Saskatoon Blades - Feed

Olsen named to Team Canada’s U18 Men’s World Championship roster

tchubey — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:12:53 +0000

Saskatoon, SK - The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce forward Zach Olsen has been selected to represent Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF U18 Men's World Hockey Championship. Hockey Canada announced the full 25-man roster on Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/HockeyCanada/status/2046638895513657463

Olsen’s selection to Team Canada comes after a impressive sophomore Western Hockey League (WHL) campaign with the Blades. The NHL Draft-eligible winger set new career highs in goals (18), assists (16), and points (34) in 57 games. Applauded for his tenacity and rugged play, Olsen shined in his second WHL postseason with two goals and four assists in ten games. Five of Olsen's points came in Round 1 against the Edmonton Oil Kings, helping the Blades down the third-seeded Oil Kings in Game 7 overtime to advance to Round 2 against the Prince Albert Raiders.

The IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship brings together the world’s top under-18 players and serves as a key showcase for future hockey stars. The tournament kicks off on April 22 in Bratislava and Trenčín, Slovakia, with Canada taking on Slovakia, Latvia, Norway and Finland in the preliminary round. The tournament concludes with the medal games on May 2. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast 16 tournament games, including all Team Canada preliminary-round games, as well as the quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal games.

Olsen, Wiliams, and Klimpke named in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings

tchubey — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:46:00 +0000

Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades trio of Zach Olsen, Cooper Williams, and Brayden Klimpke have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings. Olsen jumped to 36th overall amongst North American skaters for the upcoming draft. Previously ranked 43rd at the midway point of the season, the Calgary, AB native scored 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points in 57 games for the Blue and Gold, all career highs. The Western Hockey League (WHL) sophomore amped up his play in the playoffs with two goals and four assists for six points in ten games. Olsen also tacked on 18 penalty minutes in the 2026 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien. Williams ranked 50th amongst North American skaters. The 2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Year finalist finished second in team scoring after his second season with 57 points (23G, 34A). The 6-foot-1 centre scored arguably two of the biggest goals for the Blades in the postseason. Williams tied Game 6 in Round 1 against the Edmonton Oil Kings with seven seconds left to force double overtime at SaskTel Centre. Despite the Blades losing Game 6, Williams tied Game 7 2-2 with 5:08 remaining in regulation to force overtime on the road. The game-tying goal ultimately led to a series victory for the Bridge City Bunch, the first ever on the road in franchise history. Williams finished the postseason with two goals and four assists in 11 games through two rounds. Klimpke also jumped up in the final rankings moving from 79 to 74 amongst North American skaters. The 2007-born defender led the backend in scoring during the regular season with four goals and 43 assists for 47 points in all 68 games. The late 2007-born defender served as an alternate captain for the Blades in his second season with the team and led them to a second round appearance in the postseason. In 11 playoff games, Klimpke scored one goal and four assists for five points. The 6-foot-1 defender was regularly tasked with defending each team's top forward lines and eating a large chunk of minutes all throughout the year.

For NHL Central Scouting’s full midterm rankings, click HERE

ROUND 2 GAME 4 PREVIEW | Blades face elimination in Game 4 against Prince Albert

tchubey — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:48:45 +0000

Key Players, Notable Stats, How to Watch and More It's do-or-die tonight for the Bridge City Bunch. The Saskatoon Blades hope to avoid elimination from the 2026 Western Hockey League (WHL) Playoffs against the Prince Albert Raiders. The Blue and Gold host their Highway 11 rival for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final at SaskTel Centre at 7:00pm. "They're not going to quit in that room," said Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva, "This is not a team that is going to roll over and die." The Blades trail 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. A win for the Blades would force Game 5 on the road at the Art Hauser Centre on Friday at 7:00pm. "I think there's a ton of belief in that room," said Blades alternate captain Brayden Klimpke, "(We've got to) just trust the work we've done all year. We've worked all year for this moment right now. Trust the work we've put in and just go out there and play."

