of the Saskatoon net, Hitmen star 19-year-old left-winger Tanner Howe hit Blades 17-year-old rookie defenceman Brayden Klimpke into the boards and got the puck.

Howe centred the puck to veteran Hitmen right-winger Ethan Moore, who buried the short-handed marker to give the host side a 1-0 lead. Calgary outshot Saskatoon 18-5 in the opening frame.

At the 5:16 mark of the second, Blades 20-year-old offensive-defenceman Grayden Siepmann fired home a point shot through a screen to even the score at 1-1.

Calgary proceeded to pull away at that point. With 3:18 remaining in the second, Hitmen star right-winger Oliver Tulk stole a breakout pass just inside the blue-line of the Saskatoon zone. Tulk jetted in on goal and snapped a shot past Gardner to give the Hitmen a 2-1 edge.

Appearing in 65 regular season games with the Hitmen in 2024-25, Tulk finished sixth in the WHL scoring race with 100 points coming off 38 goals and 62 assists to go with a plus-40 rating in the plus-minus department.

Calgary had a 12-8 edge in shots on goal in the second.

At the 7:58 mark of the third while working on the power play, Moore deflected home a shot pass from star defenceman Sawyer Mynio at the left side of the Saskatoon net to push Calgary’s lead out to 3-1.

Just 2:25 later, Mynio put a point shot on the Saskatoon net that rebounded to Hitmen star centre Ben Kindel in front of the goal. Kindel popped home the loose puck to increase Calgary’s advantage to 4-1.

The Blades didn’t go away. Just 25 seconds later, Blades breakout rookie centre Cooper Williams, who turned 17 in February, stole the puck from a Hitmen defenceman in the Calgary zone. Williams had the puck on the left wing and passed it to breakout 18-year-old right-winger Hunter Laing in the right faceoff circle.

Laing went in alone on Anders and snapped home a shot to cut the Calgary lead to 4-2. The Blades couldn’t close any further as the Hitmen held a 14-4 edge in shots on goal in the third period.

Anders made 15 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Hitmen. Howe had a pair of helpers in the Calgary victory.

After a day off, the series resumes with Game 2 set for Sunday at 2 p.m. local time at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

While the Hitmen get full credit for their win on Friday, the opportunity is there for the Blades to make a push back to turn some heads. They are in a “house money” position where they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

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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Hitmen emerging as surprise team in WHL

Oliver Tulk leads the Hitmen in scoring with 49 points.

“Shhhhhh. We want to sneak up on people. We are actually good.”

The Calgary Hitmen have flown in under the radar. At the start of the 2024-25 campaign, they were expected to contend for a position in the WHL Playoffs, but they weren’t penciled in to win any division, conference or league titles.

Last season, the Hitmen placed ninth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 28-31-8-1 mark finishing two standings points back of the Prince Albert Raiders (31-32-2-3) for eighth place and the conference’s final post-season berth. Calgary has failed to make the post-season in two of the last three WHL campaigns.

On November 11 of this season, the Hitmen dropped 6-5 overtime decision to the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Washington. That result moved the Hitmen’s record to 7-7-3-1 after 18 games.

Since that time, the Hitmen have gone on a tear posting a 10-2 mark to improve to 17-9-3-1. They sit one standings point behind the Medicine Hat Tigers (19-14-1) for top spot in the Central Division and the Eastern Conference.

Calgary is tied with the Saskatoon Blades (17-10-2-2) for second and third overall in the Eastern Conference with 38 standings points. The Blades hold the standings tiebreakers due to topping the WHL’s East Division and posting a win and an extra time setback in two head-to-head meetings with the Hitmen.

The Hitmen have been riding the heroics of returnees Oliver Tulk, Ben Kindel and Carter Yakemchuk. Tulk is in his fourth full season with the Hitmen. The 19-year-old right-winger leads Calgary in scoring with 49 points coming off 15 goals and 34 assists to go with a plus-six rating in the plus-minus department.

Kindel is a 17-year-old sophomore centre who sits second in Hitmen team scoring with 46 points coming off 19 goals and 27 assists to go with a plus-eight rating. He was listed as a B-ranked skater by NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Carter Yakemchuk tops all Hitmen blue-liners with 29 points.

