WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Announce Leadership Group for 2021-22 Season

Published on September 29, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


SASKATOON, SK - The Saskatoon Blades are pleased to announce the four members of the team's leadership group for the 2021-22 regular season.

Defenceman and career-Blade Aidan De La Gorgendiere will have the "C" stitched to his chest as team captain, taking over from graduate Chase Wouters. The Langley, BC product will be joined by WHL veterans Rhett Rhinehart and Evan Patrician, along with forward Kyle Crnkovic on the leadership group as alternate captains.

Aidan De La Gorgendiere - Captain

Defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere becomes the 60th captain in the Blades 57-year history. This comes one year after the Langley, BC product served as an alternate captain to Chase Wouters in the 2021 Hub Season, where he notched 12 points (2G-10A) in 18 games.

Selected in the 1st round, 5th overall in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, De La Gorgendiere has represented the Blades organization with dedicated leadership and an unwavering work ethic. In three full WHL seasons, the dependable blueliner has notched six goals 39 assists for 45 career points over 129 games - all of which with the Pacman on his sweater.

As a 2002-born player, De La Gorgendiere has two seasons of WHL eligibility remaining.

Rhett Rhinehart - Alternate Captain

A product of Lloydminster, AB, Rhett Rhinehart enters his final year in the WHL as a new member of the leadership group. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound defenceman will be a key piece to this year's blueline, and is fresh off a two-week stay with the Colorado Avalanche after receiving a free-agent invite to training camp.

Rhinehart led all Blades defenders in scoring last season, piling up 16 points (5G-11A) in 21 games. This includes a hat-trick on April 15th - his dad's birthday - against the Regina Pats. He also led the team with a +14 rating.

Rhinehart has spent time with three different teams over his five-year WHL career. Drafted by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 1st round (13th overall) in 2016, the Yale Hockey Academy alumnus was sent to the Prince George Cougars in January of 2018. Two years later, while the team was traveling through Saskatchewan on a road trip, Rhinehart joined the Blades via trade.

Kyle Crnkovic - Alternate Captain

The Blades' reigning scoring leader, Kyle Crnkovic, has become one of the WHL's most lethal point producers over the last two years. The speedy left-winger tallied a team-leading 32 points (10G-22A) in 24 games last season, placing him T-4th in the East Division scoring race and inside the top 10 league-wide. In the 2019-20 campaign, the 5-foot-7, 166-pound Chestermere, Alberta native led the team with 43 assists and added 21 goals for 64 points in 63 games.

Crnkovic is also the last person to score a regular-season goal at SaskTel Centre, having notched the overtime winner against the Regina Pats on March 7th, 2020.

The talent the 2002-born forward exemplifies on the ice is complimented with his comradery inside the locker room, built over the course of his four-year career. The former first-round selection has two more seasons of WHL eligibility remaining.

Evan Patrician - Alternate Captain

Entering his final year of WHL eligibility, Patrician is also a new addition to the Blades leadership group. The veteran centre has consistently improved on his stat-line every season over his five-year career. Last season, the Calgary, AB product racked up eight points (4G-4A) and added 17 penalty minutes in 21 games.

Drafted by the Vancouver Giants in the seventh round in 2016, Patrician joined the Blades via trade in January of 2020 - the same trade which sent forward Eric Florchuk to the west coast. In 137 career games, Patrician has tallied nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound centreman has also caught fire at the faceoff dot this preseason, winning at an impressive 72.6% rate over four preseason games.

The four members of the leadership team, along with the rest of the Saskatoon Blades roster, will open the 2021-22 regular season on Friday in Moose Jaw, battling the Warriors at Prospera Place at 7:00pm. The two squads will reconvene at SaskTel Centre on Saturday in the Blades home opener with the same start time. All games will be broadcast on 600 CJWW Radio and WHL Live, featuring the voice of the Blades Les Lazaruk.

2021-22 season ticket memberships are now on sale for as low as $17 per game for adults, and $5 for children. Single-game tickets are also now on sale, and can be found HERE for purchase.

Be sure to contact one of our ticket associates by calling/texting (306) 975-8844, or shoot us an email at info@saskatoonblades.com.

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