Which goalie will be “the guy” in Blades versus Warriors?

WHL’s Eastern Conference final opens on Friday

Evan Gardner covers up a puck in goal for the Blades.

How bad does each goalie want it?

It might be unfair to just look at the guys playing between the pipes when it comes to a hockey playoff series, but the reality is the netminders are the first players anyone checks out when a team wins or loses in the post-season. When it comes to the conference championship round in the WHL Playoffs, a goalie making one or two impossible saves usually makes the different in which team moves on and which club heads into the off-season thinking about what might have been.

This year’s WHL Eastern Conference Championship Series features two clubs in search of their first league title as the Saskatoon Blades take on the Moose Jaw Warriors. The best-of-seven series begins on Friday with Game 1 set for 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

This also marks the first time the Eastern Conference final will be an all-Saskatchewan battle since 1993. Back in 1993, the Swift Current Broncos swept away the Regina Pats and advanced to win the WHL title.

In the 2023-24 campaign, the Blades finished first overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 50-13-2-3 record and are 8-1 advancing through the first two rounds of the post-season. Saskatoon was also rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings.

The Warriors placed fifth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 44-21-0-3 mark and are also 8-1 in advancing through the first two rounds of the post-season.

Saskatoon is in the Eastern Conference final for a second straight year. Moose Jaw is in the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2012.

Jackson Unger became the Warriors starting goalie this season.

Both teams are loaded at forward.

The Blades front end features captain Trevor Wong, who had 101 points in the regular season coming off 15 goals and 86 assists, star right-winger Egor Sidorov, who has 50 goals and 88 points in the regular season and star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky, who had 42 goals and 80 points in the regular season.

Saskatoon’s other top players up front include star centre Fraser Minten, who is a big prospect of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, Alexander Suzdalev, star overage left-winger Easton Armstrong, while Vaughn Watterodt, Lukas Hansen and Rowan Calvert provide great depth.

The Blades will be without Armstrong for the first two games of the Eastern Conference final as he finishes out a four-game suspension for receiving a charging major and a game misconduct in the Blades 2-1 overtime win over the Red Deer Rebels at home on April 14. 

Armstrong was given his infractions in Game 2 of the series with the Rebels after he bowled over Red Deer netminder Chase Wutzke.

The Warriors counter with 19-year-old star centre Jagger Firkus up front, who lead the WHL in regular season scoring with 126 points coming off 61 goals and 65 assists. Atley Calvert, who is a 20-year-old centre, had 47 goals and 95 points in the regular season for the Warriors, while centre Brayden Yager, who turned 19-years-old in January, had 35 goals and 95 points in the regular season.

Moose Jaw’s other top players up front include savvy veteran Matthew Savoie, Brayden Schuurman and Czech import Martin Rysavy, while Lynden Lakovic, Pavel McKenzie, Rilen Kovacevic and Ethan Semeniuk provide sound depth.

Trevor Wong posted 101 points in the regular season.

Both squads are sound on defence.

The Blades have no problem rolling out a group of seven on the back end in Tanner Molendyk, Charlie Wright, Ben Saunderson, John Babcock, Grayden Siepmann, Nicholas Andrusiak and Morgan Tastad. The Warriors counter with captain Denton Mateychuk, Kalem Parker, Lucas Brenton, Connor Schmidt and Czech product Vojtech Port.

In goal, the starters for both teams weren’t WHL starters a season ago. All eyes will be focusing to see how they handle the bright lights of the Eastern Conference final.

Evan Gardner had an outstanding breakout rookie campaign for the Blades. Gardner, who turned 18-years-old in January, appeared in 30 regular season games for the Blades posting a 21-5-2 record, a 1.91 goals against average, a .927 save percentage and four shutouts. The Fort St. John, B.C., product’s goals against average was the lowest in the WHL and his save percentage topped the circuit.

In the WHL Playoffs, Gardner has appeared in eight games for the Blades posting a 7-0 record, a 1.66 goals against average, a .928 save percentage and one shutout.

Unger is in his third season with the Warriors, and he has improved as he has carried the starter’s load in the 2023-24 campaign. In 54 appearances in the regular season, Unger, who turned 19-years-old in January, posted a 35-15-2 record, a 3.08 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and three shutouts. 

In nine appearances in the WHL Playoffs, Unger has posted an 8-1 record, a 3.29 goals against average, a .903 save percentage.

Jagger Firkus topped the WHL in regular season scoring.

If Gardner struggles, the Blades can turn to a star backup in Austin Elliott. Elliott, who is 19-years-old, was the Blades starter through the regular season and started the first game of the post-season dropping a 4-3 decision to the Prince Albert Raiders at the SaskTel Centre.

