Saskatoon Blades announce leadership group for 2021 season
SASKATOON, SK — The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce the four members of their leadership group for the 2021 regular season ahead of Saturday’s season opener against the Swift Current Broncos.
Pending WHL graduate Chase Wouters will wear the ‘C’ for the third straight year as captain, joined by fellow overage forward Caiden Daley, 2002-born defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere, and 2001-born forward Tristen Robins.
Chase Wouters — Captain
21-year-old Wouters becomes the first three-year captain in the Blades 57-year franchise history. Originally from Lloydminster, Alta., Wouters is entering his fifth and final campaign with the blue and gold. In the two previous seasons as captain, the 6-foot-0, 180-pound centreman has combined for 107 points (41G-66A) over 131 games. To date, the career-Blade has piled up 159 points (65G-94A) in 259 games over the four previous campaigns. Wouters was drafted by Saskatoon in the 1st round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Entry Draft, 19th overall, and has also represented Canada on the international stage several times, competing in the 2016-17 World Under-17 Hockey Canada for Team Canada Black, and the Hlinka-Gretzky Under-18 Championship in 2018.
Wouters also represented Team WHL in the coveted CIBC Canada/Russia Series in November of 2019, and has captured numerous team accolades over the years, including Hardest Worker and Community Minded awards for last season. League-wide, Wouters was also named the WHL’s Eastern Conference Scholastic Player of the Year following the 2017-18 campaign.
Away from the rink, Wouters has also exemplified many of the qualities which make up a great leader, spearheading several fundraisers within the community. Most notably, he partnered with Nutrien for the ‘Face-Off for Hunger’ campaign, helping raise more than $10,000 for the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre.
Caiden Daley — Alternate Captain
Like his two fellow alternate captains, Caiden Daley has been given a letter for the first time in his WHL career. The Winnipeg, MB product took a unique path to wind up in Saskatoon, playing his first three seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings. The speedy centreman was traded to the Regina Pats in the early part of the 2019-20 season, and then acquired by the Blades at the trade deadline in January of 2020. Daley brings immense experience to the leadership ranks, having played 259 career games, and collecting 78 points (25G-53A) over that time. Following his trade from Regina last season, the 6-foot-1, 181-pound forward notched 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points over 22 games with the Blades.
Aidan De La Gorgendiere — Alternate Captain
The lone defenceman making up the four-member Leadership Group, 2002-born Aidan De La Gorgendiere will be a critical factor on the Blades back-end this season. Originally selected in the 1st round (5th overall) in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, the 6-foot-0, 188-pound rearguard has dressed in 111 career games, with 4 goals, 29 assists, and 33 points to his name. The pride of Abbotsford, BC took a massive step last season, increasing his offensive output from 5 assists the previous year, to 4 goals and 24 assists in 2019-20. With the departure of last year’s graduating defencemen, Nolan Kneen and Scott Walford, De La Gorgendiere will help lead a cavalry of young defenceman this season.
Tristen Robins — Alternate Captain
Drafted in the 2nd round (56th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Tristen Robins is back with the team after spending several weeks with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. The Clear Lake, MB native made his professional debut on February 7th as a member of the Barracuda, and dressed in his second pro contest the following night.
Robins is entering his third season with the Blades, and is looking to improve on his team-leading marks in goals (33) and points (73) from last year. Going unselected in his Bantam Draft year, the 19-year-old has catapulted himself into the realm of elite-level scorers in the WHL. He finished 5th in the Eastern Conference scoring race last season, and earned four individual team awards including Most Valuable Player. Robins was acquired by the Blades via trade with the Regina Pats at the trade deadline in January of 2018.
The four members of the leadership group along with the rest of the team will open the 2021 regular season on Saturday, March 14th, battling the Swift Current Broncos from the Brandt Centre in Regina.
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All Blades games will be broadcast on WHL Live. Season and Flex ticket members are eligible for a discounted pass. Please check your email inbox or contact the Blades office to redeem. Games will also be broadcast on the radio at 98 COOL FM with the voice of the Blades, Les Lazaruk. Stay tuned for a list of establishments that will be showing the broadcasts.
