GAME 50 PREVIEW | Molendyk, Volotovskii return to Saskatoon for first time since blockbuster trade

GAME 50 PREVIEW | Molendyk, Volotovskii return to Saskatoon for first time since blockbuster trade

Tonight

The Saskatoon Blades (27-16-3-3) welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers (33-16-3-1) to SaskTel Centre for the fourth and final meeting of the season between the two clubs.

Tonight’s the first game between the Blades and Tigers since their blockbuster trade on January 6. The Blades acquired 2007-born players Hayden Harsanyi and Jack Kachkowski, along with five WHL Prospects Draft picks in exchange for Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk and forward Misha Volotovskii. Molendyk played 210 games as a member of the Blue and Gold, scoring 26 goals and 108 assists for 134 points. The 19-year-old blueliner was drafted by the Blades fifth overall in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft and was named to back-to-back Team Canada World Junior Championship teams. Volotovskii dressed in 195 games with Saskatoon, scoring 19 goals and 16 assists.

The Blades handed the Regina Pats a 5-3 loss Saturday at home, earning their fourth straight win. Saskatoon leads the season series against Medicine Hat 2-1, as the Tigers enter tonight losers of three straight.

Who to Watch

20-year-old forward Tanner Scott reached double-digit goals in Saturday’s win against Regina with a two-goal performance. The Sherwood Park, AB native has four goals and seven helpers in 14 games since being acquired by the Blue and Gold on January 2. In 39 games total, Scott has ten goals and 17 assists.

18-year-old forward Hayden Harsanyi scored a pair of goals Saturday against Regina. The sophomore centre has seven goals and six assists in 18 games this season, nine points coming as a member of the Blades.

6-foot-4 netminder Ethan McCallum has won his last three straight starts. The 18-year-old goalie stopped 24 of 27 shots Saturday against Regina. McCallum is now 6-5-0-2 on the year with a 3.18 goals against average and a .896 save percentage.