GAME 43 RECAP | Time runs out as Blades fall 3-2 to Broncos
Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades fell 3-2 Sunday at SaskTel Centre against the Swift Current Broncos.
The Bridge City Bunch found themselves down a goal with 20 minutes left in the game. Chances from several players almost tied it, but Broncos netminder Reid Dyck stopped all 13 shots against in the third period.
Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing scored his first goal as a member of the Blue and Gold after being acquired January 8 from the Prince George Cougars. The 2006-born forward has one goal and two assists in five games since joining Saskatoon, giving him 11 goals and 15 assists in 33 games.
Blades goalie Evan Gardner earned second star on the night after a 32-save performance. The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick made several key stops in the third to allow his team a chance to tie the game. Gardner’s record drops to 17-11-2-1 on the season. Saskatoon’s overall record is now 23-15-2-3, good for first place in the East Division.
Blades forward Tanner Scott opened the scoring just over halfway through the first period with his eighth goal of the season. The Sherwood Park, AB product went top-shelf past Dyck on the glove side to make it 1-0 Saskatoon. Fellow 20-year-old players Grayden Siepmann and Ben Saunderson assisted on the goal, giving a point to all three of Saskatoon’s 20-year-old players.
Blink and you'll miss how quick this play was pic.twitter.com/5uW5byyJor
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) January 19, 2025
Laing made it 2-0 Saskatoon with 4:35 left in the opening frame. The 6-foot-6 forward’s 11th goal of the year was his first as a Blade, giving him three points (1G, 2A) in five games since coming to the Bridge City.
I think he likes it here, @NHLFlames pic.twitter.com/jWQOzTcDdq
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) January 19, 2025
Broncos forward Trae Wilke brought his team within one before the end of the period with his ninth goal of the year. Saskatoon finished the opening 20 minutes outshooting the Broncos 13-12.
Wilke’s second of the game came 5:19 into the second to make it 2-2. The Saskatoon native has ten goals and 11 assists in 39 games this season.
Saskatoon product Hunter Mayo made it three straight goals for the Broncos with 6:29 left in the middle frame. The former Red Deer Rebel has 13 goals and 13 assists in 38 games this season, three of those goals coming against Saskatoon. The Broncos headed into the third with a 3-2 lead and held it until the final horn.
What’s Next?
The Blades get a week of practice before hitting the road Friday to take on the Prince Albert Raiders at the Art Hauser Centre.
Puck drop is 7:00pm CST.