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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Blades’ Priestner one day should get executive of the year nod

From left, Colin Priestner with Trevor Wong and Steve Hildebrand.

Colin Priestner is a hockey guy.

Actually, he has been a hockey guy for some time now.

There was a time Priestner was known for being a folk-rock singer and songwriter, a high level tennis player, and a car dealership owner. Those were all roles he had filled at one point before his family bought the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades before start of the 2013-14 campaign, where father Mike assumed majority ownership of the club. Colin, who was 29-years-old at the time, became a managing partner of the team in early September of 2013.

Fast forward to the current day, and the now 40-year-old Priestner is the veteran general manager and president of the Blades. His Blades topped the WHL regular season standings in 2023-24 with a 50-13-2-3 record. They have made the Eastern Conference Championship Series for a second straight year.

The Blades open the best-of-seven conference championship series against the Moose Jaw Warriors this coming Friday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. It will mark the first time since the 1993 post-season the Eastern Conference Championship Series will be an all-Saskatchewan battle. Back in 1993, the Swift Current Broncos swept away the Regina Pats 4-0 and advanced on to win the WHL Championship Series in seven games against the Portland Winterhawks.

This year’s Eastern Conference final has the potential to be a classic with the Warriors having finished fifth overall in the WHL regular season with a 44-21-0-3 mark. Both the Blades and Warriors are in search of their first WHL championship.

One day, Priestner should be tabbed as the winner of the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s executive of the year. It is actually too bad he didn’t win that honour last year or was named to be up for that honour this year.

Colin Priestner pictured in the Blades dressing room in 2016.

With that said, Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge took that honour on a league level a year ago and Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger is the nominee for the East Division, which the Blades play out of, this year. Both are long time good executives, and you can’t argue against their respective nods.

Still, Priestner in the current day is best known as being the general manager of the Blades, and he has built a reputation of being an outstanding executive. When he became the Blades general manager before the start of the 2016-17 campaign, you can bet there was some skepticism around that move.

At that time, Priestner was still viewed as more of a hockey outsider and was thought of being a folk-rock singer and songwriter, a high level tennis player, and a car dealership owner. Of course, the thought was out there Priestner was able to hold the role of Blades general manager because his father was the majority owner of the team.

Colin’s younger brother, James Priestner, was known as the hockey guy in the family. James was a goalie in the WHL suiting up for the Kamloops Blazers, Brandon Wheat Kings and Prince George Cougars from 2007 to 2011. These days James is the frontman and chief songwriter Vancouver based band Rare Americans.

As the Blades were stuck in a lengthy rebuild due to the fact the Priestner family bought the team after hosting the CHL championship tournament – the Memorial Cup - in 2013, the club turned heads trying new things on the business promotion side with theme nights, which included a Star Wars Night on November 28, 2015. There were people around the WHL that didn’t know at the time what to make of the Blades trying out new things on the promotional side.

Early on in his time as Blades general manager, you could sense Colin had a pretty good grasp of what he was taking on. He grew into his role quite quickly, and it safe to say he learned lessons observing various general managers he saw during his time on the circuit.

During his first season in the league in 2013-14, Lorne Molleken was still serving as the Blades general manager. While the Priestners would move in a new direction parting ways with Molleken following the 2013-14 campaign, Colin likely learned what it was like to have a strong and good passion for the team and how to treat people with class.

Colin Priestner, left, with Aidan De La Gorgendiere in 2017.

Molleken, in the roles of head coach and general manager, tried his hardest to see the Blades become WHL and Memorial Cup title winners. The Blades had a lot of great teams under Molleken’s watch, but they weren’t able to achieve those two much desired championship wins. No matter where Molleken goes in life, he will always be a member of the Blades, and Priestner got see what it was like when a team is more than a team.

Priestner got to see how former Brandon Wheat Kings head coach, general manager and owner Kelly McCrimmon, who is currently the general manager of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, built a team. McCrimmon is best known for being the master when it comes to making trades.

During his second season as the Blades general manager in 2017-18, Priestner showed how skilled he could be on the trade front leading and on the WHL Trade Deadline of January 10, 2018. The Blades at the time were trying to end a playoff drought that spanned four consecutive seasons. They were battling for a playoff spot in an East Division when that division might have been the toughest it has ever been.