If Unger falters, the Warriors would have to turn to 17-year-old rookie Dimitri Fortin or have to dress 19-year-old veteran Evan May.

Going into Eastern Conference final, one would have to give the Blades the edge in net with Gardner’s performance this season and the fact the Blades can turn to Elliott if need be.

Still, the opportunity is there for the netminders on either side to create a reputation at the WHL level of being a championship level clutch puck stopper. Now we get to see who will be “the guy” in net and take their game to the next level.

Cougars, Winterhawks battle for Western Conference title

Zac Funk led the WHL with 67 goals in the regular season.

The heavyweight showdown that was expected at the start of the WHL Playoffs will take place in the WHL’s Western Conference Championship Series.

The Prince George Cougars will face the Portland Winterhawks in a best-of-seven set to determine who advances to the WHL Championship Series. Game 1 is set for Friday at 7 p.m. local time at the CN Centre in Prince George.

The Cougars finished second overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 49-15-1-3 mark and have gone 8-1 in the post-season. Prince George topped the final CHL Top 10 Rankings.

The Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 mark and have won all eight of their outings in the post-season. Portland was rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings.

The Cougars are making their first appearance in the Western Conference final since 2007. The Cougars franchise has won one WHL title coming back in 1981, when the club was located in Victoria.

Since setting up shop in Portland on June 11, 1976, the Winterhawks have been one of the WHL’s most storied teams winning three league titles in 1982, 1998 and 2013. They also captured the Memorial Cup as CHL champions on two occasions in 1983 and 1998.

This will be Portland’s first appearance in the Western Conference final since 2015.

The Winterhawks were the original Edmonton Oil Kings franchise that existed in the Alberta capital from 1950 to 1976. During those years as the Oil Kings, the franchise claimed WHL titles in 1971 and 1972. The franchise won Memorial Cup titles in 1963 and 1966 before the WHL played its inaugural campaign in 1966-67.

Gabe Klassen had 106 points in the regular season.

Zac Funk, who is the Cougars 20-year-old star right-winger, topped the WHL regular season with 67 goals and finished second in scoring with 123 points. Forwards Riley Heidt, Terik Parascak and Ondrej Becher give the Cougars high end firepower up front.

Hudson Thornton, who is 20-years-old, topped the Cougars in defence scoring with 74 points coming off 18 goals and 56 assists.

Joshua Ravensbergen has had a breakout season as a 17-year-old rookie netminder for the Cougars. In 38 appearances in the regular season, Ravensberger posted a 26-4-2 record, a 2.46 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and six shutouts.

Star 20-year-old centre Gabe Klassen led the Winterhawks in regular season scoring with 106 points coming off 35 goals and 71 assists. James Stefan, Nate Danielson and Josh Davies give the Winterhawks explosive firepower up front.

Star 19-year-old defenceman Luca Cagnoni topped the WHL in defence scoring during the regular season with 90 points coming off 18 goals and 72 assists.

Jan Spunar, who is the Winterhawks star Czech import netminder, has had a stellar campaign. In 35 appearances in the regular season, he posted a 25-6-3 record, a 2.12 goals against average, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts.

Due to the distance between Prince George and Portland, the Western Conference Championship Series will be conducted in a two-three-two format. The Cougars host Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, while the Winterhawks host Games 3, 4 and 5.

Overall, this series has the potential to be an all-time classic.

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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Rebels’ Bains nears WHL scoring title with four-point night

Red Deer runs over Hitmen 8-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome

Arshdeep Bains leads the WHL in scoring.

Arshdeep Bains almost has the Bob Clarke Trophy in his grasp.

On Wednesday, the Red Deer Rebels overage left-winger collected two goals and two assists to power his squad to an 8-3 WHL regular season victory over the host Calgary Hitmen before 4,323 onlookers at the Scotiabank Saddledome. With that effort, Bains now seemingly has an insurmountable lead when it comes to being awarded the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL’s regular season scoring champion.

Appearing in all the Rebels 67 games to date, Bains has 110 points coming off 42 goals and a league high 68 assists. He leads linemate in 19-year-old centre Ben King by seven points for top spot in the scoring race.

King, who sits second in the WHL scoring race, has also appeared in all of the Rebels 67 games to date piling up 103 points coming off a league high 52 goals and 51 assists. He scored twice in Red Deer’s win over Calgary on Wednesday.

Kamloops Blazers third-year centre Logan Stankoven sits third in the WHL scoring race posting 102 points coming off 44 goals and 58 assists appearing in 57 games.

