Saskatoon Blades - Feed

Meat lovers welcome for Friday Night Hockey at SaskTel Centre

tchubey — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 15:57:08 +0000

Baconator concession item, meat-eating contest, BBQ sauce chugging, and everything that's meat!

There's no other way to spend a Friday night at than at SaskTel Centre watching the Saskatoon Blades (6-5-3-0) take on the Calgary Hitmen (8-6-0-1) at 7:00 p.m. C.S.T.! It only gets better with Friday marking Meat Lover's Night! Take in hard-working hockey while enjoying a special edition Baconator from the concession courtesy of our friends at Prairie Boys Hospitality. Show your love for all things meat in our meat eating contest, BBQ sauce chugging contest, jerky taste test, and more! There's plenty of substance to curb your hockey cravings on the ice as well. Named Western Hockey League (WHL) Tempo Player of the Week on Tuesday, Blades alternate captain Kazden Mathies goes head-to-head against the league's leading goal scorer Carter Sanderson (Pittsburg Penguins) and the Hitmen! Don't miss NHL drafted talent in captain Brayden Klimpke (Montreal Canadiens), alternate captain Cooper Williams (Toronto Maple Leafs), forward David Lewandowski (Edmonton Oilers), and goaltender Martin Psohlavec (Philadelphia Flyers) hit the ice for Saskatoon!

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Mathies named WHL Tempo Player of the Week

tchubey — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:57:07 +0000

Release courtesy of Cami Kepki/WHL

Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League (WHL) announced today Saskatoon Blades alternate captain Kazden Mathies is the Tempo WHL Player of the Week fuelled by Co-op for the week ending Sunday, November 1.

The Martensville, SK product put up three goals and three assists for six points in two games to lead all WHLers in points last week.

Mathies kicked off the week with a two-goal, one-assist outburst on October 27 in a 6-4 road loss to the Central Division-leading Red Deer Rebels. After providing a secondary assist on fellow alternate captain Hunter Laing's goal, Mathies scored twice in 55 seconds to bring the Blades within one goal and make it a 5-4 game late in the third period. The 6-foot forward was named second star of the night, despite Red Deer sealing the win with an empty netter.

The 173-pound winger followed it up with a goal and two helpers in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds on October 31 inside SaskTel Centre. Mathies opened the scoring against his former club by peeling off the half wall, cutting to the T-Birds net, and whipping a blocked attempted pass into the twine. He had the primary assist on Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Cooper Williams' powerplay marker and Laing’s team-leading 10th tally of the season.

Mathies is riding a nine-game point streak dating back to October 9. The 19-year-old winger's posted 17 points (6G, 11A) over that stretch.

The left-handed shot leads the Blades in scoring this season with 22 points (9G, 13A) in 14 games. Mathies' point totals tie him for fourth in league-scoring and tied for third in powerplay goals across the league with five.

Originally selected by Seattle with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Mathies spent parts of two seasons with the Thunderbirds before being acquired by the Blades at the 2025 WHL Trade Deadline.

Over 195 regular-season games, Mathies has registered 84 points (45G, 39A) and is closing in on several career milestones. The veteran winger is five games shy of 200 in his WHL career.

Saskatoon (6-5-3-0) hope to return to the win column when Tempo WHL Player of the Month Carter Sanderson and the Calgary Hitmen (8-6-0-1) roll into SaskTel Centre on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m. MT.

Tempo WHL Player of the Week fuelled by Co-op

September 21, 2026: Brayden Klimpke, Saskatoon Blades (Montreal Canadiens)

September 28, 2026: Beckett Hamilton, Red Deer Rebels (Colorado Avalanche)

October 5, 2026: Poul Andersen, Red Deer Rebels

October 13, 2026: Eli McKamey, Tri-City Americans

October 19, 2026: Chase Harrington, Spokane Chiefs (Calgary Flames)

October 26, 2026: Tyler Deakos, Penticton Vees (Montreal Canadiens)

