Blades captain Saunderson commits to Quinnipiac University

Saskatoon, Sask.- Saskatoon Blades Captain Ben Saunderson has announced his commitment to Quinnipiac University.

The veteran defenceman will join the Quinnipiac Bobcats hockey program for the 2025-26 season upon completing his WHL eligibility.

Saunderson, 20, has two goals and 15 assists for 17 points and a +6 rating in 27 games with the Eastern Conference-leading Blades.

He’s tied for third in assists among all Blades skaters and sits second in points by a Blades rearguard.

The 6-foot-1, 189-pound blueliner has played parts of five seasons with the Blades since being drafted by Saskatoon in the fifth round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft.

He’s amassed eight goals and 60 assists for 68 points and a +48 rating over 219 career regular season games.

The Carberry, Man. product helped Saskatoon complete its first 50-win season since 2010-11 and clinch the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the 2023-24 Regular Season Champions.

Saunderson added another two goals and seven assists as the Blades reached Game 7 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Championship.

Ben Saunderson with the dramatic OT winner to take Game 2 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/NqmXtsC7YJ

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 15, 2024

He was also a part of the Blades squad that reverse-swept the Red Deer Rebels in the second round of the 2023 WHL Playoffs.

Saunderson was named the 63rd Captain in Blades history on October 1, 2024.

Saskatoon (17-6-2-2) sits atop the East Division and the Eastern Conference with points in five straight games.

The Blades will hit the road for a tilt against Gavin McKenna and the Central Division-leading Medicine Hat Tigers (16-13-1-0) on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. MST.