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The good guys NHL Draft-eligible winger Zach Olsen has the lone goal for the Bridge City Bunch this series. The 2008-born forward scored a powerplay goal in the third period of Game 1 to give him two goals and four assists in nine games this postseason. The Blades have killed five straight Prince Albert powerplays after going 3/3 in Game 3. Edmonton Oilers draft pick David Lewandowski and Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing are tied for the team lead in scoring with three goals and five assists for eight points each. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Evan Gardner is 4-4-2 this postseason with a .913 save percentage (SV%) and 2.85 goals against average (GAA).

The opposition

The Raiders have opened the scoring in all eight of their postseason games. NHL Draft-eligible netminder Michal Orsulak earned his second shutout in as many games and third shutout of the playoffs with a 23-save performance in Game 3. The 6-foot-4 goalie is 7-1 in the postseason with a .925 SV% and 1.37 GAA. Sophomore defenceman Daxon Rudolph leads the team in scoring this postseason with four goals and seven assists for 11 points in eight games. The first overall pick of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft also has the most points this series with a goal and three assists across two games. Prince Albert’s penalty kill went 4/4 in Game 4, improving to 78.3% in the playoffs.

Watch & Listen

Coverage for Game 4 of Round 2 presented by Discover Saskatoon is FREE on Victory+ TV. Blades Communications Manager Tanner Chubey and 650 CKOM’s Scott Roblin get you ready for the action at 6:45pm with the Pre-Game Show. Stick around for in-depth analysis from Chubey and Roblin during intermissions, and watch all the action for FREE on Victory+ TV. Head to victoryplus.com to watch or sign up and make your free account today.

ROUND 2 GAME 3 PREVIEW | Blades return home for crucial Game 3 against Raiders

tchubey — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:43:51 +0000

Key Players, Notable Stats, How to Watch and More As the old saying goes, you're not in trouble until you lose one at home. The Saskatoon Blades return to SaskTel Centre for Round 2 Game 3 presented by Discover Saskatoon against the Prince Albert Raiders. Puck drop is 7:00pm. The Bridge Bunch trail the Raiders 2-0 in the best-of-seven second round Western Hockey League (WHL) playoff series presented by Nutrien. Saskatoon fell 6-1 and 3-0 in games 1 and 2 on the road at the Art Hauser Centre over the weekend. "We've earned our right to be here, and we've just got to show that we're capable of playing with these teams," said Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva, "The focus is on us, and we haven't been at our best yet, let's be honest. We've made some poor decisions, I think there could be some nerves there." Saskatoon is 1-1-1 on home ice this postseason. Blades captain Tyler Parr says while it isn't an elimination game for his squad, they need to treat it as such "We've got to have that desperation. It's the first to four wins, but we're back home now, we've got to get a win. It's a huge game for us." A win this evening would force a Game 5 back in Prince Albert on Friday night and give the Blades a chance to tie the series on home ice tomorrow in Game 4. A loss for Saskatoon would leave them vulnerable for elimination tomorrow night at 7:00pm.

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The good guys NHL Draft-eligible winger Zach Olsen has the lone goal for the Bridge City Bunch this series. The 2008-born forward scored a powerplay goal in the third period of Game 1 to give him two goals and four assists in eight games this postseason. The Blades' powerplay is 22% on home ice in the 2026 WHL Playoffs and 1/6 in the series. Edmonton Oilers draft pick David Lewandowski and Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing are tied for the team lead in scoring with three goals and five assists for eight points each. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Evan Gardner is 4-3-2 this postseason with a .911 save percentage (SV%) and 2.82 goals against average (GAA).