Priestner made a series of deals that allowed the roster to still compete for a playoff berth that season, but really set the club to take off the following season. The Blades two best players in star centre Cameron Hebig and Czech import defenceman Libor Hajek were sent to the Memorial Cup hosting Pats as 19-year-old veterans.

On top of various draft picks that came back, the Blades landed 19-year-old offensive-defenceman Dawson Davidson and 16-year-old forward prospect Tristen Robins from the Pats. Saskatoon also acquired 19-year-old star centre Max Gerlach from the Medicine Hat Tigers and centre Eric Florchuk from the Victoria Royals.

The Blades would finish with a 35-33-3-1 record finishing seventh overall in Eastern Conference, but with the playoff rules at the time mirroring the current NHL post-season rules, the Blades missed the playoffs by three points.

Colin Priestner, left, with Mitch Love in 2019.

The moves Priestner made were the right ones as Davidson, Gerlach, Florchuk and Robins would play key roles helping the Blades finish fourth overall in the WHL standings in 2018-19 with a 45-15-8 mark. Robins would become one of the Blades top players for the next three seasons. Priestner had found lots of success on the trade front since that time.

Another person Priestner likely picked up tips from came from observing Lethbridge Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt.

One day after the 2017-18 campaign ended, Priestner released head coach Dean Brockman, who was about 16 years older than Priestner. While Brockman was a great coach with a lengthy resume of success at the junior A level with the Humboldt Broncos, things just didn’t work out with him and Priestner. Those things happen in the world of hockey and no hard feelings are kept.

At a time when WHL teams often recycled veteran head coaches, Anholt out in Lethbridge hired 32-year-old Brent Kisio to be his head coach with the Hurricanes before the start of the 2015-16 campaign. Kisio had been a long time assistant coach with the Calgary Hitmen and was more than ready for a head coach opportunity.

Anholt went back to a previous era in the WHL, when the circuit saw a lot of good younger head coaches move on to the professional ranks. The Hurricanes experienced a fair amount of success with Kisio as head coach before he moved on to join the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL as an assistant coach.

Priestner went the younger route and hit grand slams with his next two head coach hires. In May of 2018, Priestner hired then 33-year-old Mitch Love to be the Blades head coach.

Love had been a long time Everett Silvertips assistant coach before joining the Blades. The Blades were one of the WHL’s top tier teams in the three seasons Love served as head coach before moving on to the professional ranks. He is currently an assistant coach with the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Colin Priestner speaks at a press conference in 2019.

After Love left for the professional ranks, Priestner hired the Blades current head coach Brennan Sonne on July 21, 2021. Sonne was 34-years-old when he came to the Blades. He has been a Silvertips assistant coach for three seasons and head coach of the Angers club in the professional league in France for four seasons.

Before Sonne became Saskatoon’s head coach, the last time the Blades were in the Eastern Conference final was back in 1994, when Molleken was guiding the team as head coach. It is a safe bet to believe Sonne is going to get a professional opportunity sooner than later, but Blades fans can hope Sonne decides he could be to the Blades what Brian Kilrea was to the Ottawa 67’s.

Priestner likely picked up some lessons studying Medicine Hat Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins. The biggest lessons there would be invest in and have empathy for your players.

Arguably the best work Priestner did as general manager was helping a pair of his best players in Aidan De La Gorgendiere and Egor Sidorov navigate rough waters there are no textbooks for.

De La Gorgendiere had to deal with the passing of his mother, Marla Meginbir, due to cancer on November 12, 2019 at age 51. At the time, De La Gorgendiere was skating through his 17-year-old sophomore season.

In the past, it was common that careers for WHL players that deal with the passing of a parent don’t end up being as successful as they should have been. The passing of a parent is a lot for a teenage aged player to deal with.

From left, Les Lazaruk, Colin Priestner and Lorne Molleken in 2022.

With Priestner’s help in that situation, De La Gorgendiere went on to become the Blades captain in his last two seasons with the club in 2021-22 and 2022-23 before graduating from the major junior ranks. He still has the potential to be in the NHL one day but at the moment is looking after his schooling playing for the storied University of Alberta Golden Bears Men’s Hockey Team in the U Sports ranks.

Sidorov is current the Blades star 19-year-old right-winger from Belarus, who posted 50 goals, 38 assists and a plus-eight rating in 66 contest in the 2023-24 regular season for the Blades. Late in Sidorov’s 17-year-old rookie season with the Blades, Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, and Belarus supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Due the instability in that part of the world, it was decided that Sidorov would remain in Canada. Priestner went the extra mile dealing with immigration to allow Sidorov to remain in the country.

