GAME 26 PREVIEW | Blades welcome defending champs for first time this season
Key Players, Notable Stats, How to Watch and More
It’s a date with the defending Western Hockey League (WHL) Champions as the Saskatoon Blades (14-9-2-0) welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers (14-6-3-2) to SaskTel Centre at 7:00pm. The visitors may be the reigning champions on the ice, but tonight’s about celebrating the heroes off it.
Join us for Military Appreciation Night presented by SSR Mining as we honour those who have and continue to serve the Canadian Armed Forces. We’re excited to welcome our friends for CFD Dundurn to the game for our ceremonial puck drop. Make sure to be in your seats early for a special entrance.
More than 5,500 fans are expected inside the arena as the Blades look to even the season series against the Tigers 1-1. Saskatoon dropped the first of four meetings versus against Medicine Hat on September 27 on the road 4-1. Tonight’s the conclusion of a three-game homestand for the Blue and Gold. The Blades split a weekend doubleheader 1-1 on November 21 and 22. A 3-2 win on Friday against the Swift Current Broncos was followed by a hard-fought 3-2 loss against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The talk of the weekend was Saskatoon’s second-round pick from the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft Ryley Budd making his league debut. The 17-year-old netminder picked up his first win in his first game against Swift Current after stopping 13 of 15 shots. Budd was reassigned to the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s (AJHL) Bonnyville Pontiacs earlier this week. 2009-born forward Jaggar John was reassigned this week as well, while 2008-born listed defenceman Ewan Gillis was called up for the weekend.
Winners in four of their last five games, a tough weekend is in store for the Blades. The Tigers sit third in the Eastern Conference with 33 points, while their next opponent Sunday in the Edmonton Oil Kings are atop the standings with 38 points. Saskatoon is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 30.
Standings
Old colours washing out
Former Tigers Hayden Harsanyi and Jack Kachkowski suit up to face their former team for a third time. The pair were acquired at last year’s trade deadline in a blockbuster deal that saw longtime defenceman Tanner Molendyk and now 20-year-old forward Misha Volotovskii go the other way. Harsanyi has a goal in two games against his former team. Volotovskii scored the game-winning goal against Saskatoon in the lone meeting following the trade last year on February 11 at SaskTel Centre. The longtime Blade is tied for third on the Tigers in goals with eight and has 15 (8G, 7A) points in 24 games this season.
The good guys
Lewandowski leads the team in points with 25 (7G, 18A) in 23 games. Laing has the most goals on the team with 13 in 22 games. Second-year defenceman Jordan Martin has the best +/- at +10. Gardner boasts a 9-5-2-0 record between the pipes with a .907 save percentage (SV%), 2.62 goals against average (GAA), and one shutout.
The opposition
The Tigers have earned at least a point in six straight games, going 4-0-1-1 in that span. Twins Markus and Liam Ruck are top three in team scoring. Markus has 27 points (6G, 21A) in first place, while Liam is tied for second alongside captain Bryce Pickford. The right-handed defenceman in Pickford leads the team in goals with 12.
Milestone watch
Hunter Laing is three points away from 100 in his WHL career
Brayden Klimpke is three games away from 100 in his WHL career
Jordan Martin is expected to play his 100th career WHL game tonight
Watch and listen
Fans can watch tonight’s game for FREE on Victory+ TV. Coverage begins 15 minutes before puck drop hosted by Tanner Chubey. Click HERE to make your free account today.
Post game