The last member of the Rebels to win the WHL scoring title was centre Justin Mapletoft back in the 2000-01 campaign, when Red Deer won the WHL title and the Memorial Cup as CHL champions. That season, Mapletoft piled up 120 points coming off 43 goals and 77 assists appearing in 70 regular season games for the Rebels.

The Rebels have one game remaining on their regular season schedule, while the Blazers have two games remaining on their regular season slate.

Against the Hitmen on Wednesday, the Rebels led 2-0 after the first period, held a 4-2 advantage after the second frame and pulled away to post the 8-3 final in the third.

Dallon Melin scored twice for the Rebels, while Jace Weir and Kai Uchacz netted singles.

Zac Funk scored twice for the Hitmen, who received a single from Blake Stevenson.

Chase Coward stopped 27 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Rebels. Brayden Peters started and took the setback in goal for the Hitmen turning away 28-of-34 shots sent his way before being pulled at the 7:30 mark of the third period.

Ethan Buenaventura played the rest of the way in relief stopping one-of-three shots sent his way.

The Rebels improved to 45-18-2-2 with the win and are locked into finishing third in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. Red Deer closes its regular season schedule on Saturday hosting the Edmonton Oil Kings (7 p.m. local time, Peavey Mart Centrium).

Arshdeep Bains has 42 goals and 68 assists this season.

The Hitmen, who have lost three straight, fell to 25-34-6-2 to remain ninth overall in the Eastern Conference. Calgary trails the 26-34-5-2 Swift Current Broncos by one point for eighth place and the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

The Hitmen close their regular season schedule on Sunday when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes (2 p.m. local time, Scotiabank Saddledome). When Calgary hits the ice for that contest, they could potentially already be eliminated from playoff contention.

The Broncos close their regular season schedule on Friday when they host the 26-35-4-1 Prince Albert Raiders (7 p.m., Innovation Credit Union i-Plex). If the Broncos win that contest, they will eliminate both the Hitmen and Raiders from playoff contention.

The Raiders, who are 11^th overall in the Eastern Conference two standings points back of the Broncos, have two games remaining on their regular season schedule. After playing the Broncos in Swift Current on Friday, the Raiders return home to close their regular season schedule against the Brandon Wheat Kings (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).

If the Raiders win both their remaining regular season games, they will eliminate the Hitmen and Broncos from playoff contention.

The 26-34-3-2 Regina Pats sit 10^th overall in the Eastern Conference two points back of the Broncos. Regina closes its regular season schedule playing three games in three days.

The Pats take on the Winnipeg Ice, who have locked up first overall in the WHL with a 51-10-3-2 record, on both Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre in Regina. Those two contests were originally scheduled for Thursday and Friday night in Winnipeg, but they were rescheduled and shifted to Regina due to severe bad weather in southern Manitoba.

The Ice close their regular season schedule with those two contests and will be treated as the home team in those games including having the last line change.

After the two head-to-head contests with Winnipeg, the Pats close their regular season schedule on Sunday hosting their archrivals the Moose Jaw Warriors (4 p.m., Brandt Centre). The Warriors sit fourth overall in the Eastern Conference with a 37-23-3-3 record after downing the Wheat Kings in Brandon 5-2 on Tuesday.

The Saskatoon Blades, who sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 37-26-3-1 record, could potentially pass the Warriors for fourth in the conference and have home ice advantage for a best-of-seven first round WHL playoff series.

The Blades close their regular season schedule on Friday hosting the 35-26-3-2 Wheat Kings (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre). If the Blades win that contest and the Warriors lose their final two regular season games in regulation, Saskatoon would take fourth place in the conference.

The Warriors travel to Lethbridge on Friday to face the Hurricanes (7 p.m. local time, Enmax Centre). Moose closes its regular season against the Pats on Sunday.

Ben Kings has 52 goals and 51 assists this season.

Moose Jaw just needs one standings point in its final two outings to lock up fourth in the conference.

The Wheat Kings would leap from sixth to fifth overall in the Eastern Conference if they win their final two regular season 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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Blades get their hometown guy

Moore signs with WHL club a day after Prospects Draft

Blades GM Colin Priestner, left, is pictured with Zachary Moore.

It only took one night for the Saskatoon Blades to get their guy, and their guy to get his team.

On Friday morning, the Blades inked 15-year-old forward and hometown product Zachary Moore to a WHL Standard Player Agreement. 

The Blades selected Moore in the second round and 34^th overall in the WHL Prospects Draft that was held online on Thursday.

He was the first of 10 players the Blades picked in that draft.