Carter Yakemchuk is a star 19-year-old offensive defenceman who is in his fourth season with the Hitmen. Yakemchuk, who has a signed NHL entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators, tops the Hitmen in blue-line scoring with 29 points coming off 12 goals and 17 assists in 25 appearances this season.

The Hitmen haven’t been afraid to strengthen their roster via the trade route under the direction of general manager Garry Davidson, who served a strong run as general manager of the Everett Silvertips from 2012 to 2021. At age 73, Davidson is still as sharp as ever.

Just before the regular season started back on September 19, Davidson sent 19-year-old left-winger Connor Dale, a second round selection and a fourth round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft and a second round selection in the 2026 Prospects Draft to the Swift Current Broncos for 20-year-old centre Connor Hvidston. Hvidston sits third in Hitmen team scoring with 30 points coming off 11 goals and 19 assists.

Davidson proceeded to make two blockbuster moves in November. On November 17, the Hitmen sent the WHL rights to 15-year-old centre Nathan Gardiner, a second round selection in the 2025 Prospects Draft and third and seventh round selections in the 2026 Prospects Draft to the Moose Jaw Warriors for 20-year-old offensive-defenceman Kalem Parker.

Just four days later on November 21, the Hitmen acquired now 19-year-old left-winger Tanner Howe from the Regina Pats in exchange for 17-year-old defenceman Reese Hamilton, 18-year-old left-winger Keets Fawcett, a third round pick in the 2025 Prospects Draft and a second round selection in the 2027 Prospects Draft.

On November 19, the Hitmen signed 18-year-old netminder Anders Miller to a WHL scholarship and development agreement. The Anchorage, Alaska, product was playing junior A for the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Hockey League and immediately joined the Hitmen after signing with the Calgary side.

Calgary elected to go with highly touted 16-year-old rookie Eric Tu as their second netminder. Tu made the Hitmen out of training camp and was selected by Calgary in the second round and 31^st overall in the 2023 Prospects Draft.

Miller and Tu have come up with timely saves for the Hitmen. As they continue to get more comfortable playing in the WHL, you can expect both to continue to improve.

The Hitmen acquired Kalem Parker in a trade on November 17.

Veteran 39-year-old coach Paul McFarland has been able to bring the Hitmen together in his first year as the club’s head coach. He came to Calgary after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.

The exploits of the Hitmen sometimes don’t get brought to the surface as they play in a saturated sports market in Calgary, which has seen major cuts to the sports media. Even with numerous high profile sports teams calling Calgary home, the Hitmen enjoyed great coverage through the 2000s and most of the 2010s from Scott Fisher until he was let go by the Calgary Sun. Fisher covered the Hitmen like an NHL club and was well respected for his work.

It would have been sweet to have Fisher covering the Hitmen in the current day, because they appear to be on a rocket rise. When the dust settles, they could very well top the Eastern Conference standings and be looking at the prospects of going on a long post-season run.

Saskatoon, PA feel at world juniors

Caden Price will play for Canada at world juniors.

A number of folks in Saskatoon and Prince Albert will be paying extra attention to world juniors.

A total of six players have ties to one community or the other or both centres, when the annual hockey tournament hits the ice in Ottawa, Ont., on Thursday, December 26. Canada’s roster includes Saskatoon produces in defenceman Caden Price and centre Berkly Catton.

Price, who is 19-years-old, leads the Kelowna Rockets in defencemen scoring with 32 points coming off six goals and 26 assists to go with a plus-14 rating in the plus-minus department in 26 games. Catton, who is 18-years-old, sits second in Spokane Chiefs scoring with 47 points coming off 14 goals and 33 assists to go with a plus-20 rating in 28 games.

Brayden Yager, who is a 19-year-old centre, started the campaign with the Moose Jaw Warriors before being traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He will also be skating for Canada, and he will be the squad’s captain. In 23 games played between the Warriors and Hurricanes, Yager has 34 points coming off 12 goals and 22 assists.