The opposition

The Raiders improved to 5-0 this postseason on home ice after wins in games 1 and 2. NHL Draft-eligible netminder Michal Orsulak earned his second shutout of the playoffs with a 15-save performance in Game 2. The 6-foot-4 goalie is 6-1 in the postseason with a .911 SV% and 1.57 GAA. Sophomore defenceman Daxon Rudolph leads the team in scoring this postseason with four goals and seven assists for 11 points in seven games. The first overall pick of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft also has the most points this series with a goal and three assists across two games. Prince Albert's penalty kill went 3/3 in Game 3, improving to 73.7% in the playoffs.

Watch & Listen

Coverage for Game 3 of Round 2 presented by Discover Saskatoon is FREE on Victory+ TV. Blades Communications Manager Tanner Chubey and 650 CKOM’s Scott Roblin get you ready for the action at 6:45pm with the Pre-Game Show. Stick around for in-depth analysis from Chubey and Roblin during intermissions, and watch all the action for FREE on Victory+ TV. Head to victoryplus.com to watch or sign up and make your free account today.

Gardner, Olsen raise $4,500 for local diabetes and autism initiatives

tchubey — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:49:29 +0000

Saskatoon, SK - Saskatoon Blades goalie Evan Gardner and forward Zach Olsen raised a combined $4,500 for local diabetes and autism initiatives in Saskatoon. In January, Gardner debuted a custom autism-awareness goalie mask. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect raised $2,700 through an online auction for the mask with all proceeds going to Family Programs – Autism Services of Saskatoon, an organization that helps families with programming, early detection, and lifestyle learning. Gardner is a finalist for the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy for a third consecutive season. The award is given annually to the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year. "Evan's a tremendous person," said Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva, "We've seen him grow up here, right, since 17 now until 20 and part of when he was 16 as well, and (he's) just come such a long way. Such a beloved teammate. His teammates love him, he's a popular guy in that room, and obviously he does a tremendous job in the community." Both type 1 diabetics, Gardner and Olsen teamed up to raise $1,800 through an online auction with two signed jerseys. Proceeds from the auction went to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Pediatric Unit. The funds will go towards Blades/PokeCheck branded patches for kids’ diabetes pumps to help kids feel good about having the pump in the summer months. The duo are back in action on the ice Tuesday for Game 3 of Round 2 presented by Discover Saskatoon against the Prince Albert Raiders. Puck drop at SaskTel Centre is 7:00pm, as the Blades look for a crucial win trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

ROUND 2 GAME 1 PREVIEW | Blades search for 1-1 series in Prince Albert

tchubey — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:10:23 +0000

Key Players, Notable Stats, How to Watch and More Take two. The Saskatoon Blades hope to even the best-of-seven second round series 1-1 in Game 2 at the Art Hauser Centre against the Prince Albert Raiders. Puck drop is slated for 7:00pm. The Blue and Gold fell 6-1 in the opening game of the series on Friday. Coming off the high of a Game 7 overtime win in Round 1 against the Edmonton Oil Kings, the Blades went behind 3-0 after 20 minutes of play in Game 1. The Raiders led 6-0 in the third period before a powerplay goal for NHL Draft-eligible winger Zach Olsen broke Raider goalie Michal Orsulak's shutout bid. "I feel like they were just ready to play," said Blades captain Tyler Parr, "I thought we were slow getting out of the gates. We weren't simple enough, weren't hard enough. This is a man's game, a big boys game, we've got to buckle up, and that starts with me." Friday's result marks the first time the Bridge City Bunch have trailed in a series this postseason. Games 3 and 4 the Blades second round presented by Discover Saskatoon return to SaskTel Centre on Tuesday, Apr. 14 and Wednesday, Apr. 15. Puck drop for both games is 7:00pm

The good guys The Blades powerplay went 1/3 in Game 1 and is 3/8 in the last two games. Edmonton Oilers draft pick David Lewandowski and Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing lead the Blades in scoring with three goals and five assists for eight points. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Evan Gardner is 4-2-2 this postseason with a .910 save percentage (SV%) and 2.80 goals against average (GAA).