No treats, just tricks in Blades overtime loss to Thunderbirds

tchubey — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:17:14 +0000

Blades surrender lead late, fall 5-4 in overtime against Seattle

Saskatoon, SK - The Saskatoon Blades (6-5-3-0) lost 5-4 in overtime Saturday at SaskTel Centre against the Seattle Thunderbirds (5-8-0-1). The Blue and Gold held a 4-3 lead in the final minutes of regulation. Seattle forward Matthew Gard scored with one minute remaining on the clock as goaltender Grayson Malinoski was on the bench for the extra attacker. The game-winning goal was netted by the team's leading scorer Noah Kosick on a 4-on-3 powerplay 1:58 into overtime. "We've just got to learn early on to put teams away, and that's what we're currently struggling with right now," said Blades Interim Head Coach Andrew Sarauer. "When you get a lead, you've got to hunker down and be mature. I told the guys, 'just be mature out there, learn, and find ways to win.' We'll learn from this and we'll go forward." "I loved our compete again, loved the guys energy, we were all over them. I think it was close to 50 shots (for us), but it's a game of inches." The Blades outshot the visitors 48 to 28 by game's end, marking a 44-save night for Thunderbirds goaltender Grayson Malinoski. It's the third consecutive game Saskatoon's scored four goals and lost. Blades alternate captain Kazden Mathies enjoyed a three-point (1G, 2A) afternoon. The Martensville, SK product opened the scoring 1:26 into the contest to extend his point streak to nine games (6G, 11A). Fellow forward Hunter Laing potted a pair of goals, marking the first Blade to crack double-digits in that category this season. The 20-year-old winger owns ten goals and nine assists in 14 games. Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Cooper Williams also buried a goal in the defeat, while newly acquired defenceman Josh Fluker netted his first point as a member of the Blades with an assist on Laing's second goal of the afternoon. The former Wenatchee Wild captain was acquired by the Blades on Wednesday in exchange for 2007-born blueliner Isaac Poll. Traded for by Saskatoon on Monday, 2007-born netminder Koen Cleaver also made his Blades debut. The Port Alberni, BC product stopped 23 of 28 shots in the loss. Cleaver's record is 2-3-0-0 with a .871 save percentage (SV%) and 3.85 goals against average (GAA). Mathies opening goal in the first period marked his ninth goal of the campaign. The tally gives Mathies the second-most goals on the team with nine in 14 games. 2007-born defenceman Jordan Martin picked up his second assist of the season, giving him a two points (1G, 1A) in his last three outings. Things were physical from the first puck drop until the final horn. It all started with a spirited tilt at centre ice between Blades bruiser Triston Mitchell-McElhone and Seattle's Marcus Laraque. Both were assessed five minutes for fighting 3:58 into the game. There were 12 powerplays combined between the two teams. Saskatoon scored a goal on seven opportunities, while Seattle's man-advantage operated at 40% on five attempts. The Thunderbirds tied the game 1-1 12:20 into the first courtesy of 19-year-old forward Ethan Bibeau. The Winnipeg, MB product's second of the season was assisted by Seattle's leading scorer Noah Kosick and forward Sawyer Mayes. Martin and Mayes tussled near the end of the first in another spirited tilt. Both men went to the dressing rooms after being assessed five minutes for fighting. The scrap didn't spark a goal as the teams headed to the dressing rooms locked 1-1. Just 4:32 into the middle frame, Seattle defenceman Reko Alanko was given a five-minute major and a game-misconduct for a hit-from-behind against Blades winger Yegor Gusev. Saskatoon's powerplay was split in half due to a Cohen Lewko slashing call 6:01 into the second. Thunderbirds forward Brock England gave Seattle their first lead of the night 6:19 into the middle frame with his fifth goal of the season. The goal came during 4-on-4 action after Mathies turned the puck over behind the net in Saskatoon's zone. Laing bailed Mathies out 13 seconds later during the same 4-on-4 with his ninth goal of the year. The 20-year-old winger forced the shot through the legs of Malinoski to tie the game 2-2. Saskatoon's powerplay was 0/4 by this point of the game, and a fifth opportunity came thanks to a Josh Polak's high-sticking penalty with 3:11 remaining in the second. With time winding down on the man-advantage, Mathies won a puck battled behind the Thunderbirds net and sauced a pass in front to Williams for his seventh goal of the season. Williams' goal marked back-to-back games Saskatoon's lit the lamp on the man-advantage. The Blades headed to the dressing room with a 3-2 lead, 30-21 edge in shots, and 1:26 on the penalty kill after a David Lewandowski checking to the head penalty late was called late in the second. It took Stony Plain, AB's own Simon Lovsin 33 seconds into the third to tie the game 3-3. Kosick earned the secondary assist for his second point of the afternoon. Laing buried his tenth goal of the year and second of the night just over halfway through the third frame to regain the lead. With the net empty for a 6-on-5 attack late in the game, Gard scored his fourth goal of the season with one minute left on the clock to force overtime. Blades forward Hayden Harsanyi was given two minutes in the penalty box for tripping 1:45 into the extra period. Kosick capped off a three-point performance with his fifth goal of the year 13 seconds later to win it 5-4 for Seattle. Forward Antonio Martorana notched his third helper of the game with the secondary apple. The Blades next game is Friday, Nov. 6 at home for Meat Lovers Night against the Calgary Hitmen. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. MT.

