Tonight: The Saskatoon Blades take on the Prince Albert Raiders in the first of ten regular season contests this season. The game is taking place at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, SK, home of the Raiders. The teams met three times in preseason with the Raiders winning the pre-season series 2-1. The solo win against the Raiders for the Blades came in Prince Albert, where Lukas Hansen batted the puck out of the air in overtime to win 4-3 on September 16th. The two teams will play a home-and-home series this weekend, which will conclude tomorrow night at SaskTel Centre for the Blades home opener.

Roster is set. Game time baby! 🙌

DETAILS | https://t.co/urV5WZ2DO4 pic.twitter.com/HGyubyORK4

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 23, 2022

Rivalry stronger than ever: There is no doubting that sports is filled with rivalries from different regions and areas of the world. But the best rivalries are the ones that happen innately. The Blades and Raiders will come fully energized after facing each other three times in pre- season on. The neighbouring cities have been rivals for many years due to the distance between cities. In the Eastern Conference, only one team had more penalty minutes in the pre-season, with the Blades and Raiders coming in at two and three. The two teams combined for 131 penalty minutes in 3 pre-season games. In the past five seasons, the Blades have a record of (15- 10-0-0) against the Raiders. With the teams matching up ten times this season, look for this rivalry to grow with each passing game.

Who to watch: Brandon Lisowsky returned from his first NHL camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs this week. The forward scored 33 goals last season in 68 games prior to being drafted in the 7th round and 218th overall at the 2022 NHL Draft. Lukas Hansen missed most of last season due to multiple injuries. The forward has scored in multiple scenarios throughout camp, starting all the way back to the Bobby Kirkness Cup. Tanner Molendyk is entering his draft year with a load of talent. In pre-season, there were flashes and moments where Molendyk showed a high level of ability, mobility and play making vision that a high-end defenseman shows. The defenceman will be looking to impress, leading into NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings.

🦎 is BACK!

and so is his shot 😉 pic.twitter.com/4sJt6pq5nb

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 23, 2022

Window for success: The Saskatoon Blades are beginning the WHL season with only two 20- year-olds on the roster, Captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere and forward Josh Pillar. However, the average age on the Blades roster is 18 years and one month, meaning the team is made up of more experience than previous years. There are seven 18-year-olds and eight 17-year-olds which will make up a major core for the team next season. If the team makes the necessary strides this season, it could lead into a large window for success over the next here years.

Single game tickets are on sale now! Reserve your seat for the 2022 home opener presented by Merlin Ford Lincoln by visiting ticketmaster.ca or contact the Blades office at [email protected] or call or text 306-975-8844. 

Ask about our FreshCo Family packs of 4 tickets for just $40!