Training Camp Roster Review: Goalies & Defence
Blades Insider Adam Ehrmantraut breaks down the Blades’ situation in net and on the blueline ahead of the 2019-20 Western Hockey League Regular Season.
Goalies
For the second straight season the Saskatoon Blades will head into training camp with 18-year-old Nolan Maier as the undisputed number one goaltender. Maier took over the Blades starting job at the age of 16 in November of 2017, and officially grabbed the attention of the rest of the league when he had a 48 save shutout against the Portland Winterhawks on December 3rd. In 2018-19 Maier went 36-10-6 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals against average, to go along with 4 shutouts. Maier’s 36 wins and 4 shutouts were both good for third overall in the WHL. Maier continued his strong play in the 2018-19 playoffs, highlighted by two standout performances in Games 3 and 4 against the Prince Albert Raiders where Maier stopped 69 of 70 shots to even up the series before the Blades eventually fell to the Raiders.
Currently lined up for the 2019-20 back-up job is 17-year-old rookie Koen MacInnes. Hailing from British Columbia, MacInnes was taken by the Blades 35th overall in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft and is looking to make the transition as the Blades’ full time back-up. MacInnes played out the 2018-19 season at the Burnaby Winter Club of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, where he registered a .907 save percentage with a 2.21 goals against average in 17 games. MacInnes also started three games last pre-season, winning all three with a .929 save percentage. He re-joined the team late last season and traveled with the Blades throughout the playoffs. In 2017 MacInnes backstopped team British Columbia to a Gold Medal at the WHL Cup, finishing with a .952 save percentage.
Another goalie to keep an eye on at camp is Saskatoon product Ethan Chadwick. The 15-year-old, who is eligible for five WHL games this season, was selected by the Blades with the 47th pick at the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Last season Chadwick posted a .920 save percentage across 22 games with the Saskatoon Stallions of the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League. That was good for the third-highest save percentage in the league, and highest among goalies who played 20 or more games.
The Blades’ backup goaltender from last season, 20-year-old Dorrin Luding, will not be at returning after appearing in 18 games last season and carrying a .909 save percentage.
Defence
Key additions: Scott Walford, Libor Zabransky, Radek Kucerik
Key Subtractions: Dawson Davidson, Brandon Schuldhaus, Emil Malysjev, Reece Harsch
Rebuilding the defensive corps was an off-season priority for Saskatoon after losing four of their seven regular defensemen from last season. Gone are Dawson Davidson (graduated), Brandon Schuldhaus (graduated), Emil Malysjev (pro-deal in Sweden) and Reece Harsch (trade with Winnipeg). Some of that void was amended last week when Saskatoon swung a deal with the Victoria Royals to acquire 20-year-old Scott Walford. Walford was a league All-Star last season while setting a career high in points at 47 (9G-38A) in 62 games. He added an additional 7 assists in 10 playoff games before the Royals eventually bowed out to the Western Conference Champions, the Vancouver Giants.
A day after trading for Walford, the Blades announced the signing of Czech defensemen Libor Zabransky and Radek Kucerik who were respectively selected at 55th and 115th overall in the 2019 CHL Import Draft. Further shoring up the Blades’ defence, Zabransky & Kucerik will take up Saskatoon’s two European slots that were left open by the departing Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen and Emil Malysjev. The 19-year-old Zabransky comes to the Blades with 107 games of WHL experience from his time playing for the Kelowna Rockets. During his time with the Rockets, Zabransky recorded 28 points (4G-24A) and will be depended upon to bring a veteran presence to the blueline. Joining him from the Czech Republic is 17-year-old and draft eligible Radek Kucerik, who comes to the Blades after spending parts of the last three seasons moving around the Czech hockey leagues. Kucerik is distinguished for his physical, shut-down style of game, and already stands at 6’1″ while weighing in at 210 pounds. Both defenders will be in the mix to play for their country at the 2020 World Juniors in Czech Republic.
Also coming to his first Saskatoon Blades Training Camp is 20-year-old Nolan Kneen, who was acquired from the Kamloops Blazers last season on November 26, 2018. Kneen played terrific two-way hockey for the Blades, chipping in with 25 points (2G-23A) in 33 games and managed an outstanding +16 +/- while juggling minutes against the opposition’s top players.
Returning to camp for their sophomore seasons are 17-year-old Aidan De La Gorgendiere and 18-year-old Majid Kaddoura. Taken at 5th overall in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, De La Gorgendiere capped 47 games in his rookie campaign while registering five assists. He also dressed for all 10 of the Blades’ post-season matchups. Meanwhile, the rookie Kaddoura registered one goal and one assist in 42 games and also appeared in two playoff games. Both will be striving to earn themselves a full-time position in the Blades’ defensive group.
Other defensemen to watch at camp include Alex Ozar, Marek Schneider, Charlie Wright & Ty Ettinger. Ozar, a 5th round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, registered 33 points in 40 games with the Prince Albert Mintos and traveled with the Blades to finish his 2018-19 season. 2018 30th overall pick Schenider recorded 9 points in 34 games, also with the Mintos. Scoring 35 points in 36 games for Northern Alberta Elite 15s was 2018 70th overall pick Charlie Wright. Meanwhile Ettinger, who spent parts of the last two seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Vancouver Giants, is hoping to continue his WHL career in Blue & Gold after notching 10 points (2G-8A) in 77 WHL games. Another name in the mix on the backend is 18-year-old Parker Malchuk who was acquired just recently in a trade with the Victoria Royals.
The battle for a full-time position on the blue line will begin Monday morning at SaskTel Centre with the first on-ice scrimmage getting underway at 10:30am. Training camp is open to the public and admission is free. The Blades’ team store, the Frozen Pond, will also be open during training camp from 10:00am-7:30pm on Monday and 9:00-5:30pm on Tuesday.
For information on becoming a Saskatoon Blades Season Member, click here or contact the Blades office at [email protected] or by calling 306-975-8844.