GAME 14 PREVIEW | Halloween Hockey vs. Seattle Thunderbirds – Oct. 31, 2026

tchubey — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 14:48:29 +0000

Wear your costume, and trick-or-treat on the concourse in a safe, warm, and family-friendly atmosphere!

Saskatoon, SK – The BIGGEST Halloween Party in town has arrived! The Saskatoon Blades (6-5-2-0) host the Seattle Thunderbirds (4-8-0-1) inside SaskTel Centre at 2:00 p.m. MT for Halloween Hockey presented by Save-on-Foods. Fans can enjoy trick-or-treating on the concourse at first intermission, limited edition merchandise, the debut of PokeCheck’s long-lost brother CrossCheck, spooky in-game elements, Halloween inspired concession offerings, themed activities, and entertainment that will leave long-lasting impression for fans of all ages. The best part of it all? Once the game finishes, there’s still a whole evening of trick-or-treating to be had around Saskatoon. Or should we say, SaskaBOOn!

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CrossCheck is Here PokeCheck’s estranged brother has surfaced and is ready to wreak havoc! The long-lost Yeti known as CrossCheck is making his debut for Halloween Hockey, and he’s got plenty of shenanigans planned for the afternoon. Don’t miss CrossCheck and PokeCheck meet face-to-face for the first time since childhood. You never know, it may be the only time you’ll ever see the red-eyed Yeti in-person!

Special Halloween-Themed Jerseys The Blue and Gold are hitting the ice with custom Halloween-themed jerseys! The game-worn threads are available for auction online until Wednesday, Nov. 4! All proceeds from the game-worn jersey auction go towards the SEG Youth Sport Participation Fund.

Costumes Encouraged! Show up in your best Halloween costume for a fun-filled afternoon at the rink before hitting the streets of Saskatoon to trick-or-treat! Eight fans will be chosen for a chance to model their costume on the ice at intermission. The best costume of the eight participants will win a Blades Halloween Hockey Jersey and a custom Blades pillowcase for trick-or-treating! ARENA POLICY

Masks are permitted, but must be removed when entering through security to enter the arena. Masks can be worn once checked through security
Costumes cannot include weapons or weapon replicas, sticks, poles, bats, clubs, or other potentially hazardous items
Costumes with obscene, offensive, discriminatory, or disruptive messages are not permitted under an circumstance

Trick-or-Treating on the Concourse Get an early start on trick-or-treating at the Blades game! Bring your pillowcase and walk the concourse at first intermission to trick-or-treat at our seven kiosks around the concourse at first intermission. Grab a map of the concourse with the kiosk locations when you enter the doors at the game to get a stamp at each kiosk. Upon completion, trick-or-treaters can bring their stamped programs to the ticket table to enter in a draw for a grand prize!

Family Pack Special Got more than one trick-or-treater in the household? Purchase our Family Pack for just $60 and receive two adult and youth tickets, along with two free Blades-themed pillow cases for trick-or-treating!

Limited Edition CrossCheck Merchandise We’ve got the goods for all ages. Our CrossCheck Merchandise Line is the perfect apparel to get into the Halloween Hockey spirit. Fans can purchase the apparel starting next week at The FEZ (in-store and online) and at the Frozen Pond on the day of the game!

Specialty Concession Items Team PokeCheck, Team CrossCheck, or both! Regardless, both their signature slushes made by Prairie Boys Hospitality will be delicious.

