Blades fend off Pats’ third period onslaught for 2000th WHL win
Hutzinger nets first career goal, Psohlavec holds firm between the pipes in third period to secure home win over Pats
Saskatoon, SK – Three goals through 40 minutes of play was enough for the Saskatoon Blades (4-2-1-0) to secure a 5-2 victory over the Regina Pats (3-3-0-1) at SaskTel Centre on Saturday.
The victory marked the Blades’ 2000th Western Hockey League (WHL) win in franchise history.
“It was a good effort,” said Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva. “Obviously, they had a big push there in the third period, and we were able to weather the storm. We bent and didn’t break, and when we did bend, Marty (Psohlavec) was there for us between the pipes there in the third period.”
2008-born netminder Martin Psohlavec turned aside 21 shots in the third period and made 36 saves overall to improve his record to 3-1-0-0. The Blades were outshot 22-8 in the final frame and 38-33 at the final horn.
“We had a really good start today, and then they came out firing in the next two periods,” said Blades alternate captain Cooper Williams. “So, (we were) trying to kill that, play simple, and I think we did a really good job of that.”
Williams was named second star for a second consecutive game. The Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick scored a goal and an assist to extend his season-opening point streak (4G, 8A) to seven games.
Fellow NHL-drafted Blade David Lewandowski earned the game’s first star with a goal and an assist. The Edmonton Oilers draft pick also extended his season-opening point streak (3G, 5A) to five games.
“We got contributions from everyone up and down our lineup like we always talk about needing, especially against a team that has the high-end skill that they had tonight,” said DaSilva.
The first contribution came from 2007-born winger Konstantin Hutzinger less than five minutes into the game. The Wels, AUT product scored his first career WHL goal to put the Blades up 1-0. Hutzinger was unsigned coming into Blades Training Camp at the end of August and earned his WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement on October 2.
“He’s been kind of been getting down on his confidence a little,” said Williams. “I know from sitting beside him in the room, we’ve had lots of talks about it, just keep shooting the puck. He has the best shot I’ve probably every seen, so if you shoot it enough it’s going to go into the back of the net. Like you saw today, he got one, and now the flood gates are going to open for him, and we’re all super excited for him.”
The Blades headed to the dressing room with the one-goal lead and a 16-8 edge in shots.
Saskatoon went short-handed for a second time in the game 3:24 into the middle frame after forward Triston Mitchell-McElhone was called for interference. Regina’s powerplay entered the evening second-best in the WHL at 36.7% and showed why on Ellis Mieyette’s third goal of the season. The 20-year-old forward tied the game 1-1 with 32 seconds remaining on the man-advantage to give him ten points (3G, 7A) in seven games. Regina’s powerplay finished the night 1/4.
The Blades went to the second powerplay of the night 7:34 into the middle frame thanks to a Jett Deschamps holding call. Williams scored his first powerplay goal of the season with the assists collect by Lewandowski and alternate captain Kazden Mathies.
Disipline remained an issue for Regina in the second. Mieyette took a hooking call 9:42 into the period, followed by a Zach Moore slashing infraction to put Saskatoon on a 5-on-3 powerplay for 11 seconds. 21 seconds later, Dayton Deschamps hit Williams paralell with Regina’s goal line. The play was under video-review and ultimately assessed Deschamps a four-minute checking-from-behind double minor.
During the lengthy 5-on-3, 20-year-old forward Hunter Laing scored his third powerplay goal and seventh overall tally of the season to make it 3-1. The Kelowna, BC native has registered a point in every game this season, boasting 12 points (6G, 6A) in seven games. Williams collected his assist on the goal, while Mathies picked up his second apple. Mathies finished the weekend with a goal and five assists in two games at home. Saskatoon finished 2/7 on the man-advantage and have scored a powerplay goal every game this season.
Regina’s superstar forward Maddox Schultz cut the lead in half 3:07 into the final frame with a missile past Psohlavec. The first overall pick of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft was the game’s third star with a two-point (1G, 1A) performance.
Lewandowski potted the insurance marker 29 seconds later with his third goal of the year. Linemate Yegor Gusev thought he had scored for a third consecutive game, but Lewandowski deflected Gusev’s shot. Gusev has points in three straight (2G, 1A) after going scoreless in his first two career WHL games.
2007-born centre Hayden Harsanyi iced the game with one minute remaining in regulation with an empty-net goal. The Calgary, AB native finished the night with a goal and an assist, giving him three goals and two assists in seven games.
The Bridge City Bunch hit the road to InnovationPlex on Friday, Oct. 16 to challenge the Swift Current Broncos. Saskatoon’s return home is the following night for the third meeting of the season the Moose Jaw Warriors. Puck drop for both games is 7:00 p.m. MT.
Halloween Hockey takes over SaskTel Centre on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2:00 p.m. MT when the Saskatoon Blades welcome the Seattle Thunders to town. Put on your halloween costume and take in the thrill of Blades hockey before hitting the streets of Saskatoon to trick-or-treat! Fans can purchase their tickets to the game HERE!