Moore, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 150 pounds, has posted 10 goals and seven assists in 21 regular season contests with the Saskatoon Contacts of the Saskatchewan Male Under-18 AAA Hockey League. 

He is the Contacts leading scorer and has helped them post a 12-6-3 record so far this season.

Moore was pumped to be drafted by the Blades and sign with his hometown WHL club just a day later.

“It is such a great feeling (with) growing up watching all the Blades and seeing how they play,” said Moore. “I’ve always dreamed of playing in the WHL.

Zachary Moore signs a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Blades.

“To get the opportunity to play with my hometown team, it is such an amazing feeling.”

He said his favourite Blades player was centre Kirby Dach, who now plays for the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. Including the 19 games he played in his 15-year-old season, Dach suited up for the Blades from 2016 to 2019 before being selected in the first round and third overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Blackhawks.

“My favourite NHL team is the Chicago Blackhawks, so watching (Kirby) Dach go there after playing here, he is just an amazing talent,” said Moore. “He is so quick.

“He was probably my favourite player just to watch for the Blades.”

Blades general manager Colin Priestner was pleased his club was able to select Moore.

Zachary Moore, left, shakes hands with Blades GM Colin Priestner.

“It is pretty exciting for us to have a player like Zach (Moore) to come in here,” said Priestner. “Having the local ties is something that we felt was very important to us when you have a character like Zach who has very, very high character.

“He is someone that we just heard so many great things about from so many coaches and teammates and just different people in hockey throughout the province the over last couple of months. The opportunity came yesterday.”

Moore can played five games with the Blades this season and could potentially join the WHL squad full time, when the Contacts season comes to a conclusion.

Priestner said it is a bonus that Moore doesn’t have to travel far to suit up for the Blades, if they need to call him up.

“The great news is we know if we have sickness, injury or anything like that, he (Moore) can be here in 15 minutes to play on short notice,” said Priestner.

Moore said he is a player that prides himself on being able to play both ends of the ice.

“I think my 200-foot game is what sets me apart from other players,” said Moore. “My defensive ability is very good.

Zachary Moore, centre, is pictured with his parents.

“In the offensive zone, I also bring great vision, so I can set up my teammates very well. I feel like I just make the players around me better, which can bring impact to any line or any certain situation that I am being put into.”

Priestner is looking forward to what the future holds for Moore with the Blades.

“He is a guy we really targeted with our first pick,” said Priestner. “I couldn’t be more pleased to have Zach and his family here today to sign his standard player agreement with the Blades and begin his career here as a Saskatoon Blades prospect and potentially as soon as next year be a Blade.”

Funk’s cash in for Hitmen and untimely one for Blades

The Hitmen celebrate their winning goal by Zac Funk (#24).

Zac Funk broke the hearts of the Saskatoon Blades.

With the Blades locked in a 2-2 tie with Funk’s Calgary Hitmen, the 18-year-old right-winger received the puck in the left slot on a nice pass from linemate Sean Tschigerl and quickly snapped home a shot to put the Hitmen up 3-2 with 4:22 remaining in the third period of Friday’s WHL regular season clash between the two sides.

Funk’s timely goal, which was his second of the night, stood up as the winner as 19-year-old centre Riley Fiddler-Schultz potted an empty netter with 37.6 seconds remaining in the third to deliver the Hitmen to a 4-2 victory to disappoint most of the 2,946 spectators at the SaskTel Centre.

Both of Funk’s goals were timely momentum changers that allowed the Hitmen to hold an upper hand on the Blades, who were playing their first home game since downing the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 in overtime on November 9.

The Blades vacated the SaskTel Centre as the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials were held in their home rink from November 20 to 28.

Zac Funk scored twice for the Hitmen on Friday.

The Hitmen started Friday’s game carrying the momentum. They broke through on the scoreboard at the 11:39 mark of the opening frame with a goal coming off the stick of right-winger Adam Kydd.

The Blades evened the score 1-1 with 2:44 remaining in the first on a nifty play by star left-winger Kyle Crnkovic. Deep in the Calgary zone by left side of the Hitmen goal, Crnkovic stole the puck from 20-year-old centre Cael Zimmerman and immediately wired home the equalizer to the top left corner of the net.

That set the stage for Funk to step up with his first timely momentum changing tally.

With 16.5 seconds remaining in the first, Funk put the Hitmen back in front 2-1 shoveling a loose puck into the back of the Blades net during a net scramble.

In the second, both teams zipped up and down the ice with a lot of speed but there weren’t a whole lot of scoring chances with the Hitmen holding an 8-6 edge in shots on goal in the stanza.