The opposition

Rest was a benefit for the Raiders ahead of Game 1. The defensive pair of captain Justice Christensen and Daxon Rudolph recorded three points each, the latter leading the Raiders in points with ten (4G, 6A). Prince Albert's powerplay went 2/3 in Game 1, improving to 6/15 at home this postseason. NHL Draft-eligible netminder Michal Orsulak stopped 16 of 17 shots to improve his playoff record to 5-1-0-0. The 6-foot-4 netminder has an .899 SV%, 1.83 GAA, and one shutout. Watch & Listen Coverage for Round 2 Game 2 presented by Discover Saskatoon is FREE on Victory+ TV. Blades Play-by-Play Announcer Les Lazaruk and Blades Communications Manager Tanner Chubey will have the call on the Victory+ away feed. Coverage begins at 6:45pm with the pre-game show on the radio on 600CJWW. To watch tonight’s game for FREE, click HERE.

ROUND 2 GAME 1 PREVIEW | Highway 11 rivalry renewed in Round 2 of WHL Playoffs

tchubey — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:41:24 +0000

Key Players, Notable Stats, How to Watch and More It's the matchup every fan in the Western Hockey League (WHL) has been clamouring for. Round 2 of the 2026 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien features another chapter in the Highway 11 rivalry as the Saskatoon Blades butt heads with the Prince Albert Raiders. Puck drop for Game 1 is 7:00pm at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. It's the first collision between the East Division rivals in the postseason since Round 1 in 2024 when the Blades eliminated the Raiders in five games. "I genuinely hate the Raiders, I think everyone in that room feels the same," said Blades goalie Evan Gardner, "Every time we play them we have this fire in us. It feels real, like, you really do hate them. You know, you want to beat them so bad. It's something that's definitely pretty cool." The best-of-seven series comes after the Blades stunned the third-seeded Edmonton Oil Kings in seven games in Round 1. Trailing 2-1 with under six minutes remaining in the third period of Game 7, NHL Draft-eligible centre Cooper Williams tied the game with 5:08 remaining in regulation to force overtime. The goal marked the second consecutive game in the series the Calgary, AB native scored a goal late in the third to force overtime. "I've said my whole life I think I'm better when there's more pressure," said Williams, "So, just kind of having that in the back of my mind, when there's more pressure, there's more fun." Alternate captain Rowan Calvert sent the Blades to Round 2 after scoring the overtime winner on the powerplay 7:23 into the extra frame. The 20-year-old helped the Blades win the first ever Game 7 on the road in franchise history. "I was thinking there (during the celebration) 'I need to get out of this pile because everybody was laying on top of me,'" joked Calvert, "I thought about it later and it was not a good idea because I couldn't breathe down there. I was like 'let me up, let me up!' No, but it was just a great moment just to share that with everyone and the bus ride home was pretty fun." It's another tough test for the Blue and Gold going up against the Eastern Conference's top Raiders. Prince Albert finished the regular season with a 52-10-5-1 record and dealt with the Red Deer Rebels in five games in Round 1. "We're a proud group," said Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva," I think we learned that , we've been saying it all year, we can play with anyone in this league when we're at our best and so the focus is us." The Blades went 2-5-0-1 in the season series against Prince Albert. Saskatoon won 3-2 in overtime at the home opener against the Raiders in September and shutout Prince Albert 4-0 on January 31 at the Art Hauser Centre. The last Saskatoon and Prince Albert clashed in the second round of the playoffs was 2019 when the Raiders downed the Blades in six games. Game 2 is Saturday night in Prince Albert at 7:00pm before the series shifts to Saskatoon on Tuesday and Wednesday at SaskTel Centre. Puck drop for both home games is 7:00pm.

The good guys Special teams faced a lot of scrutiny in Round 1 but came through when it mattered most. The Blades went 2/5 on the man-advantage in Game 7 against the Oil Kings while killing of 3/4 Edmonton powerplays. Edmonton Oilers draft pick David Lewandowski and Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing lead the Blades in scoring with three goals and five assists for eight points. Gardner is 4-1-2 this postseason with a .912 save percentage (SV%) and 2.66 goals against average (GAA).