Brayden Yager is Canada’s captain at world juniors.

Yager resides in the Saskatoon area in the off-season, but he got his start playing hockey skating in Prince Albert’s minor hockey system. Due to having links to both cities, folks in Saskatoon and Prince Albert have followed Yager’s career.

Tanner Howe, who is a 19-year-old left-winger, is a Prince Albert product who will suit up for Canada. Howe started the WHL campaign with the Regina Pats before being dealt to the Calgary Hitmen. In 16 games with both the Pats and Hitmen, has 16 points coming off nine goals and seven assists to go with a plus-eight rating.

Saskatoon Blades offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk will skate for Canada at world juniors. The 19-year-old Kamloops, B.C., product leads the Blades in defence scoring with 21 points coming off four goals and 17 assists to go with a plus-four rating in 21 games. Molendyk, who is one of Canada’s assistant captains, is a career member of the Blades skating in 210 career regular season with the Saskatoon side recording 26 goals, 108 assists and a plus-66 rating.

Blades 17-year-old import rookie centre David Lewandowski will play for Germany at world juniors. In 20 games with the Blades, Lewandowski has recorded seven goals, eight assists and a plus-13 rating.

Canada opens the tournament on December 26 taking on Finland at the Canadian Tire Centre (7:30 p.m. eastern time, TSN). Germany also opens play on December 26 facing the United States (2:30 p.m. eastern time, TSN).

Pats struggle with attendance, other notes

The Brandt Centre has a lot of empty seats for Pats games this season.

There was a day when it was believed the Regina Pats would still average over 4,000 spectators per game even in their down seasons.

After 16 home dates this season, the Pats are averaging 2,422 spectators per game at the Brandt Centre, which can hold 6,499 patrons for hockey. That total is the second lowest average attendance in the WHL.

Last season, the Pats averaged 3,219 spectators for their 34 home dates. In 2022-23 the final campaign with phenom centre Connor Bedard, the Pats averaged 4,501 spectators per game for 34 regular season home games and sold out all three home post-season outings.

When the Pats finished first overall in the WHL and advanced and fell in the WHL final to the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2016-17, the Pats averaged 5,456 spectators for 36 regular season home contests. They sold out all 12 home games in the WHL Playoffs with the Brandt Centre configured to hold 6,484 spectators.

Back in the 2017-18 campaign when the Pats hosted the Memorial Cup tournament that crowns a CHL champion, the Pats averaged 6,076 spectators for 36 regular season home contests. They sold out all three of their home games in the WHL Playoffs with the Brandt Centre configured to hold 6,484 spectators. In the five games the Pats played at the Memorial Cup tournament, they skated in front of sellout crowds in their last three contests.

Since hosting the Memorial Cup in 2018, the Pats have only played in the post-season once. While the lack of playoffs appearances has hurt, numerous Pats fans have complained online about ticket prices and how they were increased before the start of the 2021-22 campaign, when the Pats still had Bedard.

Currently, single game tickets for Pats games ranges from $31.31 to $43.27. In most WHL markets, tickets hover around $25 to $27.

• On Friday, the Everett Silvertips home rink in the Angel of the Winds Arena topped a league survey of WHL players as the most difficult building to play in on the road. The WHL surveyed 328 players from all 22 of the league’s clubs and 25.4 per cent of the players said the Angel of the Winds Arena was the most difficult building to play in. The Prince Albert Raiders home rink in the Art Hauser Centre came in second with 15.6 per cent of the votes, the Seattle Thunderbirds home building in the Accesso ShoWare Center came in third at 9.2 per cent, the Red Deer Rebels rink in the Peavey Mart Centrium was fourth at 7.6 per cent and the Swift Current Broncos home barn in the InnovationPlex was fifth at 7 per cent.
• On Friday, Calgary Hitmen star 19-year-old right-winger Oliver Tulk announced he was committing to the NCAA’s storied University of Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Hockey Team for the 2025-26 campaign. In 227 career regular season games with the Hitmen played over four seasons, Tulk has collected 88 goals and 120 assists for 208 points. Tulk’s commitment with the Badgers means he wouldn’t be with the Hitmen for a potential 20-year-old season.
• On Saturday, Everett Silvertips defenceman Landon DuPont topped a league survey of WHL players on who they think will win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s rookie of the year. The WHL surveyed 328 players from all 22 of the league’s clubs and 38 per cent of the votes said DuPont would take rookie of the year honours for the circuit. DuPont was granted exceptional status to play in the WHL on a full-time basis as a 15-year-old for the current campaign, and he has been as good as advertised. He sits second in rookie scoring with 32 points coming off six goals and 26 assists to go with a plus-20 rating in 29 games. Gavin Garland, who is an 18-year-old centre with the Tri-City Americans, was second on the survey taking 15.2 per cent of the votes. He leads the WHL in rookie scoring with 35 points coming off 18 goals and 17 assists to go with a plus-20 rating in 29 games.

