GAME 41 PREVIEW | Fans get first taste of newest players as Blades welcome Winterhawks
WHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME 41 | Saskatoon Blades (22-14-2-2) vs Portland Winterhawks (23-15-2-1)
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You know the drill, Blade City.
Winning Wednesday is back at SaskTel Centre! The Saskatoon Blades welcome the Portland Winterhawks for the only time this season. If the Blades win, every fan in attendance walks home with a free ticket voucher for our next home game on Friday, Jan. 17! Catch the newest Blades in action such as Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing, Team Slovakia forward František Dej, and speedy centre Hayden Harsanyi as we welcome last year’s Western Conference Champions for the first time in two years.
Skip making dinner because it’s $2 hot dogs all night long!
Tonight
The Saskatoon Blades (22-14-2-2) return to SaskTel Centre for the first time since January 3 to welcome the Portland Winterhawks (23-15-2-1) for the only time this season. Tonight marks the beginning of 6/7 games at home for the Blue and Gold after a four-game road trip. Saskatoon went 2-2 away from home, dropping their last two contests. The Blades’ most recent outcome was a 4-1 loss Friday at the Scotiabank Saddledome against the Calgary Hitmen. The past four meetings between the Blades and Winterhawks have gone Portland’s way, including the latest battle on November 25, 2023 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in a 5-4 overtime defeat. The last time Saskatoon handed Portland a loss was December 3, 2017 in a 4-0 shutout on the road.
Who to Watch
2007-born forward Hayden Harsanyi has two goals and one assists in two games since joining the Blades on January 6. The 5-foot-10 centre was acquired by Saskatoon in a trade that also brought defenceman Jack Kachkowski and five WHL Prospects Draft picks in exchange for defenceman Tanner Molendyk and forward Misha Volotovskii. Harsanyi scored Saskatoon’s lone goal Friday against Calgary, extending his point streak to four games (2G, 4A).
19-year-old forward František Dej is expected to make his debut with the Blades tonight. The 6-foot-5 centre was signed by the team on January 8. Dej played 50 games for the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix last season before returning home this year to the top pro league in Slovakia. Dej also represented Slovakia at the 2025 World Junior Championships earlier this month.
Alternate captain Tyler Parr is five points shy of 100 in his WHL career. The La Salle, MB product has set career highs in goals (16), assists (23), and points (39) in 38 games this season. Parr has five goals and eight assists in his last 12 games.
Our game day 50/50 is live! You can skip the line at the game and purchase your ticket online from anywhere in Saskatchewan. Give yourself a chance to walk home with some serious cash!