With the support of Priestner and the Blades, Sidorov had a stellar 2022-23 campaign recording 40 goals, 36 assists and a plus-25 rating in 53 regular season games. He posted nine goals, 10 assists and plus-three rating in 16 appearances in the 2023 WHL Playoffs.

That resulted in Sidorov being selected in the third round and 85^th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks on April 3.

Once he was drafted by the Ducks, Sidorov made it back to Belarus to visit his family.

If you’re a parent and you saw how spectacularly Priestner handled De La Gorgendiere’s and Sidorov’s situations, you would want your kid to play for the Saskatoon Blades.

Colin Priestner hugs Blades star RW Egor Sidorov.

Once viewed as the hockey outsider, Priestner has grown into an elite level general manager. On the side, he could still craft a good song or show off a few tricks on the tennis court when those opportunities present themselves too.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Sweep away - Blades turn out the lights on Rebels

Saskatoon advances to WHL Eastern Conference final

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huge thanks to Lachance for photo help

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

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

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Blades outgun Rebels 8-5

Saskatoon takes commanding 3-0 series lead on Red Deer

Ben Saunderson (#2) battles on the boards. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

It hadn’t been this easy to score since the original Woodstock in 1969.

On Tuesday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium, the goals came in bunches as the Saskatoon Blades faced the host Red Deer Rebels in Game 3 of a WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series. The game was an entertaining one for the 4,411 spectators in attendance, but it was also likely a nightmare for the coaching staffs of both teams.

When the dust settled, the Blades skated away with an 8-5 victory and a seventh straight win in the WHL Playoffs. With the win, the Blades take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Saskatoon will attempt to close out the series in Game 4 set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. local time at the Peavey Mart Centrium.

Game 3 began with a surprise as associate player call up Taylor Tabashniuk, who turned 17-years-old in March, started the contest in goal for Red Deer. Tabashniuk was playing his first career WHL game in either the regular season or post-season. He played this season with the Regina Pat Canadians under-18 AAA team before joining the Rebels.

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

The Rebels had to dress the associated player call ups as both of their regular netminders were out of the lineup. Second-year netminder Rhett Stoesser was out due to an undisclosed ailment. Stoesser has yet to dress for a game in the series against the Blades.

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

Armstrong was given a major penalty for charging and a game misconduct. On Monday, he was suspended by the WHL with the length of the suspension to be determined.

Tanner Molendyk (#24) controls the puck. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

Wutzke finished Game 2 playing heroically making 47 saves in the extra time setback.

In Game 3, the Rebels were thwarted on the first scoring chance of the contest just 13 seconds into the game. Rebels gritty left-winger Carson Birnie backhanded centred a pass from the right wing of the Saskatoon zone to the front of the Blades net to Rebels star centre and captain Kai Uchacz.

The puck deflected off Uchacz’s skate towards the Saskatoon net, but Blades breakout star rookie netiminder Evan Gardner made a sharp stop to keep the game scoreless. No one could have suspected the goal gusher that was to come at that time.

Shortly after that stop, the flood of goals started. Just 2:36 into the opening frame, Blades 20-year-old defenceman Charlie Wright fired home a shot from the left faceoff dot to give the visitors a 1-0 edge.

The Rebels responded 14 seconds later when overage winger Carson Latimer, who was a one-time member of the Prince Albert Raiders, slid home a low shot to the right side of the Saskatoon net to even the score at 1-1. The officials video reviewed the tally and confirmed the goal did indeed count.

At the 7:31 mark of the first, Blades centre Rowan Calvert fired home a shot from the left faceoff circle to put the visitors back in front 2-1. 

Just 20 seconds later, Blades star import right-winger Egor Sidorov blew down the right wing and got in alone on the Red Deer net. He snapped home a shot to the low left side of the Red Deer goal to give the Blades a 3-1 advantage.

With 8:24 remaining in the first, Birnie scored a short-handed goal off a midrange shot from the right wing boards to cut the Blades lead to 3-2.

The offensive surge continued in the second. Just 2:16 into the frame, Rebels second-year defenceman Quentin Bourne, who was playing right wing, fired home his first career WHL goal in either the WHL regular season or post-season to even the score at 3-3.