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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Bedard lifts Pats to Seventh Heaven with Game 6 win

Blades host series deciding Game 7 on Monday

Connor Bedard had a goal and three assists for the Pats on Saturday.

REGINA, Sask. - Connor Bedard is a miracle worker.

So far in a best-of-seven WHL first round playoff series, the Saskatoon Blades have to be wondering if the Regina Pats 17-year-old phenom centre is human. It might be accurate to say Bedard is not a god, but he appears to be somewhere in between.

On Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 6,499 spectators at the Brandt Centre with the host Pats facing elimination from the WHL Playoffs, Bedard set up the Pats first three goals and scored the winner in a 5-3 over the Blades in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series. With the win, they even the set 3-3 and force a series deciding Game 7.

Connor Bedard does a fly by after scoring for the Pats.

The Blades, who had won three straight before falling in Game 6, will host Game 7 on Monday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

During the six games so far in the series, Bedard has 10 goals, nine assists and a plus-10 rating in the plus-minus department. The North Vancouver, B.C., product has been in on 19 of the Pats 25 goals of the series.

“I think that might have been our best game of the series overall probably that and Game 1,” said Bedard referring to the Pats 6-1 victory to open the set on March 31. “It feels good to have that, but obviously, we know the job is not done here.

“We have to go in their barn Monday and get a win.”

The Brandt Centre faithful cheer a Pats goal.

The Blades entered the series as favourites having finished fourth overall in the WHL standings with a 48-15-4-1 record and were rated 10^th in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Pats finished sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with a 34-30-3-1 mark.

In Game 6 on Monday, the Pats took a 3-2 lead into the third period. Just 64 seconds into the third, the Blades evened the score at 3-3, when star centre Trevor Wong tipped home a point shot from 19-year-old veteran defenceman Charlie Wright. The tally was Wong’s second goal of the contest.

Connor Bedard has 19 points in six post-season games.

That set the stage for Bedard to have another heroic moment. Just 55 seconds after Wong tied the contest, Pats star import defenceman Stanislav Svozil hit Bedard with a stretch pass to spring him on a break into the Saskatoon zone.

Bedard snapped home a shot glove side in Blades netminder Ethan Chadwick to put the Pats up 4-3, and the Regina side never trailed in the contest again.

“I liked our game basically from start to finish,” said Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock. “That doesn’t mean it was easy or we were far superior, because it is two teams that are obviously going to Game 7.

“That says a lot about the series. I liked our game from the start.”

Zackary Shantz scored a goal that caused controversy.

While Bedard had another sensational game, the other biggest memory from Saturday’s contest came after the Pats scored a controversial insurance goal with 8:36 remaining in the third. Pats left-winger Riley Ginnell had the puck deep in the left side of the Saskatoon zone and passed the puck across the face of the net to linemate Zackary Shantz.

Ginnell’s pass deflected off Shantz’s skate into the Saskatoon net to put the hosts up 5-3. The officials went to a view reviewed and waved off the goal saying it was kicked in.

Following that ruling, the officials elected to look at the video again, and after the second review, the officials ruled that Shantz’s tally was indeed a good goal.

Jayden Wiens scored to give the Blades a 1-0 lead.

“The refs told me that they called back down because there was a new angle, and then they couldn’t determine from that angle whether it was a distinct kicking motion,” said Blades head coach Brennan Sonne. “That is what I was told.”

