WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Clash With Division Foe Wheat Kings

Published on December 9, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


The Saskatoon Blades renew hostilities tonight with the red-hot Brandon Wheat Kings at Credit Union Centre. Game time is 7:05 pm.

Head-to-Head This is the first home matchup of the season for the Blades against the Wheat Kings. The teams have faced off three times already this season, all in the Keystone City.

The Wheat Kings blanked the Blades in the opening battle on October 3rd by a score of 3-0. In the rematch on November 13th, the Blades edged the Wheaties 4-3. Finally, this past Wednesday, the Wheat Kings scored four third period goals on way to a 7-2 victory over the Blades.

For the Bridge City Bunch, Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver, BC), with 1 goal and 3 assists, and Derek Hulak (Saskatoon, SK), with 2 goals and 1 assist, have led the way offensively in the three games. In between the pipes, Adam Morrison (White Rock, BC) has a 1-1 record with a 5.10 goals against average and a.870 save percentage. Steven Stanford (Calgary, AB), meanwhile, has a 1-0 record with a 2.89 goals against average and a.942 save percentage.

On the Wheat Kings side, Colby Robak, with 3 goals and 3 assists, and Brayden Schenn, with 5 assists, have been the scoring leaders in the three games between the clubs. In goal, Andrew Hayes has compiled a 1-1 record with a 2.02 goals against average and a.926 save percentage. Jacob De Serres has played one game and has a 1-0 record with a 2.00 goals against average and a.938 save percentage.

Saskatoon Blades The Blades (21-6-0-3, 45 points, 1st in East Division, 2nd in Eastern Conference) come into tonight's game having lost three out of their last four contests following a streak of thirteen straight games having earned a point. The team last played on Saturday evening in Red Deer, falling 5-1 to the Rebels. Walker Wintoneak (Flin Flon, MB) scored the lone goal for the Blades while Morrison made 41 saves in defeat.

Hulak is the leading scorer for the Blades with 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points on the season. Wintoneak, with 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points, is second on the team. Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver, BC) is third on the team with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points which puts the third-year rearguard seventh in scoring amongst WHL defensemen.

Wintoneak has 16 goals this season, tops for the team in that category.

The Blades have a pair of players near the top of the WHL penalty minutes list. Randy McNaught (Nanaimo, BC) leads the team and is second overall in the WHL with 96 penalty minutes on the season. Darian Dziurzynski (Lloydminster, AB) is second on the team and third overall in the league with 92 penalty minutes.

The WHL plus/minus top 10 sees five Blades on the list in Elliott (4th - +20), Sam Klassen (Watrous, SK) (T-5th - +19), Hulak (T-5th - +19), Wintoneak (T-8th - +18), and Gaelan Patterson (Saskatoon, SK) (T-8th - +18).

In goal, Morrison has made 18 appearances this season and has a 10-5-0-3 record with a 2.80 goals against average (7th in the WHL), and a.910 save percentage (T-6th in the WHL). Stanford has made 15 appearances and is 11-3-0-0 on the season to go along with a 2.19 goals against average (2nd in the WHL) and a.919 save percentage (T-3rd in the WHL).

The Blades are 18th in the WHL in power play efficiency having converted on 16.7% of opportunities with the man power advantage. While shorthanded this season the team is ranked 3rd in the WHL, having killed off 85.1% of shorthanded chances.

Brandon Wheat Kings The Wheat Kings (20-11-0-2, 42 points, 2nd in East Division, 3rd in Eastern Conference) enter tonight's game having won six of their last seven games. The team last played on Saturday evening in Regina, beating the Pats by a 6-4 score.

Schenn, a Saskatoon product, leads the Wheaties and is fifth in WHL scoring with 13 goals and 32 assists for 45 points. Matt Calvert, eighth in the WHL scoring, is second on the team with 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points. Jay Fehr is third in team scoring with 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points. Robak leads the team's defensemen and is tied for fourth amongst WHL rearguards with 7 goals and 23 assists for 30 points. Meanwhile, freshman Toni Rajala is fifth in WHL rookie scoring with 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points on the season.

Calvert is tied for fifth in the league and is tops on the team with his 21 goals on the campaign.

Rookie Ryley Miller is Wheat Kings' leader in penalty minutes with 77 on the season.

Aaron Lewadniuk has the top plus/minus rating on the team at +21, which puts him tied for second in the WHL.

In between the pipes, Hayes has a 13-8-0-1 record on the season with a 2.96 goals against average and a.901 save percentage in 22 games played. De Serres, meanwhile, has a record of 7-5-0-1 to go along with a 3.49 goals against average and a.890 save percentage in 13 appearances this season.

The Wheat Kings are converting on the power play at a rate of 21.5% this season, ranking them 9th in the WHL. The team's penalty kill unit is working at a 73.9% clip this year, putting them 21st in the league.

Blades vs Wheat Kings Game sponsor for tonight's game is Home Depot. Be sure to check out the Home Depot "Race Around the World Contest" during the second intermission as we move that much closer to one lucky contestant winning tickets to the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game. Throughout the night, there will be tons of giveaways courtesy of Home Depot. Fans should also be sure to grab a pair of Home Depot "Thundersticks" when entering the building.

Tickets for tonight's game are available online at ticketmaster.ca, by calling 938-7800, or by stopping by any Ticketmaster outlet. The game is also being presented on the WHL on SHAW across Western Canada on SHAW TV and nationwide on Shaw Direct 'Channel 299'.

Following tonight's game, the Blades have just three home games remaining before the Christmas break. Fans can still purchase season tickets for the remainder of the season beginning at $229 for adults and $90 for you. Stop by the Blades' sales booth located behind Section A at Credit Union Centre for more information.

Finally, just one week remains before the Blades' fifth annual GlobalTV Toque Toss and $5 Ticket Night on Wednesday, December 16th when the Kelowna Rockets are in town. In an effort to keep the less fortunate citizens of Saskatoon warm this winter, fans are encouraged to bring toques, scarves, mittens, and other warm winter clothing to throw on the ice following the Blades' first goal of the night. The collected clothing will be donated to a host of local charities in conjunction with MD Ambulance. Game tickets for that night only will be $5. The special ticket rate is now available at the Credit Union Centre box office. The game also marks the first Budget Car & Truck Rental Raincheck Night of the year. Fans can bring any unused season tickets to the game and get in for just $2.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2009


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