The opposition

If rest is a weapon, than the Raiders have plenty of it. Prince Albert dealt with the Red Deer Rebels in Round 1 in five games. The back-to-back East Division Champions last game was one week ago at home, eliminating the Rebels with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 5. The Art Hauser Centre has been a fortress for the Raiders who are 3-0 at game this postseason. Prince Albert was 26-4-3-1 at home during the regular season, one of those regulation losses suffered in 4-0 fashion at the hands of the Blades. Rookie defenceman Brock Cripps leads the Raiders in scoring after one round with eight points (3G, 5A). Defenceman Daxon Rudolph, along with forwards Aiden Oiring, Braeden Cootes, and Brayden Dube are averaging more than a point per game. The Raiders outscored Red Deer 21-10 in Round 1, averaging 39 shots per game and allowed just 18.4 shots per game. Watch & Listen Coverage for Round 2 Game 1 presented by Discover Saskatoon is FREE on Victory+ TV. Blades Play-by-Play Announcer Les Lazaruk and Blades Communications Manager Tanner Chubey will have the call on the Victory+ away feed. Coverage begins at 6:45pm with the pre-game show on the radio on 600CJWW. To watch tonight’s game for FREE, click HERE.

Gardner nominated for Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy for third consecutive season

tchubey — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:00:04 +0000

Saskatoon, SK - The man known as the "Gardfather" continues giving back. The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce goaltender Evan Gardner is nominated for the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy for a third consecutive season. The award is given annually to the WHL's Humanitarian of the Year. A type 1 diabetic, the Fort St. John, BC native was an exceptional advocate for diabetes awareness through his first two seasons with the Bridge City Bunch. At the forefront of last year’s “PokeCheck Learns: Diabetes Awareness” campaign, Gardner raised $4,650 dollars for Diabetes Canada through a custom game-worn goalie mask auction. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect has built on his work throughout the 2025-26 season. In November, Gardner visited Chief Whitecap School in Saskatoon alongside teammate and fellow type 1 diabetic Zach Olsen to offer an inspiring and educational presentation aimed at raising awareness, building understanding, and empowering young people who may be living with or learning about the disease. Sharing her story alongside Gardner and Olsen was Chief Whitecap student and U9B Comets player Eva Houle, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a year-and-a-half ago. Together the three highlighted an important message not only about the challenges they face but also the strength, resilience, and support that help them strive.

“Evan represents everything you hope for in a player, both on and off the ice," said Blades General Manager and President Colin Priestner, "His commitment to raising awareness about diabetes and taking the time to truly understand and advocate for those living with it speaks volumes about his character. Evan's used his platform in a meaningful way, and our organization couldn’t be prouder to see him recognized with this nomination.”

In January, Gardner debuted a custom autism-awareness goalie mask. The 20-year-old netminder auctioned the mask off and raised $2,700 with all proceeds going to Family Programs – Autism Services of Saskatoon, an organization that helps families with programming, early detection, and lifestyle learning. Gardner also helped raise $1,940 through an online auction alongside Olsen. The pair auctioned off two signed jerseys with proceeds going to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Pediatric Unit. The funds will go towards Blades/PokeCheck branded patches for kids’ diabetes pumps to help kids feel good about having the pump in the summer months.

CUSTOM GOALIE MASK

On top of all his efforts for diabetes and autism awareness, Gardner has the most hours in the community this year on behalf of the organization. Gardner’s spent time at minor hockey practices, the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, and at our Northern Prospects Experience in March sharing advice to youth living in remote Northern Saskatchewan communities. Gardner understands the importance of success on the ice but also the impact and inspiration he has on the community. Gardner was nominated for the award in 2024 and 2025. Gardner is beloved by his teammates, coaches, but most notably the fans of Saskatoon. With that in mind, along with all his other exceptional work in the community, we believe there is no one more deserving of this honour in the WHL than Evan Gardner.