Post-Game Autographs

Standings

The Good Guys The Bridge City Bunch are 1-0-0-0 against the U.S. Division, downing the defending WHL Champion Everett Silvertips 3-2 in a shootout on October 21. Today’s Saskatoon’s first game back at home since the win against Everett. The Blue and Gold went 0-2-1-0 on a three-game Alberta road trip last weekend. Saskatoon lost 3-2 on October 23 at Rogers Place against Edmonton, 5-4 in overtime on October 25 at the Scotiabank Saddledome against the Calgary Hitmen, and 6-4 on October 27 at Marchant Crane Centrium to the Red Deer Rebels. The Blades made two trades within the past week. The first came Monday with the acquisition of 2007-born goaltender Koen Cleaver from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The second was executed Wednesday with the acquisition Wenatchee Wild captain Josh Fluker in exchange for 2007-born defenceman Isaac Poll. Fluker, a right-shot defenceman, is in his final WHL season. 19-year-old alternate captain Kazden Mathies scored a pair of goals and an assist in Tuesday’s loss to Red Deer. The Martensville, SK product’s second goal of the night tied him for the team-lead in goal scoring with eight alongside 20-year-old forward Hunter Laing. The tally also marked Mathies’ team-leading fifth powerplay goal of the season. The 6-foot winger leads the team in scoring with 19 points (8G, 11A) in 13 games, 14 points (5G, 9A) coming on an active eight-game point streak.

The Opposition The Thunderbirds conclude their East Division road trip in 'Toon Town. The visitors are 4-8-0-1 after a 4-3 loss at the Art Hauser Centre last night to the Prince Albert Raiders.

Watch & Listen Coverage for today's game begins at 1:15 p.m. MT on 600CJWW with the Pre-Game Show, hosted by the Voice of the Blades Les Lazaruk and colour commentator Jackson Imrie. Fans can watch the game for FREE on the WHL’s YouTube Channel.

WHL Clubs to compete for Moustache Cup throughout Movember

tchubey — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 20:37:16 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – Western Hockey League (WHL) Clubs will compete throughout November for the Moustache Cup, a Movember fundraising challenge that crowns the top fundraising team in the WHL and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), with proceeds supporting men’s health programs including Breaking the Ice, a mental fitness program for young hockey players.

All 23 WHL Clubs will turn the League’s usual competitive edge into a month-long push for men’s health – growing Mos, engaging fans and raising funds for Movember, the leading men’s health charity focused on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. At the end of the month, the top fundraising team in each league will be crowned Moustache Cup champion.

The challenge builds on the WHL’s partnership with Movember, announced in September, that brought Breaking the Ice into all 23 WHL Clubs. Funds raised through the Moustache Cup help support that work: Breaking the Ice, part of Movember’s global Ahead of the Game program, gives young players, coaches, and parents practical tools to build mental fitness, recognize when someone may be struggling and have conversations that can make a difference. Delivered in partnership with the OHL and WHL, the program has reached more than 3,000 participants in community hockey – well ahead of its initial target of 1,000.

This November also marks Movember’s 20th annual campaign in Canada. Since launching here in 2007, Movember has brought communities together to raise funds, start important conversations and take action for men’s health. The need remains urgent: Canadian men live, on average, around four years less than women, with many of the causes of premature death being preventable.

“Hockey has always been about looking out for the guy beside you, and the Moustache Cup puts that same spirit to work for men’s health,” said OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford. “Our Clubs love a little friendly rivalry, and if that helps raise funds and get conversations started this Movember, everybody wins.”

“The WHL is excited to be joining Moustache Cup competition with the Ontario Hockey League and Movember,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near. “While we take great pride in our player education and player support programs, Moustache Cup provides the opportunity for WHL players to give back to the community and contribute to the conversation surrounding a very important cause – men’s health.”

“Too many men are dying too young, often from preventable causes, and the impact of poor men’s health extends far beyond the individual to families and communities,” said Todd Minerson, Country Director for Movember Canada. “Hockey has a unique way of bringing people together and opening the door to conversations that might not happen anywhere else. Through the Moustache Cup, OHL and WHL teams are using that connection to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, while helping create a culture where young men feel more comfortable talking about their health and looking out for one another.”

Fans, players, staff, and communities can support their Club’s Movember campaign by getting involved, fundraising, and donating.

MOUSTACHE CUP – WHL MOVEMBER PAGE

Breaking The Ice is designed to help change the culture around mental health in hockey. It encourages young men to look out for one another, open up about what they’re going through, and understand that asking for help is a sign of strength.

About Movember

Movember is the leading global movement working to change the face of men’s health.

Since 2003, Movember’s community has raised almost $2 billion CAD, funding over 1,320 projects in mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.

Committed to redefining the future of men’s health, Movember works alongside community members and expert partners to rive innovative research and scale evidence-based programs that address the most complex challenges facing boys, men, and society today.