Kai Uchacz (#19) gets tied up. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

The Blades jumped back out in front 4-3 just 41 seconds later on the smart play by captain Trevor Wong. Rebels offensive-defenceman Mats Lindgren was slow to get possession of a loose puck in his own zone, and Wong stole the puck right out from under the rearguard. Wong quickly snapped a shot past Tabashniuk to give the visitors a one-goal edge once again.

With the teams playing four-versus-four hockey due to off-setting penalties, Sidorov scored his second of the contest to push the Blades lead out to 5-3.

As is a traditional Rebels trait, they didn’t quit. With 4:58 remaining in the second, Rebels star winger Kalan Lind scored on a wraparound to cut the Blades lead to 5-4.

After Lind’s goal, the Blades elected to pull Gardner. He stopped 16-of-20 shots sent his way. Austin Elliott turned away 16-of-17 shots playing the rest of the way in relief and would end up picking up the win in goal for the visitors.

Following the goaltender change, Sidorov proceeded to complete his hat trick tallying with 1:25 remaining in the second to give the Blades a 6-4 advantage heading into the second intermission.

The Blades pushed their edge out to 7-4 at the 6:27 mark of the third. Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky received a smart pass in the left slot from Wong and fired home his third of the post-season to give the visitors their three-goal edge.

At that point, the Rebels appeared to be sinking in quicksand. With 10:42 remaining in the third, Rebels import right-winger Frantisek Formanek pitch forked Blades defensive centre Lukas Hansen in the gut.

Formanek was given a major penalty for spearing and a game misconduct. His infraction will be automatically be reviewed by the WHL office for a possible suspension.

The Rebels proceeded to show more resilience as gritty left-winger Talon Brigley elected to make the highlight reels. While working the kill for Formanek’s major, Brigley took the puck away from Sidorov in the Red Deer zone.

Talon Brigley had a sweet goal. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

Brigley jetting down the ice into the Saskatoon zone down the left wing, put a spinorama move on Blades offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk and roofed home a shot to the top right corner of the Saskatoon net for a short-handed goal to trim the visitor’s lead to 7-5. The Blades finished 1-for-4 on the power play in the contest, while giving up two short-handed goals.

A short time after Brigley’s goal, Uchacz had a dangerous chance to score, but he was stopped by Elliott, who was able to freeze the puck. Blades head coach Brennan Sonne called a timeout after that chance to settle his players down and get them to refocus for the rest of the frame.

With 3:13 remaining in the third, the Rebels pulled Tabashniuk for an extra attacker. Hansen scored his first of the post-season into an empty net with 1:20 remaining in the third to round out the 8-5 final in favour of the Blades.

Tabashniuk turned away 31-of-38 shots to take the setback in goal for the Rebels.

Wong collected three assists to go with his goal for a four-point night. Lisowsky had a pair of assists to go with his goal for a three-point night.

If the Blades are able to wrap up the series in Game 4 on Wednesday, they will ensure the Eastern Conference Championship Series will be an all-Saskatchewan battle for the first time since 1993. The winner of the series between the Blades and Rebels will face the winner of the other Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Swift Current Broncos.

On Tuesday, the Warriors downed the Broncos 5-3 in Swift Current in Game 3 of that series to take a 2-1 lead in that set.

Back in 1993, the Broncos swept the Regina Pats 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Championships Series. Swift Current advanced to the WHL Championship Series where they got past the Portland Winterhawks in seven games.

Coming into the series between the Blades and Rebels, the Blades were tabbed as the favourites. They topped the WHL’s overall standings with a 50-13-2-3 record and were rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings. They took down their archrivals the Prince Albert Raiders 4-1 in a first round series.

The Blades celebrate their win. (Photo: Taylor Lachance)

The Rebels had an up and down regular season finishing fifth overall in the WHL’s Eastern Conference and eighth overall on the circuit with a 33-26-3-6 mark. They took out one of their biggest rivals in the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 in a first round series.

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

The Rebels face a bigger challenge to rally back to win this year’s series than the Blades did a year ago. Red Deer will try to make a series comeback, but it appears the Blades have way too much in their favour to let this one slip away.

Huge thanks to Lachance for photo help

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

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

Armstrong’s suspension could linger for Blades, other notes

Easton Armstrong in action on Sunday for the Blades.

