Blades Begin Eastern Conference Championship this Weekend
April 27, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
Saskatoon Blades celebrate a game seven victory
(Saskatoon Blades)
Saskatoon, SK - No words can describe how special this night was.
The Saskatoon Blades advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1994, defeating the Red Deer Rebels 5-2 in Game 7 on home-ice Tuesday.
Saskatoon joins the 2013 Kelowna Rockets and 1996 Spokane Chiefs as the only clubs to complete a reverse sweeping after trailing 3-0 in a series, and the first club to do it past the first round.
The Blades improved to 5-0 when facing elimination with a ton of the credit owed to rookie netminder Austin Elliott who was phenomenal stopping 23 of 25 shots in victory. The Strathemore, AB. product improves to 3-0 in his WHL playoff career in elimination games.
Nearly 10,000 Bridge City Faithful came out to support the club with no one left sitting for the final minutes of the third period and celebration that followed. On behalf of the entire organization, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you Blade City for a night we'll never forget.
Unlike games 5 and 6, it was the Rebels who found themselves on the scoresheet first. Saskatoon, SK. product Hunter Mayo went bar-down on rookie netminder Austin Elliott for his second of the postseason. In his second trip to the postseason, Mayo has four points in 12 games.
Dallas Stars prospect Conner Roulette hasn't had the best playoffs to his standards, but he came through in a clutch moment under three-minutes later. The Winnipeg, MB. product drove the net and shelved a gorgeous backhand past Rebels goalie Kyle Kelsey. Roulette hadn't scored since Game 3 in Round 1 vs the Regina Pats, but has the ability to score in bunches when he gets hot. The former Seattle Thunderbird's equalizer was the final goal of the period sending both sides to the dressing room locked at 1-1.
Move over Justin Williams, there's a new Game 7 master in hockey. 19-year-old blueliner Spencer Shugrue put the Blades in front 2-1 5:41 into the middle frame. The 5-foot-8 defender buried a rebound off the boards after a great chance by Roulette missed wide. Shugrue netted the opening goal in Game 7 vs Regina in Round 1 and continued his do-or-die brilliance in Round 2.
The Rebels tied it under two minutes later after another perfectly placed shit, this time by forward Ryker Singer. The Paradise Hills, SK. product's first of the postseason gives him two points in six games.
Mr. Game 7 himself Shugrue scored the ultimate game-winner for his second of the night 4:29 into the final 20-minutes. The Vancouver, BC. native has three career regular season goals in 125 games, matching that same number in his postseason career while tallying five points in 14 games.
Roulette wanted a pair for himself as well and notched the insurance marker less than a minute later. Roulette finished the night with three points, improving his stat line to three goals and six pints in 14 playoff games.
Rosetown, SK's own Vaughn Watterodt sent nearly 10,000 fans inside SaskTel Centre into a frenzy with an empty net goal, his fourth tally and tenth point of the playoffs.
What's Next
Round 3
The Saskatoon Blades get a couple days off before playing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs the Winnipeg ICE.
For the first time this postseason, Saskatoon doesn't own home-ice advantage with Game 1 at Wayne Fleming Arena Friday and Game 2 the following night.
The Blades return home for games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday next week, tickets going on sale Wednesday, Apr. 26th at 12:00pm.
Puck drop for both games at SaskTel Centre is 7:00pm.
Images from this story
 Saskatoon Blades celebrate a game seven victory |
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