To learn more, please visit Movember.com.

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 60 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

Blades acquire Wenatchee captain Fluker

tchubey — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:59:15 +0000

Saskatoon, SK - The Saskatoon Blades have acquired 20-year-old defenceman Josh Fluker and two conditional Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft picks from the Wenatchee Wild in exchange for 2007-born defenceman Isaac Poll and a conditional 2030 fourth-round selection. The picks acquired by Saskatoon include Brandon's 2027 fourth-round pick and Wenatchee's fourth-round pick in 2030. Fluker was drafted seventh overall by the Swift Current Broncos in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. “Josh is one of the best skating defenders in the league," said Blades President and General Manager Colin Priestner. "He’s battled some really difficult injuries throughout his career, but he is healthy and expressed a strong desire to be a Blade." Fluker, a Boissevain, MB product, was acquired by the Wild in a blockbuster deal on January 4, 2024, when Wenatchee sent 19-year-old forward Conor Geekie to Swift Current for a package that included two other players and four draft picks. After playing 28 games with the Wild to close out the 2023-24 season, which saw Fluker score a goal and five assists, he was named an alternate captain ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, listed by Central Scouting, and attended rookie camp with the Colorado Avalanche in September 2024. Despite playing just 19 games due to injury in 2024-25, Fluker scored one goal and eight assists in 18 games to go along with a +6 rating. The 6-foot blueliner was named Wild captain ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. In a short sample size due to injury, Fluker recorded four goals and five assists in 19 games along with a +10 rating with the "C" on his chest last season. "We also felt adding the current captain of a WHL team would help our leadership and experience and solidify our defensive core as one of the deepest in the league,” said Priestner. Fluker's dressed in 176 career WHL games between the Broncos and Wild, scoring nine goals and 32 assists for 41 points. Drafted 21st overall by the Blades in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Poll scored four goals and eight assists in 103 career games. The White City, SK product was limited to 34 games last season due to a lower-body injury and scored one goal and two assists in those two games. "Isaac has battled through a lot of adversity in his time with the Blades and done it with nothing but determination and a great attitude," said Priestner. "We felt this move would give him a fresh start on a younger team in Wenatchee, where he can play a bigger role and help lead their great core of young players.” We'd like to thank Isaac for his numerous contributions to the organization and city of Saskatoon throughout the past two-and-a-half years. We wish him nothing but the best in Wenatchee. We're excited to welcome Josh to Blade City as he continues his senior WHL season.

Halloween Hockey takes over SaskTel Centre on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2:00 p.m. MT when the Saskatoon Blades welcome the Seattle Thunders to town. Put on your halloween costume and take in the thrill of Blades hockey before hitting the streets of Saskatoon to trick-or-treat! Fans can purchase their tickets to the game HERE!