Everyone on the Saskatoon Blades might be holding their collective breath with regards to how long Easton Armstrong’s latest suspension could run.

On Monday, the WHL suspended Armstrong for a length still to be determined for receiving a charging major and a game misconduct in the Blades 2-1 overtime victory over the Red Deer Rebels in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series. Armstrong, who is the Blades star overage left-winger, was suspended for bowling over Rebels breakout rookie netminder Chase Wutzke at the 5:59 mark of the third period, when the contest was tied 1-1.

Wutzke finished that contest making 47 saves in a heroic performance. He missed the Rebels 8-5 setback in Game 3 on Tuesday in Red Deer against the Blades with an undisclosed injury.

Armstrong’s suspension on Monday marks the third time in the last two seasons where he has been suspended by the WHL. In the Blades 3-2 regular season victory over the Broncos in Swift Current on February 10, Armstrong was given a major penalty for goaltender interference and a game misconduct resulting in a two game suspension.

In February of 2023, Armstrong served a two-game suspension for receiving a charging major and a game misconduct as a member of the Winnipeg Ice.

The WHL is likely evaluating Armstrong’s status as a repeat offender before offering an official ruling on his latest suspension.

Armstrong was acquired by the Blades in a trade very early in the 2023-24 campaign with the Wenatchee Wild. In 62 regular season games played between the Wild and Blades, Armstrong had career highs in goals (34), assists (22), points (56) and plus-minus rating (plus-24).

In six post-season games with the Blades, Armstrong has posted five goals, three assists and a plus-four rating.

• Offensive-defenceman and captain Denton Mateychuk had a pair of goals including the winner and an assist to power the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 5-3 victory over the Broncos in Swift Current in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series on Tuesday. The Warriors took a 2-1 lead in the set. Game 4 is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the InnovationPlex in Swift Current.
• Left-winger Matteo Danis score 82 seconds into overtime to deliver the Prince George Cougars to a 4-3 victory over the Rockets in Kelowna in Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal series. With the win, the Cougars lead the series 3-0. Prince George will try to close out the set in Game 4 on Wednesday set for 7 p.m. local time at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
• The Portland Winterhawks are leading their Western Conference semifinal 3-0 over the Everett Silvertips. They will try to close out the set in Game 4 on Friday at 7 p.m. local time at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. The Winterhawks took Game 3 of the series 4-3 in overtime in Game 3 on Monday. Offensive-defenceman Carter Sotheran had the overtime winner for the Winterhawks. The series between the Winterhawks and Silvertips has faced the challenge of having to schedule around events at Everett’s rink.

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Babcock feels sense of belonging with Blades

Playoff series with Rebels resumes Tuesday in Red Deer

John Babcock is a steady defenceman with the Blades.

John Babcock belongs in “Blade City.”

The 19-year-old defensive-defenceman had been a career member of the Kelowna Rockets. That all changed on January 10 in a three-way trade involving the Rockets, the Saskatoon Blades and Edmonton Oil Kings before the passing of the WHL’s Trade Deadline.

After that deal, Babcock was heading to Saskatoon to join the Blades. The Blades were a team that reached the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship series in 2022-23 falling in four games to the Winnipeg Ice.

When Babcock came to the Blades, they were battling for first overall in the WHL and succeeded in topping the regular season standings with a 50-13-2-3 mark. They have 12 players on their roster from their playoff run in 2023, and the returnees included a core that have been either career Blades or members of the team for a long period of time.

Babcock knew he was coming to the team to strengthen up their defensive unit with a focus on protecting the defensive zone. The North Vancouver, B.C., product developed an instant connection with his new teammates and the organization.

“First off, I want to say like I couldn’t be happier being here,” said Babcock, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 204 pounds. “It is such a great spot.

“Coming in, I was very welcomed. We have such a great group in there. Everyone was super, super welcoming.

“For me personally, I have to bring intangibles to every game. I have to be hard to play against and reliable defensively.”

On Sunday, Babcock had one of the key plays that allowed the Blades to down the visiting Red Deer Rebels 2-1 in overtime in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series at the SaskTel Centre. In one sequence inside the final eight minutes of the extra session, a scramble occurred in front of the Saskatoon net.

John Babcock came to the Blades in a big trade on Jan. 10.

A shot from Rebels star winger Kalan Lind got through Blades breakout rookie netminder Evan Gardner and was trickling toward the goal-line. Babcock stopped the puck with his skate and kicked it under a fallen Gardner to get a stoppage.

