Parr, Siepmann score in preseason loss to Wheat Kings
Saskatoon, SK – A pair of goals from forward Tyler Parr in the second period wasn’t enough as the Saskatoon Blades fell 6-3 to the Brandon Wheat Kings Sunday at SaskTel Centre.
Preseason’s treated Parr well, owning three goals in two games after Sunday’s performance. The La Salle, MB native’s tallies came within the final two minutes of the second period to tie the game 3-3. Heading into his fourth season with the Blue and Gold, Parr’s showing he’s ready to take the next step into becoming a key piece in Saskatoon’s top-six.
20-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann scored his first goal of the preseason just under five minutes into the middle frame. It was the Abbotsford, BC native’s first taste of preseason action this fall, providing a steady presence on the back end for some younger defenders in the lineup.
The Blades fall to 0-3-0-0 in the 2024 WHL preseason. They’ll try to turn the tide Friday night in Prince Albert at the Art Hauser Centre, battling the Raiders for the second-of-three times this preseason.
Overage forward Nolan Flamand kicked things off for the Wheat Kings with his first goal of the preseason 14:29 into the opening period. The Saskatoon product is one of four 20-year-old players still on the Wheat Kings’ roster, with the club having until Oct. 10 to decide on three to keep.
Right-handed defenceman Rhett Ravndahl extended Brandon’s lead to two under three minutes into the second. It wasn’t long until the Blades decided to show up on the scoresheet.
Siepmann tied the game 1-1 early into the second, marking his second goal since coming to Bridge City in October of 2023. The right-handed shot’s first came in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final last spring against the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Flamand potted his second of the night on the powerplay just over halfway through the game. The primary assist went to rookie Jaxon Jacobson, who scored two goals in the Wheat Kings 4-2 win over Saskatoon on Friday.
Parr kicked it into another gear as time dwindled down in the second, scoring two goals to tie the game 3-3 heading into the final 20 minutes. The 5-foot-11 winger leads the club in goals so far this preseason with three.
The Wheat Kings weathered the storm as Jacobson netted his third goal of the preseason to make it 4-3. The 2008-born forward’s tally stood as the game-winner.
Wheat Kings forward Nicholas Johnson scored his first of the preseason about halfway through the third, and teammate Prabh Bhathal iced the game with an empty-netter at the 17:35 mark.
What’s Next?
The Blades search for their first preseason win Friday at the Art Hauser Centre against the Raiders.
Puck drop is 7:00pm.
Saskatoon’s preseason concludes the following night in Warman, SK in a rematch against Prince Albert.