Access Communications was showing the game to their provincial network on television on their own channel. Michael Ball was doing the play-by-play work for the Access Communications broadcast, and he wrote on Twitter someone with the WHL asked to look at the replay angles that the broadcast crew had. According to Ball, after the officials saw the video Access Communications had the no goal ruling was reversed to a ruling of a goal.

Trevor Wong scored twice for the Blades on Saturday.

Sonne found it challenging to talk about the situation around Shantz’s goal.

“You’re asking me to comment about or have an opinion about things that absolutely really nothing to do with me aside from the fact that why did it even get into that situation to begin with,” said Sonne. “The rest of it that is for the league to decide whether that is the look they want or if that is the process they want to go through.

“It is up to management to have those discussions. Me, I’m in charge of why it even got there in the first place. I don’t really have a comment about it.

“I want to just focus on what I do.”

Alexander Suzdalev sets to snap home a goal for the Pats.

Paddock said he wasn’t sure what had happened during the reviews of Shantz’s goal.

“I’m just sort of guessing, but that speaks to not the inadequacy but of the video replay in this building or in the league,” said Paddock. “They are all supposed to be up to a standard.

“Obviously, something else happened. He (the referee) wasn’t going to listen to me. Something else happened, so somebody upstairs reviewed it whatever five or eight minutes again for the 14^th time, and they changed it.

“I don’t have an explanation. You would have to ask them, but no, that was strange.”

Pats mascot K9 works his way through the Brandt Centre faithful.

Ultimately, Shantz’s goal stood and the 5-3 score held up as the game’s final outcome.

The Blades actually opening the game’s scoring on a goal from hardworking centre Jayden Wiens at the 9:42 mark of the first. The Pats evened the score at 1-1 just over five minutes later when star import right-winger Alexander Suzdalev one-timed home a Bedard set up pass from a bad angle at the right side of the Saskatoon goal.

At the 5:04 mark of the second, the Pats jumped ahead 2-1, when Suzdalev received another pass from Bedard and snapped home a midrange shot for a power-play goal.

A couple of fans show signs supporting Connor Bedard.

Bedard proceeded to follow up with what might have been his best assist of the contest at the 12:45 mark of the second. Holding the puck along the left board deep in the Saskatoon zone, Bedard made a seeing-eye pass from that spot across the front of the Blades net to linemate Tanner Howe, who one-timed home a shot to increase the Pats advantage to 3-1.

“I can’t really put it into words anymore,” said Paddock about the magic that Bedard can make on the ice. “The assists were because he sees the ice so well.

“The play he made to Howie (Tanner Howe) for the goal there was no way to describe it. It was major league.”

Connor Bedard quarterbacks the Pats offence.

Bedard said his teammates did an outstanding job of burying goals on Saturday.

“When guys are open, I obviously try to find them,” said Bedard. “There were a lot of nice finishes from our guys tonight, so they make it easy when they can put the puck into the net like that.”

The Blades didn’t go away. With 2:26 remaining in the third, Wong wired home a setup pass from Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky from a bad angle at the right side of the Regina net to cut the Pats lead to 3-2.

That set the dramatics in the third, where Wong tied the game only for Bedard and Shantz to score for the Pats to pull out victory.

Tanner Howe had a goal for the Pats on Saturday.

“I think today we were a lot more physical and played our style of game,” said Howe. “We didn’t let them get set up, and I thought that was huge.

“We played hard.”

Drew Sim stopped 27 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Pats. Ethan Chadwick turned away 15 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades.

Stozil finished the contest with three assists.

Sonne didn’t like the start his Blades had to Saturday’s game, and he is looking for his team to have a big response in Game 7 as they face elimination from the post-season for the first time.

“It (Saturday’s game) was not to our standard,” said Sonne. “I think the players agree on that.

The Pats celebrate their win on Saturday.

“Then about halfway through the second we started playing. You can’t play half a game. For us, that is our focus.

“Now, our family is on the line. Our season is on the line. It should be a level of competitiveness, passion (and) desperation that shows that.”

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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