A short time later with 2:59 remaining in the extra session, offensive-defenceman Ben Saunderson scored the overtime winner for the Blades that also gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“It was definitely nice to get a win,” said Babcock, who had four goals, 13 assists and a plus-26 rating in the plus-minus department in 64 games played between the Rockets and Blades in the 2023-24 regular season. “It is definitely nice, but the job is not finished.”

Now the series shifts to Red Deer for Games 3 and 4 to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday night respectively at 7 p.m. local time at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Last year when the Blades dropped the first three games before rallying for four straight wins in an Eastern Conference semifinal series win over the Rebels, the Saskatoon side won two out of three games in Red Deer.

For Babcock, it will be a new experience playing games in the WHL Playoffs in Red Deer.

“I’ve never played in the post-season in Red Deer,” said Babcock. “From what the guys were saying, it is going to be a great crowd out there.

“Hopefully, we can get two more wins out there.”

Babcock said the Blades, who were rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings, expected the series with the Rebels to be a physical one. He thought the physical play increased from Game 1 to Game 2. The blue-liner added it helped his squad played and eliminated their archrivals in the Prince Albert Raiders in five games in the first round of the post-season to get set for the Rebels.

John Babcock loves his teammates with the Blades.

“It (Game 2 versus the Rebels) was definitely a little bit more chippy than in Game 1,” said Babcock. “Personally, I feel like Prince Albert prepared us very well for that.”

When Blades hit the ice for Game 3 against the Rebels in Red Deer, Babcock said his squad has to continue to strive to be as consistent as possible.

“We just have to play our game,” said Babcock. “I feel like we didn’t have the best first two periods, but we have a very mature group.

“I know we’re going to come out flying for Game 3.”

As for Red Deer, Rebels interim head coach Dave Struch liked the improved effort shown by his club in the 2-1 overtime setback in Game 2 compared to the 4-1 loss his club suffered in Game 1 this past Friday. Struch is looking for his players to build off of their showing in Game 2.

“We need this exact same effort that we had (in Game 2),” said Struch. “You bottle up this energy that we had in the third period especially and into overtime and pour it out on the ice.

“I thought the other night was a regular season game that is played in the first month of the year. (Game 2) was a playoff game playing against a good team.”

The Blades will enter Game 3 without the services of star overage left-winger Easton Armstrong. At the 5:59 mark of the third period of Game 2, Armstrong was given a charging major and a game misconduct for bowling over Rebels breakout rookie netminder Chase Wutzke. 

On Monday, the WHL suspended Armstrong for that hit with the length of the suspension to be determined.

Reflecting on Game 2, Blades head coach Brennan Sonne thought his team played with great passion and desperation after the Rebels scored early in the third period to tie the contest at 1-1. 

John Babcock (#55) and the Blades celebrate Sunday’s OT win.

He wants to see his squad play with that passion and desperation for an entire game, and he said his players are good at hearing the messages from the coaching staff.

“I think this team listens,” said Sonne. “I said that the other day.

“It could be structure. It could be compete habits or whatever. When we show them the main three areas that we need to address, it is not like they don’t listen.

“That is all we do. I’m not Al Pacino and the speech or anything like that. We just show, and because they care, because they’re proud Blades and because they love each other, they’ll respond.”

Winterhawks get big bounce in OT in Everett, other notes

A positive bounce on the road has the Portland Winterhawks one win away from the WHL’s Western Conference Championship Series.

On Monday night at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Wash., the visiting Winterhawks found themselves locked in a 3-3 tie in overtime with the host Silvertips in Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal series. With 4:05 remaining in the extra session, Winterhawks offensive-defenceman Carter Sotheran fired a high shot from the point that deflected off the glass behind the Everett net, hit the back of star Silvertips 20-year-old netminder Tyler Palmer and bounced into the Everett goal.

That tally by Sotheran, which was his second goal of the contest, gave the Winterhawks a 4-3 victory before a mainly stunned gathering of 3,431 spectators aside from a contingent of supporters for the Portland side. With the win, the Winterhawks now lead the best-of-seven series 3-0.

Due to scheduling conflicts at the Angel of the Winds Arena, the Winterhawks have to wait until Friday to see if they can close out the series in Game 4 set for 7 p.m. local time.

