GAME 17 PREVIEW | Blades enter Prospera Place for meeting against the Rockets
WHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME 15 | Saskatoon Blades (11-3-1-1) @ Kelowna Rockets (5-7-0-1)
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Tonight
The Eastern Conference’s top Saskatoon Blades (11-3-1-1) invade Prospera Place for their once-a-year meeting against the Kelowna Rockets (5-7-0-1).
Tonight marks the fourth contest on the Blades five-game BC road trip. Saskatoon dropped their opening game of the trip last week against the Vancouver Giants 7-6 and followed up with a point Sunday in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Victoria Royals. The Blue and Gold’s first win of the trip came Tuesday up north against the Prince George Cougars 5-4 in overtime.
The Rockets got the better of Saskatoon in last year’s meeting at SaskTel Centre 5-4 in overtime. Managing three of a possible six points so far on their trip, the Blades hold a five-point lead on first place in the Eastern Conference over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Who to Watch
Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk and forward Ben Riche will reach significant milestones in tonight’s contest. Molendyk is slated to dress in his 200th career WHL game, two games after recording his 100th career assist against the Royals. The McBride, BC product leads the Blades’ back end in points with three goals and ten assists in ten games. Tonight marks Riche’s 150th career game, leading the Blades in points with 25 (10G, 25A). The Bethune, SK native has points in nine straight games, recording five goals and ten assists during that time. Acquired by the Blades in May from the Royals, Riche has surpassed every offensive expectation thus far.
20-year-old sniper Brandon Lisowsky recorded two goals, including the game winner, and an assist in Tuesday’s victory over the Cougars. The 5-foot-9 forward has eight goals and nine assists on his nine-game point streak, averaging 1.70 points-per-game this season. Lisowsky is 12th in all-time goals in franchise history with 129 in 237 career games.