Blades rally in third falls short in road trip finale against Red Deer

tchubey — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 05:42:54 +0000

Photo Credit: Taylor Lachance/Red Deer Rebels

Blades open scoring for third straight game but end up on wrong end of Rebels

Red Deer, AB - The Saskatoon Blades (6-5-2-0) finished a three-game Alberta road swing with a 6-4 loss to the Red Deer Rebels (8-4-1-1) on Tuesday at Marchant Crane Centrium. Saskatoon left Wild Rose country with a 0-2-1-0 record on the trip. "Results wise this trip, it wasn't there, but every game we were right there," said Blades Interim Head Coach Andrew Sarauer. "We're just going to learn from this and move on." It was the Outlook, SK product's debut as a head coach in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The 41-year-old is serving in an interim role while Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva is away with Team Canada Red at the U17 World Hockey Challenge in Oakville, ON. "Guys just dug in deep and made it close right to the end," said Sarauer. "So, I appreciate their effort, and we'll learn from this and move forward." Blades alternate captain Kazden Mathies gave the Blades life while trailing 5-2 in the third period. The 19-year-old winger scored a pair of goals within a 55-second span to bring the Bridge City Bunch within a goal with 2:04 remaining in regulation. The Martensville, SK product was named the game's second star with a three-point (2G, 1A) performance. Mathies leads the team in scoring with 18 points (8G, 10A) in 13 games. Blades captain Brayden Klimpke (2A), Edmonton Oilers draft pick David Lewandowski (2A), and 20-year-old forward Hunter Laing (1G, 1A) all registered a pair of points in the loss. Klimpke and Laing are tied for second in team-scoring with 17 points. Rookie Blades goaltender Martin Psohlavec made 32 saves on 37 shots. The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick is 6-3-1-0 with a .895 save percentage (SV%) and 3.09 goals against average (GAA). Neither side scored in an evenly contested first period. The Bridge City Bunch outshot the hosts 8-5 after 20 minutes, but were outdone in the face-off dot 11-2. Saskatoon's stayed out of the box while the powerplay went 0/2. Saskatoon opened the scoring for a third consecutive game thanks to 2007-born forward Hayden Harsanyi's fifth goal of the season 4:42 into the middle frame. The 2007-born centre was the beneficiary of a beautiful passing play between linemates Yegor Gusev and Lewandowski. Harsanyi has eight points (5G, 3A) in 13 games, Gusev is up to five (2G, 3A) in 11 games, and Lewandowski has 16 (4G, 12A) in 11 contests. Rebels forward Cole Temple responded less than four minutes later to tie the game 1-1. The former Regina Pat and Everett Silvertip's second goal of the season came on Red Deer's first man-advantage of the night. Red Deer took their first lead of the game 3:29 later courtesy of Paxson Madill's first career WHL goal. The 2010-born American's goal was assisted by the league's leading scorer Poul Andersen. Laing evened the score 2-2 1:04 later with his team-leading eighth goal of the campaign. Captain Brayden Klimpke snapped a four-goal pointless drought with the primary assist, while Mathies earned his third assist in the last four games. The game seemed destined to go to the third tied 2-2. That was until Colorado Avalanche draft pick Beckett Hamilton took a 3-2 lead for Red Deer with three seconds remaining in the frame. The Saskatoon product is up to ten goals and 11 assists in 12 games this season. Madill earned an assist for his second point of the night with shots 15 apiece at second intermission. Lewandowski tied up Rebels rookie forward Cash Arcand-Vandale on a breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot against Psohlavec. The Saskatoon native made no mistake on the shot 2:09 into the third to make it 4-2 Rebels. Andersen earned his second point of the night 4:30 later with his 12th goal of the campaign. The St. Louis Park, MN native leads the WHL in scoring with 24 points (12G, 12A) in 14 games. Mathies scored his first goal of the night with 2:59 left in regulation to bring the Blades within two. Warroad, MN native Gavin Andersen earned his first career WHL point with the secondary assist. Red Deer's Jake Banicevic was assessed two minutes for hooking 14 seconds later to put Saskatoon on a third powerplay of the night. Sarauer pulled Psohlavec to get the extra attacker, and Mathies buried his eighth goal of the season 31 seconds into the man-advantage to cut Red Deer's lead to one. Mathies is tied for the team-lead in goal scoring alongside Laing. Saskatoon's powerplay finished 1/3 while the penalty kill denied 3/4 Red Deer attempts. The Blades pulled the goalie again in the final two minutes but couldn't hold sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Banicevic made up for his penalty by banking the puck off the boards from his own end and into the empty net. The Blades' next game is Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2:00 p.m. inside SaskTel Centre against the Seattle Thunderbirds.

GAME 13 PREVIEW | Saskatoon Blades at Red Deer Rebels – Oct. 27, 2026

tchubey — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:37:08 +0000

Sarauer makes WHL head coaching debut as Blades conclude Alberta road trip in Red Deer

The Saskatoon Blades (6-4-2-0) visit Marchant Crane Centrium tonight for a 7:00 p.m. MT start against the Red Deer Rebels (7-4-1-1). Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva and 16-year-old rookie forward Kain Martinuik are away in Oakville, ON representing Team Canada at the U17 Hockey Challenge. DaSilva is the head coach for Team Canada Red, staring across Martinuik on Team Canada White. The tournament begins Sunday, Nov. 1. In DaSilva's absence, Outlook, SK's own Andrew Sarauer will serve as interim head coach. The 41-year-old is the current assistant coach of the Blades, a role he started before the 2024-25 season. Prior to joining the Blades, Sarauer was the assistant coach for the Wenatchee Wild during the 2023-24 season. “It’s a huge honour to represent your country," said DaSilva, "I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a little strange, to be honest with you, to be leaving the guys here, but I know they’re in great hands. The assistant coaches are going to do a great job. So I’m excited to get started, but I’m going to miss these guys for sure.” The Blades are 0-1-1-0 on the three-game Alberta road swing. Saskatoon opened the trip with 3-2 loss on Friday at Rogers Place against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Trailing 4-1 in the third period on Sunday at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Blades scored three unanswered goals to force overtime and fall 5-4 against the Calgary Hitmen. The Blades outshot both teams 36-21 and 39-26 respectively. "We're getting unlucky right now," said Blades alternate captain Hunter Laing, "We're still working towards, you know, getting two points every night, and you know, the bounces are going to come." Laing was one of four Blades to score in Sunday's near comeback against the Hitmen. 2008-born forward Ben Bowtell opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game with his third goal of the season. Laing scored his team-leading seventh goal of the campaign early in the third period, followed by 19-year-old defenceman Jordan Martin's first of the year and Martinuik's second. Tonight's the second of four meetings between the Blades and Rebels. Saskatoon dropped the first game 4-2 at home on October 2. The Blue and Gold are 0-2-1-0 against Central Division teams this season.