Blades announce Round 2 schedule against Raiders presented by Discover Saskatoon

tchubey — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:17:02 +0000

Saskatoon, SK - The Saskatoon Blades are headed proud to Round 2 of the 2026 Western Hockey League (WHL) Playoffs presented by Nutrien. The Highway 11 rivalry is renewed as the Bridge City Bunch face off against their provincial rivals, the Prince Albert Raiders, in a highly anticipated best-of-seven series.

Following a thrilling seven-game series in Round 1 against the Edmonton Oil Kings, the Blades now turn their focus to the next challenge as they continue their pursuit of a WHL Championship.

Round 2 Playoff Schedule: Saskatoon Blades vs. Prince Albert Raiders

Game 1: Friday, Apr. 10 – Saskatoon at Prince Albert (Art Hauser Centre) (7:00pm)
Game 2: Saturday, Apr. 11 – Saskatoon at Prince Albert (Art Hauser Centre) (7:00pm)
Game 3: Tuesday, Apr. 14 – Prince Albert at Saskatoon (SaskTel Centre) (7:00pm)
Game 4: Wednesday, Apr. 15 – Prince Albert at Saskatoon (SaskTel Centre) (7:00pm)
Game 5: Friday, Apr. 17 * – Saskatoon at Prince Albert (Art Hauser Centre) (7:00pm)
Game 6: Sunday, Apr. 19 * – Prince Albert at Saskatoon (SaskTel Centre) (4:00pm)
Game 7: Tuesday, Apr. 21 * – Saskatoon at Prince Albert (Art Hauser Centre) (7:00pm)

* if necessary

Tickets for games 3 and 4 at SaskTel Centre go on sale at 10:00am.

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Blades stun Oil Kings in Game 7 overtime to advance to Round 2

tchubey — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:04:26 +0000

Edmonton, AB - The Bridge City Bunch are headed to Round 2 of the Western Hockey League (WHL) Playoffs presented by Nutrien! The Saskatoon Blades ousted the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 in Round 1 of the postseason after a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 7 on Monday at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The victory marked the first time in franchise history Saskatoon's won a series deciding Game 7 on the road. "We never wavered," said Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva, "We knew that, you know, if we stuck to our game plan, stuck to the way we needed to play, that we'd have success. Yeah, it's easy to get off track when things start going awry, but our guys did a good job getting things back on the rails." 20-year-old alternate captain Rowan Calvert was the overtime hero for the Blue and Gold 7:23 into the extra frame. The Moose Jaw, SK native deflected the puck around Oil Kings netminder Parker Snell to punch Saskatoon's ticket to the next round. Calvert finished the game with a goal and an assist. The veteran winger assisted on forward Cooper Williams' game-tying goal with 5:08 remaining in regulation to make it 2-2. Game 7 marked the second consecutive game in the series Williams tied the game late in the third period to force overtime. Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing finished with a pair of helpers on the night, while Edmonton Oilers draft pick David Lewandowski notched two powerplay points with a goal and an assist. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Evan Gardner stopped 30 of 32 Oil King shots to improve his 2026 postseason record to 4-1-2-0. The third-year netminder is now 6-5 all-time in his postseason overtime career. The Blades are on a collision course with the Eastern Conference's top Prince Albert Raiders. It's the first series between the Highway 11 rivals since 2024 when the Blades eliminated the Raiders in five games in Round 1. The last time these teams met in Round 2 was a 4-2 series victory for Prince Albert in 2019. The series begins in Prince Albert at the Art Hauser Centre on Friday, Apr. 10 followed by Game 4 the following night. The series shifts to SaskTel Centre for Game 3 on Tuesday, Apr. 14 with Game 4 the following night. Puck drop for both games is 7:00pm. Single game tickets for games 3 and 4 at SaskTel Centre go on sale Tuesday, Apr. 7 at 10:00am! To purchase your tickets, CLICK HERE.