Laing’s career night not enough as Blades leave Moose Jaw with point
Photo Credit: Nick Pettigrew/Moose Jaw Warriors
Blades earn first point of 2026-27 WHL season in barn burner vs. Warriors
Moose Jaw, SK – Saskatoon Blades (0-1-1-0) forward Hunter Laing recored a career-high five points in Saturday’s 7-6 overtime loss against the Moose Jaw Warriors (1-0-0-0) at Temple Gardens Centre.
“You’re trying to do your best out there to help the team win, but it came down to the wire, and you know, (we) couldn’t get it done,” said Laing. “You know, the two points is way more important than the five points.”
Defenceman Brayden Klimpke scored a pair of goals for the Blades, the other two belonging to forwards Cooper Williams and Triston Mitchell McElhone. Williams finished the game with a goal and two helpers, while linemate Kazden Mathies and defeceman Tyrone Sobry each collected a pair of assists in the loss.
The line of Laing, Mathies, and Williams have combined for 13 points in the opening two games of the Western Hockey League (WHL) season. Laing says the success comes from all three being very smart players.
“We find each other well. They’ve got great speed, and you just have to get open with those two guys with their speed, IQ, and their passing abilities. I think we’re just outworking the other lines and that’s all it comes down to is outworking, getting your chances. It’s not going to be given, you’re going to have to earn it, and I think that’s what we’re doing well.”
“They put the work in,” said Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva, “They do it, straight up. They are our hardest workers day in and day out. Those guys you named, Klimpke, Williams, Mathies, Laing, right, they’re always looking to get better.”
DaSilva said following Friday’s opening night 5-4 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings he wanted the team to have a better start. It took Laing 50 seconds to open the scoring and give Saskatoon the 1-0 lead. The Kelowna, BC native ripped a shot over the glove side of Jordan Switzer along the near wall on the rush.
Figured we'd share all four at once 🚨🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/OU8JilTwjz
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 20, 2026
Klimpke scored in his second consecutive game 2:06 later on the powerplay. The Montreal Canadiens draft pick one-timed a pass from fellow Calgary, AB native Williams to give the Blades a 2-0 lead.
The Wheat Kings shot back with three unanswered goals in a 4:16 span. Colt Carter scored the Warriors first goal of the season, followed by forward Gage Nagel, and then Carter’s second of the night at the 7:33 mark of the first period. That marked the end of rookie netminder Max Hartel’s night for the Blades, allowing three goals on seven shots. Winnipeg, MB native Taye Timmerman took over between the pipes in his first taste of the 2026-27 regular season.
Laing tied the game 3-3 with 1:18 remaining in the first. The right-handed shot scored right as a Blades powerplay ended for his second of the night and third of the season. Sobry and Williams both picked up their second assists of the period on the goal.
Saskatoon regained the lead 2:24 into the second as Williams put away his first goal of the campaign. The Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick has a goal and three assists through his first two games of the year. Laing picked up his second assist on the night.
Moose Jaw restored the lead with back-to-back goals in less than four minutes. Nagel potted his second goal of the night just past the halfway point of period, while Mathieu Lajoie netted his first of the season 3:27 later.
The score was tied for a fourth time thanks to Mitchell-McElhone’s late goal in the second period with 13 seconds remaining on the clock. The Flaxcombe, SK native made a nice move past a Warriors defender off the rush before rifling his first goal of the season past Moose Jaw netminder Jordan Switzer.
Warriors forward Kash Andresen made it 6-5 with his first goal of the season 5:52 into the third.
Pressing deep into regulation for the equalizer, Klimpke sent a shot from the blueliner past Switzer at the 16:05 mark of the period to tie the game 6-6. Klimpke is tied for the team-lead in goals with Laing at three, boasting five points (3G, 2A) through opening weekend.
Blades forward Ben Bowtell took a hooking penalty with 35 seconds left in regulation in front of the Saskatoon crease, potentially saving a game-winning goal. The Warriors wouldn’t cash in until the overtime frame, earning Saskatoon the first point of the season.
Nagel completed the hat-trick 42 seconds into overtime on the powerplay. Timmerman thought had the puck covered while scrambled in the crease, but the 6-foot-2 forward put away the loose puck to bring home the win for Moose Jaw.
Amidst the Warriors’ celebration, DaSilva used a Coaches Challenge for potential offside on the entry into Saskatoon’s zone prior to the game-winner. Offside challenges were brought back into the league prior to the 2026-27 season. The ensuing review went nearly ten minutes, before the official came to centre ice to signal the goal stood and Moose Jaw won. Timmerman finished the night with 16 saves on 20 shots.
“We’re really excited about this group moving forward,” said DaSilva, “We’re doing some really good things right now. These guys are showing they can be a dominant force in the league offensively, like I said. It’s early in the year, it’s not an excuse, but we’ve got to use this upcoming week wisely to make sure we nip this in the butt. We can’t be leaking that many goals and expect to win hockey games, It’s just not a recipe for success. It’s not Blades hockey.”
The Blades begin a home-and-home weekend on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Art Hauser Centre against the Prince Albert Raiders. The following night is Saskatoon’s Home Opener presented by Go Merlin Ford Lincoln. Puck drop for both games is 7:00 p.m. MT.
