Top five Blades moments in 2023
History was made by the Saskatoon Blades in 2023 who enjoyed one of their most successful years in franchise history.
The team isn’t just one of the top in the WHL with a 24-8-2-0 record but they’re a top ten club in the CHL. Building off a run to the Eastern Conference Final in the spring, the Blades are ready to take 2024 by storm.
Before we ring in the new year, let’s reminisce and reflect on some of the moments that made 2023 truly special.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
- Aidan De La Gorgendiere ties Wendel Clark for tenth most points by a defenceman in franchise history
- Fraser Minten and Tanner Molendyk named to Team Canada for 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship
- Goalie Night against the Winnipeg ICE
5 – Teddy Bear Toss
The Blades left 2023 on a high note.
The Blue and Gold held their annual Teddy Bear Toss game against the Prince Albert Raiders on Dec. 27th in the last home game of the year. Beating the club’s Highway 11 rival is sweet enough but getting to rain teddy bears down upon them after the first goal is made it even better.
7,920 Bridge City Faithful launched stuffies over the glass as Blades’ forward Easton Armstrong opened the scoring 2:42 into the game. The Los Angeles, CA product’s first career Teddy Bear Toss goal began a three-point (1G, 2A) performance. Armstrong’s goal wasn’t the only goal people left talking about that warm December night.
An army couldn't have stopped Easton from scoring the Teddy Bear Toss goal!!!!! 🧸🧸🧸🧸 pic.twitter.com/A5JB41VYKM
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) December 28, 2023
Anaheim Ducks draft pick Egor Sidorov danced around the Raiders’ end for nearly 20 seconds with the puck on his stick the entire time. Sidorov found a lane to the net and finished off an incredible individual effort on the backhand.
Another day, another Sido goal on the highlight reel pic.twitter.com/4nvV8b23IQ
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) December 28, 2023
Tied 3-3 in the third period, alternate captain Charlie Wright came through clutch late with a gorgeous game-winning goal on the powerplay.
HERE'S CHUCKY!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/RjeFFsGqCG
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) December 28, 2023
Full on turkey and stuffing from the holidays, the Blades didn’t show any signs of slowing down in their first game back from the Christmas break. Primed for a deep playoff run this spring, the Blades closed out the year at home with a victory against their most fierce rival.
4 – Tanner Molendyk and Egor Sidorov drafted to the NHL
Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk became the newest member of the Nashville Predators organization in June. The 2005-born defenceman was selected in the first round (24th overall) at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in Music City.
The 5-foot-11 blueliner was a rock for the Blue and Gold leading into his first eligible draft year. A McBride, BC product, Molendyk’s brilliance shined no brighter than in the 2023 WHL Playoffs. The left-handed shot averaged nearly 30-minutes a game while going against some of the league’s top stars and still managed to score three goals and eight points in 18 playoff appearances, helping lead the Blue and Gold to their first Eastern Conference Championship berth since 1994.
Molendyk is booming with confidence in his fourth WHL season with four goals and 28 points in 24 games and leads the club at +22.
It was a emotional day for Sidorov as well. The 6-foot sniper heard the Ducks call his name called to the stage in the third round (85th overall). Every club passed on Belarusian machine a year prior at the draft and the Ducks didn’t make the same mistake twice.
Sidorov showed resilience on his way to becoming property of the Ducks. The 19-year-old winger hadn’t seen his family in Belarus for more than 18 months but continued to work towards his dream. In a eye-watering moment on Dec. 8th vs the Red Deer Rebels at home, Sidorov netted a hat-trick in front of his parents who witnessed their son live in person for the first time. Blades and Ducks fans can’t get enough of Sidorov who leads the team with 33 goals.
3 – First sellouts in franchise history
Hype around the Blades picked up at the beginning of 2023 due to their impressive start to the campaign. The Blades looked prime for a deep playoff run and the buzz was capturing the city. There was another man garnering attention from not just around the WHL, but the entire hockey world. That man was the Regina Pats phenom known as Connor Bedard.
A perfect storm was brewing. The red-hot Blades and the most talked about prospect in WHL history were bound to meet at SaskTel Centre for the Blades’ final two home games of the season. Everyone wanted a taste of the action.
The Blades vs Pats on Mar. 19th was the first sellout in Blades’ history as 14,768 fans filled the arena to witness the two provincial rivals square off. All eyes remained on the matchup five days later as the Blades’ sold out SaskTel Centre again on Mar. 24th. Everyone in attendance went home happy as the Blades walked out with a 3-2 victory, but there was much more to write in this chapter.
2 – Game 7 victory vs the Pats
The Blades and Pats continued their heated rivalry into the first round of the playoffs. With all eyes on the Saskatchewan’s two largest cities, the seven-game series didn’t disappoint.
Saskatoon entered the Brandt Centre in Regina with their backs against the wall after dropping games 1 and 2 at home. A 3-0 series deficit seemed inevitable until Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Brandon Lisowsky scored in the final minute of the third period of Game 3 to force overtime at 3-3.
Sidorov came through with a beauty goal in the overtime to make it a series. Another overtime followed the next night in Game 4, this time Edmonton Oilers prospect Jake Chiasson netted the winner for Saskatoon to even the series 2-2.
The Blades returned home for a massive Game 5 win before the Pats took Game 6 in their barn. It all came down to the best two words in professional sports; Game 7.
Captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere and crew defeated the Pats 4-1 in front of another sold out SaskTel Centre crowd. Goals from defenceman Spencer Shugrue and forwards Chiasson, Vaughn Watterodt, and Trevor Wong punched the Blue and Gold’s ticket to Round 2. It was only the beginning to what turned into one of the greatest runs in franchise history.
1 – Reverse sweep vs the Rebels
Round 2 featured two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference; the Blades taking on the Red Deer Rebels.
Things looked bleak for the Blades who dropped games 1, 2, and 3 to the Rebels. Trailing 2-1 heading into the third period of Game 4, all hope seemed lost for the Blades. At least that’s what many people thought. What came next kickstarted on of the greatest comebacks in WHL history.
Saskatoon scored three goals in the third to stay alive and force Game 5 at SaskTel Centre. Molendyk potted the opening goal 5:39 into the game after scoring the final goal in Game 4. The Blades went on to fill the Rebels net with six goals, pushing the series back to Red Deer for Game 6. All of sudden, it didn’t feel like it was the Blades facing the pressure.
Sidorov wasted no time scoring on a one-handed wrap-around 34 seconds in to put the Blades up 1-0. The Blades went up 4-1, but the Rebels pushed back to make it 4-3 with 7:47 left to go in the game. Despite pressure from the Rebels and extracurricular activities brought on by the hosts, the Blades forced a Game 7 back home in a series that seemed all but over a week prior.
A legend was born on Apr. 25th, 2023. Spencer Shugrue solidified himself as the new “Mr. Game 7.” The 5-foot-9 defender and now Spokane Chiefs forward Conner Roulette scored two goals each in the Blades’ 5-3 victory to advance the club to their first Eastern Conference Final in 29 years. The Blades became the third team in WHL history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, joining the 2013 Kelowna Rockets and 1996 Chiefs as the only clubs to accomplish that feat.
