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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades and Oil Kings Clash in Crucial Matchup

March 7, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


The Saskatoon Blades are in Edmonton, Alberta tonight, taking on the Edmonton Oil Kings in the biggest game for the franchise in 3 years. Sitting 7 points back of the Oil Kings for the final wildcard spot, in the east, this game could very well vault the Blades within inches of the playoffs.

3 weeks ago, the young Blades squad found themselves 13 points back of this final spot with no one giving the team much a hope. Fast forward to March 7th and it comes to this, the final Blades game to be played at Rexall Place, and everything on the line. The hockey gods wouldn't have it any other way.

Though a loss would not eliminate the Blades from playoff contention, it is near must-win for the Blades. The puck drops at 8PM Sask time. Follow along on twitter or through the Blades app. Find the game notes below.

OFF THE TOP: Saskatoon and the Edmonton meet on Monday in a crucial matchup to determine the playoff picture. The Blades are coming off of a 4-1 win over the Kootenay Ice on Saturday. Ryan Graham scored twice for the Blades while Logan Christensen and Connor Gay added the other goals. Brock Hamm rebounded well and made 25 saves in the win.

OIL KINGS vs. BLADES: This is the fourth and final meeting of the season between the Oil Kings and the Blades. The Blades are 1-2-0-0 this season against Edmonton with the season series score at 9-4 in favour of the Oil Kings. The two teams last met on November 28th in Saskatoon when the Oil Kings came away with the 3-1 victory. Brandon Baddock, Andrew Koep, and Colton Kehler scored for Edmonton while Terrell Draude scored the lone goal for Saskatoon.

15-16 SEASON SERIES

LEADING SCORERS: SAS - SLOBOSHAN (3GP-1G-2A) | EDM - BADDOCK (3GP-2G-1A)

GOALTENDING: SAS - HAMM (0-1-0-0) GAA: 3.08 SV%: .917 | EDM - DEA (2-0-0-0) GAA: 1.00 SV%: .968

SPECIAL TEAMS: SAS - 0/15 (0.0%) | EDM - 2/11 (18.2%)

FINDING HIS STRIDE: Ryan Graham seems to have found his scoring touch late into this season. Since only scoring in 3 games in the previous 3 months, Graham has recorded a point in seven his of his past nine games, amassing 10 goals total in that span including a hat trick last Friday night against Regina. The Blades are 8-3-2-0 when Graham scores this year. The Calgary native has 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points in 64 games played this season.

FOUR POINT GAME: This game is as big as it gets for both teams tonight. The Oil Kings currently hold the final wildcard spot in the east, a spot which the Blades are trying to chase down, being 7 points out. This game will all but determine the teams fates for the playoffs.

ALUMNI UPDATE: Former Blades captain, Brett Stovin and defenceman Adam Henry were selected to the Canada West Men's Hockey All-Rookie team on Monday. Stovin, a native of Stony Mountain, Manitoba, recorded 68 goals and 58 assists in 263 career games played for the Blades and served as captain for the 2014-2015 season. He has 12G-14A for 26 PTS in 28 games this year with the University of Manitoba. Adam Henry, a Winnipeg native, played 32 games for the Blades during the 2014-2015 season, recording 3 goals and 18 assists. Henry, also playing with the University of Manitoba, has 2G-12A in 28 games played for the Bisons.

ON THE LIST: Bob MacKenzie released his mid-season rankings for the 2016 NHL Draft and Libor Hajek came in at #27. Hajek has been ranked in the top 30 on most lists throughout the season and looks poised to be a 1st round pick in June. MacKenzie's ranking of Hajek also has him as the 3rd ranked player from the WHL behind Kale Clague and Dillon Dube. Hajek currently has 3G-22A in 61 games played for the Blades.

MAJOR MILESTONE: Blades captain Nick Zajac played in his 300th career game in the WHL late last month, all with the Blades. Zajac is now one of nine Blades to ever reach the 300 game plateau in the 53 year history of the team. Zajac has 52 goals, and 93 assists in his WHL and Blades career. If Zajac plays in all7 remaining games for the Blades, he will move into 4th place on the Blades all-time games played list.

MILESTONES/STREAKS:

Ryan Graham has 16 points (10G-6A) in his past 10 games.

Connor Gay has 14 points (6G-8A) in his past 8 games.

Cameron Hebig has 14 points (5G-9A) in his past 7 games.

Braylon Shmyr has 8 points (2G-6A) in his past 10 games.

Dustin Perillat has 10 points (3G-7A) in his past 12 games.

AGE BREAKDOWN:

1995 (3): Nick Zajac, Colton Waltz, Connor Gay

1996 (2): Ryan Graham, Bryton Sayers

1997 (9): Brock Hamm, Mason McCarty, Cam Hebig, Nikita Soshnin, Terrell Draude, Wyatt Sloboshan, Dustin Perillat, Braylon Shmyr, Evan Smith

1998 (4): Nolan Reid, Luke Gingras, Libor Hajek, Anthony Bishop

1999 (5): Cameron Hausinger, Josh Paterson, Lukus MacKenzie, Logan Christensen, Jake Kustra

2000 (1): Payton McIsaac

GEOGRAPHICAL BREAKDOWN:

SK (9): Brock Hamm, Terrell Draude, Connor Gay, Cam Hebig, Nolan Reid, Bryton Sayers, Wyatt Sloboshan, Jake Kustra, Dustin Perillat

AB (6): Ryan Graham, Lukus MacKenzie, Mason McCarty, Josh Paterson, Braylon Shmyr, Colton Waltz

MB (2): Nick Zajac, Logan Christensen

BC (2): Anthony Bishop, Luke Gingras

AK (1): Cameron Hausinger

CO (1): Evan Smith

RUS (1): Nikita Soshnin

CZE (1) : Libor Hajek

LEADING SCORERS:

Connor Gay: 63GP-23G-43A-66PTS

Cameron Hebig: 52GP-25G-37A-62PTS

Nick Zajac: 65GP-17G-28A-45PTS

Ryan Graham: 64GP-21G-23A-44PTS

Wyatt Sloboshan: 59GP-16G-22A-38PTS

Braylon Shmyr: 55GP-17G-16A-33PTS

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2016


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