Standings

New Kid on the Block The Saskatoon Blades acquired veteran goaltender Koen Cleaver from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Monday in exchange for a 2029 ninth-round WHL Prospects Draft pick. The 2007-born netminder stopped 17 of 17 shots in relief Saturday for Lethbridge, helping the Hurricanes rally back for a 4-3 overtime win against Red Deer.

The Good Guys

Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Cooper Williams enters tonight on a four-game point streak (2G, 2A). With an assist on Laing's goal versus Calgary, Williams became the team's scoring leader this season with 16 points (6G, 10A) in 12 points. Right behind him is Laing, captain Brayden Klimpke, and fellow alternate captain Kazden Mathies with 15 points. 20-year-old defenceman Tyrone Sobry recorded two assists on Sunday and has three points (1G, 2A) in his last two games. The former Prince Albert Raider and Prince George Cougar has a pair of two-assist games this season. Klimpke leads the Blades in scoring against the Rebels with a goal and an assist.

The Opposition

The Rebels enter tonight losers of three straight games. Red Deer's last win came from an offensive explosion on October 16 in a 9-4 victory against the Victoria Royals. Red Deer's offence has been white-hot to start the season. The host's 51 goals through 13 games is the second most in the WHL. 19-year-old forward Poul Andersen leads the league in scoring with 22 points (11G, 11A) in 13 games. Linemate and Colorado Avalanche draft pick Beckett Hamilton is third in league-scoring with 20 points (9G, 11A) in two less games.

Watch & Listen

Coverage for tonight’s game begins at 6:45 p.m. MT on 600CJWW with the Pre-Game Show, hosted by the Voice of the Blades Les Lazaruk. Fans can also watch the game for FREE on the WHL’s YouTube Channel.

Blades acquire veteran goaltender Cleaver in deal with Hurricanes

tchubey — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:13:19 +0000

Saskatoon, SK - The Saskatoon Blades are happy to announce the acquisition of 2007-born goaltender Koen Cleaver from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for a ninth-round pick in the 2029 Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft. Cleaver, a Port Alberni, BC product, came in relief for goalie Leif Oaten during both Hurricanes games this weekend. Cleaver stopped all ten shots in relief on Friday against the Swift Current Broncos in 30:36 of action. The 19-year-old netminder denied all 17 shots in relief the following night against the Red Deer Rebels, earning first-star honours in a 4-3 overtime win on the road. "Koen is somebody we've had our eyes on since the summer," said Blades Goaltending Coach Jeff Harvey, "He was the first goalie selected in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. He is incredibly talented with a strong technical foundation. We feel a fresh start for him in the Blades environment will allow him the opportunity to take his game to the next level. We believe this trade now gives us a strong tandem in the net." The 6-foot-2 netminder made two appearances during the Hurricanes' run to the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Cleaver made 23 saves on 23 shots in those appearances. Cleaver will join the team ahead of Tuesday's game at Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer against the Rebels. In a subsequent move, we've reassigned 2010-born goalie Max Hartel to the Alberta Elite Hockey League's (AEHL) U18 AAA Calgary Buffaloes. We're excited to welcome the Cleaver family to Blade City and look forward to watching Koen's development under the guidance of Harvey and the rest of the coaching staff.