The Blades best chance to score came when right-winger Brandon Lisowsky was stoned from close in front of the Calgary goal.

Kyle Crnkovic scored for the Blades on Friday.

Late in the second period, the Hitmen had their best chance to score close in at the right side of the Saskatoon goal, but Zimmerman couldn’t poke the puck past Blades star netminder Nolan Maier.

The Hitmen came out with the edge play in the at the start of the third holding a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal before left-winger Brandon Whynott took a tripping penalty with 8:02 left in the frame.

On the ensuing power play, the Blades evened the score 2-2 on some great work by Jayden Wiens.

On a zone entry, Wiens passed the puck down into the left slot to Trevor Wong. Wong took a shot and his rebound deflected right to Wiens on the right side of the Calgary goal.

Wiens potted the equalizer into an empty cage.

After Funk put the Hitmen up 3-2, Wiens had a big chance to even the score, but he was denied close in at the right side of the Calgary goal by Hitmen netminder Brayden Peters with 1:32 remaining in the frame.

The Hitmen celebrate their win on Friday.

Maier turned away 27-of-30 stops to take the setback in goal for the Blades (13-11-1). Peters stopped 23 shots to pick up the win in net for the Hitmen (11-9-2-1).

The Hitmen head to Prince Albert to face the Raiders on Saturday (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).

The Blades return to action on Tuesday, when they travel to Moose Jaw to face the Warriors (7 p.m., Mosaic Place).

NOTE - The Blades wore special jerseys on Friday designed by 11-year-old Jaidyn Palmer, who won the Superstore “Design A Jersey” contest in the off-season. Those jerseys are being auctioned off with all the proceeds going to the Presidents Choice Children’s Charity.

Pats prevail over Raiders 5-2, other notes

Logan Nijhoff scored for the Pats on Friday.

The Regina Pats seemed to be getting contributions from everybody, and it proved to be too much for the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.

On Friday night before 3,564 spectators at the Brandt Centre, five different players scored for the Pats as they downed the Raiders 5-2. The Pats had a 2-0 lead after the first period, and 4-2 edge after the second period and rounded out the scoring with an empty-net tally in the third.

Tanner Howe, Layton Feist, Zane Rowan, Logan Nijhoff and Cole Carrier all had singles for the Pats. Carrier scored his tally into an empty net for his 10^th goal of the season.

Carson Latimer scored twice for the Raiders.

Matthew Keeper made 25 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Pats (11-14). Tikhon Chaika turned away 21-of-25 shots to take the setback in net for the Raiders (9-13-1-1).

The Pats return to action on Saturday when they travel to Brandon to play the Wheat Kings (7 p.m. local time, Westoba Place).

The Raiders return to action on Saturday when they return home to face the Calgary Hitmen (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre).

• The Seattle Thunderbirds selected forward Macklin Celebrini first overall in Wednesday’s WHL U.S. Priority Draft. The 15-year-old has 20 goals and 22 assists in 43 games for the Shattack St. Mary’s under-18 prep team in Faribault, Minnesota. Celebrini is a Vancouver, B.C., product, but he has played in the United States since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
• The Spokane Chiefs selected forward and Saskatoon product Berkly Catton first overall in Thursday’s WHL Prospects Draft. The 15-year-old had 11 goals and 12 assists playing 15 games for the Shattack St. Mary’s Under-16 AAA team in Faribault, Minnesota. Catton has left Shattack St. Mary’s to join his hometown Saskatoon Contacts Under-18 AAA team.
• The Prince Albert Raiders picked up two players in the first round of Thursday’s WHL Prospects Draft. With the 13^th overall selection in the first round, the Raiders picked 15-year-old forward Cole Peardon from Outlook, Sask. Peardon has four goals and 13 assists in 19 regular season games with the Saskatoon Blazers Under-18 AAA team. With the 14^th overall selection in the first round, the Raiders picked 15-year-old forward Ryder Ritchie from Kelowna, B.C. Ritchie has a goal and two assists in three games with Kelowna’s Rink Hockey Academy’s Under-18 team.
• On Wednesday, I was back in the pages of the Prince Albert Daily Herald with a column on the Prince Albert Raiders trading their captain Kaiden Guhle to the Edmonton Oil Kings, because the Oil Kings made an offer the Raiders couldn’t refuse. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• On Thursday, I went live with a pair of pieces for the Gordie Howe Sports Complex’s Howe Happenings blog. I wrote a post on the Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy’s Timbits Saturdays program, which can be found by clicking right here. I also wrote a post on how linked the Veeman family is with sport of speed skating. Four members of the Veeman family are part of the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club. That piece can be found by clicking right here.

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.