The Silvertips actually jumped out to 3-0 lead in Game 3 on Monday. Kaden Hammell and Beau Courtney scored in the first period, with Courtney’s tally coming on the power play, to give the host side a 2-0 edge. Just 18 seconds into the second, Silvertips captain Ben Hemmerling netted his fourth goal of the post-season to push Everett’s lead to 3-0.

Before the second frame came to an end, Sotheran, with his first of the contest, and star 20-year-old centre Gabe Klassen scored for the Winterhawks to cut the Silvertips lead to 3-2. Sotheran’s tally came on the power play. Just 42 seconds into the third, Winterhawks 19-year-old centre Kyle Chyzowski tallied on the power play to even the score at 3-3.

At the 3:45 mark of the third, Winterhawks star import netminder Jan Spunar stopped Silvertips centre Carter Bear on a penalty shot.

That set the stage for the dramatics that happened in overtime

Spunar made 44 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Winterhawks. Palmer turned away 46 shots to take the setback in net for the Silvertips.

Sotheran had an assist to go with his two goals. Klassen had a pair of assists to go with his goal. Hemmerling had an assist to go with his marker.

The Winterhawks will be trying to advance to the Western Conference Championship Series for the first time since 2015.

In Game 1 last Friday in Portland, the Winterhawks thumped the Silvertips 8-2. Another lopsided win came in Game 2 one night later in Portland with the Winterhawks coming out on top 6-2.

Originally, it was thought all games of the series between the Winterhawks and Silvertips would be as closely contested as Game 3 was. The Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 record and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings. The Silvertips placed fourth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 45-18-2-3 mark and were rated seventh in the final CHL Top 10 rankings.

• The Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos is tied 1-1. The Broncos took Game 1 of the series 7-2 last Friday in Moose Jaw, while the Warriors claimed Game 2 by a 7-2 score on Saturday on home ice. Game 3 is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the InnovationPlex in Swift Current.
• The Prince George Cougars have a 2-0 series lead over the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Conference semifinal series being played between those two clubs. The Cougars claimed the first two games on home ice. Last Friday, they blanked the Rockets 4-0 in Game 1 and followed that up with a 5-0 win in Game 2 on Saturday. Game 3 is set for 7 p.m. local time at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
• If the Saskatoon Blades are able to claim their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Red Deer Rebels, that result would ensure the Eastern Conference Championship Series would be an all-Saskatchewan affair for the first time since 1993. In 1993, the Broncos swept the Regina Pats in the Eastern Conference Championship Series and advanced to win the WHL Championship Series in seven games over the Winterhawks.
• The Blades broke up their bus trip to Red Deer on Monday with a stop to visit elementary school students in Biggar, who came out to cheer on the team bus. Since the Blades have come under the ownership of the Priestner family, they’ve always had a strong ground game when it came to getting into the schools and into the community.
• Warriors offensive-defenceman and captain Denton Mateychuk leads the WHL in post-season scoring with 14 points coming off three goals and 11 assists in six games to go with a plus-nine rating.
• On Saturday, Medicine Hat Tigers 16-year-old rookie left-winger Gavin McKenna was named the winner of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s Bryan Trottier Most Valuable Player Award. The award is given to an Indigenous hockey player who demonstrates on-ice excellence and contributes to the Indigenous community. McKenna led the Tigers in scoring with 97 points coming off 34 goals and 63 assists in 61 regular season appearances.
• On Monday, the WHL handed out its player-of-the-week honours for the week ending on Sunday. Mateychuk was the player of the week, Cougars netminder Joshua Ravensbergen was the goaltender of the week and Blades netminder Evan Gardner was the rookie of the week. Gardner had been rookie of the week three times for the 2023-24 campaign.

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

Saskatoon outlasts 47-save performance by Rebels’ Wutzke

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

Ben Saunderson lived out a dream hockey moment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fans at the SaskTel Centre celebrate the Blades OT win.

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

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

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

The Rebels react to their OT loss on Sunday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chase Wutzke made 47 saves for the Rebels on Sunday.

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

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

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

Evan Gardner made 24 saves for the Blades on Sunday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hunter Mayo had an assist on the Rebels equalizer.

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

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

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

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

Trevor Wong set up the Blades OT winner.

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

That set the stage for overtime.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brandon Lisowsky gathers the puck in the centre ice zone.

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

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

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

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

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

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