CHL on CBC Gem | 3 Reasons to Watch – ICE vs. Blades
It is a rare Wednesday night showdown in the WHL.
Available via the free CBC Gem streaming service, fans can tune in tonight as the Winnipeg ICE visit the Saskatoon Blades with puck drop set for 7 p.m. Mountain.
To get you ready, here are three reasons why this WHL duel is must-see TV:
Blades’ dynamic one-two punch
In the coming weeks, the Blades will look toward their veteran leadership of alternate captains in left winger Kyle Crnkovic and overage centre Tristen Robins to lead the club in its playoff push. Entering Wednesday’s contest, the Blades sit fifth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 33-21-3-1 record and 70 points.
Crnkovic, 20, is in the midst of a career year as he leads the Blades in all three major offensive categories with 35 goals, 52 assists, and 87 points through 58 games. He is third among WHL counterparts in both assists and overall point production. Crnkovic has been an elite playmaker all season long for the Blades, counting 13 games where he has collected three or more points, including a five-point showing against Red Deer in December in which he netted his second career hat-trick. The Chestermere, Alta., product had a strong February that saw him put up three points in five different showings. Selected in the opening round of the 2017 WHL Draft, Crnkovic’s previous career high came during the 2019-20 campaign when he notched 21 goals and 43 assists for 64 points in 63 appearances. He has showcased his skill set against Winnipeg this season, collecting a pair of four-point performances.
For Robins, the veteran centre is in the midst of another strong campaign as he sits second in Blades scoring with 72 points. In all, he tops the squad with 14 power-play goals, good for second best in the WHL. Bringing a knack for scoring in bunches, Robins has recorded three or more points on 11 occasions, including a five-point showing against Red Deer. He also has three hat-tricks this season. A product of Clear Lake, Man., Robins has dazzled in March, tallying five goals and three assists for eight points in eight appearances, bookended by three goals last week against Edmonton.
Originally chosen in the fourth round of the 2016 WHL Draft, Robins has already eclipsed his benchmark in assists and is approaching his career high in goals and points set in 2019-20 when he tallied 33 goals and 73 points. That dominant campaign later led him to being drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft. This season, Robins has shown that offensive flair versus Winnipeg as he has come away with a goal and six assists, including a four-point performance.
Capped off by @SanJoseSharks prospect, Tristen Robins, and WHL points leader, Kyle Crnkovic, the @BladesHockey take the lead after a four goal period!🚨🚨🚨🚨
📺 | https://t.co/HQbpG8IxlD pic.twitter.com/up82GQGEez
— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 24, 2022
ICE’s McClennon continues his dominance
Claiming the WHL’s East Division title over the weekend, a big part of the success this season in Winnipeg can be attributed to the impressive play of 19-year-old alternate captain Connor McClennon.
A 2020 sixth-round selection of the Philadelphia Flyers, McClennon leads the ICE with 38 goals – good for fifth-best league wide – and sits second in scoring with 66 points.
The Wainwright, Alta., native has demonstrated his raw talent as a gifted scorer with seven multi-goal games bookended by a pair of hat-tricks against Brandon and Prince Albert. McClennon also has 14 multi-point showings including a four-point performance against Medicine Hat. He had an impactful February that saw him tally eight goals and six helpers through eight contests.
Selected second overall by the ICE franchise in the 2017 WHL Draft, McClennon has already passed his career high in all three major offensive categories previously set in the 2019-20 campaign when he netted 21 goals with 28 assists for 49 points in 42 appearances. Against Saskatoon this season, McClennon has come away with three goals and two assists in six contests.
For the seventh time this season, Connor McClennon opens the scoring for the chilly guys.@WHLWpgICE | @NHLFlyers pic.twitter.com/eoPyccIHX4
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 17, 2022
Goalies making history
Both Winnipeg and Saskatoon have depended heavily on their goaltenders this season. For the ICE, it is Daniel Hauser, while the Blades have run with Nolan Maier.
For Hauser, the 18-year-old netminder has been impressive with a 25-2-1-0 record alongside a 2.06 goals-against average and .914 save percentage, both of which rank amongst the league leaders, while he tops all WHL brethren with seven shutouts. A product of Chestermere, Alta., Hauser made CHL history in January as he set the record for the longest undefeated streak to start a career without a regulation loss at 22 games. Hauser has also seen success against Saskatoon this season, coming away with two shutouts.
As for Maier, the talented netminder has been a workhorse for the Blades this season as he has appeared in 51 games and played 2,897 minutes, topping the WHL. On the season, the overage backstopper has collected 27 wins to rank fourth amongst his WHL counterparts, with a 2.88 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. A native of Yorkton, Sask., Maier is already the all-time leader in goalie wins by a Blades netminder and continues to close in on the WHL record for most career wins as he sits two shy of the all-time mark shared by Tyson Sexsmith and Corey Hirsch. This season, Maier has come away with a pair of victories against the ICE.
Nolan Maier's 43-save performance Wednesday has him one step closer to the WHL history books!@BladesHockey pic.twitter.com/GOv0zeAqIL
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 17, 2022