GAME 18 PREVIEW | Blades wrap up BC trip in Kamloops
WHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME 18 | Saskatoon Blades (11-4-1-1) @ Kamloops Blazers (9-8-1-0)
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Tonight
The Eastern Conference’s top Saskatoon Blades (11-4-1-1) conclude their five-game BC road trip at the Sandman Centre against the Kamloops Blazers (9-8-1-0).
The Bridge City Bunch are 1-2-0-1 on their western swing, dropping last night’s contest 2-1 against the Kelowna Rockets. A confident Blazers team await the Blue and Gold after three consecutive wins. Saskatoon won last year’s tilt against the Blazers at SaskTel Centre 5-1. A win tonight would give the Blades five of a possible ten points on their adventure back home to the prairies.
Who to Watch
Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Evan Gardner was the Blades’ best player on the ice in last night’s 2-1 defeat. The 18-year-old netminder stopped 33 shots as the club got outshot 35-15. A native of Fort St. John, BC, Gardner owns a 7-4-1-0 record, .909 save percentage, and 2.82 goals against average in his sophomore season.
20-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann scored the Blades’ lone goal in yesterday’s loss to the Rockets. The former Calgary Hitmen is one point shy of 100 in his WHL career with 21 goals and 78 assists. In 17 games this season, the Langley, BC product has three goals and 12 assists.
Blades captain Ben Saunderson is contributing in all areas of the ice this season. The 20-year-old blueliner has two goals and 12 assists in 17 games, carrying a +9 along with them. Saunderson leads the Blades backend in points, one ahead of Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk who has three goals and ten assists in 11 games.
