Win Streak Snapped at Five – Big Win off ice
Brandon, MB – Tristan Robins scored twice and added an assist as the Saskatoon Blades wrapped up a five-game road trip with a 5-2 victory in Brandon on Friday night.
The Blades scored three unanswered in the third period, on route to their 28th victory of the season.
“There were parts of our game I liked tonight, but we were too soft in the defensive zone and around our net,” said Head Coach Don MacGillivray. “Our powerplay wasn’t ready to go tonight and to me, that cost us the hockey game. This is a disappointing loss, I thought we would have a little more intensity than we did but for whatever reason, it just wasn’t there.”
Nate Danielson and Marcus Kallionkieli scored for Brandon, but the Wheat Kings failed to convert on a double-minor late in the hockey game, a turning point in the mind of Captain Ridly Greig.
“We worked hard tonight but it really came down to that powerplay,” Greig told the Bounce FM Post-Game Show. “We had a double minor and we didn’t bury. Its the most frustrating thing when you have a grade ‘A’ chance and we miss the net or their goalie makes the save. We couldn’t score tonight, and Maier was great.”
The frustrating night around the net was an emotion echoed by MacGillivray.
“We had some empty net tap-ins tonight, and we have to do better and put them home. Its a sign that we weren’t competitive enough. It all starts in the defensive end, we weren’t hard enough and we weren’t physical enough and it leaks into all aspects of the game.”
The Yorkton born Maier kicked aside 28 shots, while Ethan Kruger made 25 saves in the losing effort.
The Blades leave Brandon with three of a possible four points this week, and move into sole possesion of 5th place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.
Off the ice, the Wheat Kings have already raised over $8,000 for Cancer Care Manitoba with the continued Jersey auction and raffle. Jersey auction continues until Sunday.
It was also announced during a special pre game ceremony that the Wheat Kings and J and G Group of companies is donating $10,000 to Grizzlys gifts. A non for profit charity featuring Grizzly, a 150 lb Saint Bernard therapy dog.
Connor Bedard will make his Westoba Place debut on Wednesday when the Regina Pats come to town. The former teammate of Greig at the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship currently leads the Pats in scoring with 60 points.
“Connor is a real elite player and I expect nothing but a show on Wednesday night,” said Greig. “I’ve told our guys that we have to be hard on him. With a guy that skilled, we have to be under his skin and frustrate him and take him out of his game.”
Tickets are on-sale now at the Keystone Centre Box Office or ONLINE. Fans who can’t make it to the game can hear all the action with Crowe and Pete on Bounce 96.1. The Drummonds Farm Services pre-game show begins at 6:45.
