GAME 31 PREVIEW | Three-in-three weekend begins at home for Blades
Key Players, Notable Stats, How to Watch and More
Grab your aluminum pole and brace yourself for a night full of feats of strength on ice. The Saskatoon Blades (15-13-2-0) host the Lethbridge Hurricanes (10-20-0-1) for Festivus Night presented by Saskatoon Media Group (SMG) at 7:00pm.
It’s a theme nobody asked for… but everyone now loves. No tinsel (you know how distracting that can be), but expect plenty of blue and gold spirit wrapped up in Festivus flair. As fans file into SaskTel Centre, the Festivus Pole will stand tall—unadorned, elegant, and ready to witness 60 minutes of hockey mayhem.
Let the grievances be aired as the Blades welcome the Hurricanes to SaskTel Centre for the first time this season. Saskatoon leads the four-game season series 1-0 after a 5-3 win in Lethbridge on September 26. Trailing 3-0 in the first period, the Blades scored five unanswered goals to defeat the Hurricanes.
Fans witnessed a feat of strength Tuesday as the Blades defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors 9-3 on the road. The win ended a five-game losing streak for the Bridge City Bunch. Blades forward Zach Olsen scored four goals in the second period, while rookie winger Gavin Clark netted his first career Western Hockey League (WHL) goal in the first. Seven Blades finished with multi-point games.
Tonight’s the beginning of a three-in-three weekend for Saskatoon. The Blades return to Moose Jaw tomorrow for a rematch against the Warriors, before finishing the weekend off at home Sunday against the Prince Albert Raiders.
Standings
Four-sen
Olsen’s four-goal period against the Warriors Tuesday marked the first time in the WHL’s internet era a Blade has done so. The performance also marked the first Blades hat-trick since April 17, 2024 in Round 2 Game 4 of the WHL postseason when Egor Sidorov scored three against the Red Deer Rebels. Olsen has ten goals and 19 points in 29 during his sophomore season.
Gavin’ fun
Clark scored his first career WHL goal in Tuesday’s win over Moose Jaw. The 2008-born forward buried the tally with under five minutes remaining in the first period. Clark has a goal and an assist in 22 games this season.
New kids on the block
17-year-old defenceman Kaden Allan is expected to make his Blades debut tonight. The left-handed shot was acquired via trade on Tuesday from the Spokane Chiefs alongside 19-year-old forward Elias Pul in exchange for 20-year-old centre Dominik Petr and a 2029 fifth-round pick. Pul is away with fellow Blades forwards David Lewandowski and Dustin Willhoft at Team Germany’s preliminary action for the World Juniors. Allen was ranked a “W” rated prospect in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings, indicating a sixth or seventh-round pick.
The good guys
Edmonton Oilers draft pick Lewandowski leads the team in points with 32 (8G, 24A) in 28 games. Alternate captain Rowan Calvert has the most goals on the team at 15 after two powerplay goals against Moose Jaw. Second-year defenceman Jordan Martin has the best +/- at +6. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Evan Gardner is 10-7-2-0 record between the pipes with a .892 SV%, 3.08 GAA, and one shutout.
The opposition
The Hurricanes have lost back-to-back games and three of their last five. Forward Luke Cozens leads the team in points with 38 and goals with 16. Former Blade Hudson Kibblewhite plays his first game back at SaskTel Centre since being acquired via trade by Lethbridge in the summer. That deal saw 19-year-old defenceman Tristen Doyle come to Saskatoon, who has two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 29 games this season.
Milestone watch
Tyler Parr is three games away from 250 in his WHL career
Cooper Williams is four games away from 100 in his WHL career
Evan Gardner is four games away from 100 appearances in his WHL career
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