Blades dissolve three-goal third period deficit but lose in overtime to Hitmen

tchubey — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 02:33:49 +0000

Photo credit: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Blades erase three-goal deficit in third period but fall short in overtime to Hitmen

Calgary, AB - The Saskatoon Blades (6-4-2-0) erased a three-goal deficit in the third period on Sunday to earn a point in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Calgary Hitmen (8-5-0-0) at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Bridge City Bunch found themselves down 4-1 with 17:08 remaining in regulation. Goals from 20-year-old forward Hunter Laing, 19-year-old defenceman Jordan Martin, and 2010-born rookie Kain Martinuik rallied the Blades to force an extra frame. "On a night where you're struggling to score, you've definitely got to have other guys chip in," said Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva. "So, it's a good sign that we had other guys elevate and produce when we needed to." Blades rookie goaltender Martin Psohlavec stopped 21 of 26 shots, including several big stops in the third period to allow his team to even the score. The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick is 6-3-0-0 with a .900 save percentage (SV%) and 2.87 goals against average (GAA) in nine appearances. "Its hockey," said DaSilva. "It's not always going to be perfect, and you just have that 'what's important next?' mentality. For a goalie, it's saves." "He gave us the best chance of winning that hockey game. So, we definitely had full trust in him that he was going to make that next save and continue to fight just like everyone else." It was the Blades who came out hot at puck drop. It took sophomore forward Ben Bowtell 4:08 to open the scoring and give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead. The Yorkton, SK product buried his own rebound after the puck squirted behind Hitmen goalie Eric Tu. Bowtell has three goals and two assists in 12 games this season. 20-year-old defenceman Tyrone Sobry and Laing collected the assists, giving each veteran points in back-to-back contests. Sobry added his second assist of the night on Martinuik's game-tying goal in the third. The Hitmen responded with a pair of goals before the end of the first period to take a 2-1 lead. Russian forward Artem Katsero netted his seventh goal of the season to tie the game 8:29 into the frame, followed by sophomore forward Landon Amrhein's first goal of the season 1:19 later. Despite trailing by a goal, Saskatoon outshot Calgary 15-6 through 20 minutes. 2008-born forward Andrei Molgachev made it 3-1 with his fourth goal of the season with 3:51 left on the clock in the second. The Blades found themselves down a pair of goals entering the final 20 minutes of regulation. Milestone, SK's own Brennan Brown extended Calgary's lead to 4-1 2:52 into the third. The 19-year-old forward has six goals in 13 games. The comeback started 2:05 later when Laing potted his team-leading seventh goal of the season to cut Calgary's lead to 4-2. The 6-foot-6 forward is tied for second on the team in scoring with 15 points (7G, 8A) alongside captain Brayden Klimpke and forward Kazden Mathies. Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Cooper Williams registered the lone assist on the goal, giving him the most points on the Blades this season at 16 (6G, 10A). The helper also extended Williams' point streak to four games (2G, 2A) Martin cut Calgary's lead in half with 8:23 remaining in regulation. The right-handed shot sent a point-shot clean past Tu after the puck found his stick off a Hitmen shot block. Martin's first goal of the season came unassisted. Martinuik tied the game 4-4 five minutes later with his second goal of the campaign. It was a clutch goal from Blades 15th overall pick in the 2025 Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft, scoring in his final game before going Oakville, ON to represent Team Canada White at the U17 Hockey Challenge. Leaving with Kain to serve as the Head Coach for Team Canada Red, DaSilva says he knows the team is in good hands in he and Martinuik's absence. "It's a huge honour to represent your country. I'm really looking forward to it. It's a little strange, to be honest with you, to be leaving the guys here, but I know they're in great hands. The assistant coaches are going to do a great job. So I'm excited to get started, but I'm going to miss these guys for sure." With 1:27 remaining in regulation, Klimpke was assessed a two-minute minor for checking from behind. The penalty kill survived to guarantee a point in overtime and killed off the remaining 33 seconds at the start of the extra frame. Unable to maintain sustained possession of the puck, the league's leading goal scorer Carter Andersen netted the game-winning goal 3:42 into overtime. The Pittsburgh Penguins 2025 sixth-round pick finished the night with a goal and an assist, giving him 15 goals and six assists in 11 games. Fellow 2007-born forward Julien Maze earned his third assist of the night on the goal. The Blades search for the first win on the three-game Alberta road trip on Tuesday inside Marchant Crane Centrium at 7:00 p.m. MT against the Red Deer Rebels. Saskatoon's 0-1-1-0 on the swing. It's a chance at redemption for the Blue and Gold after losing 4-2 at home to Red Deer on October 2.