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Blades Face Stiff Challenge Against Warriors

November 3, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL) - Saskatoon Blades News Release


The Saskatoon Blades face a determined Moose Jaw Warriors team tonight in a rematch of Saturday's 4-3 Blades' victory. Game time at CUC is 7:05 pm.

Head-to-Head

Saturday's 4-3 victory by the Blades at the Crushed Can in Moose Jaw is lone meeting between the two hockey clubs this season. Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver, BC) had two goals to lead the way, while Charles Inglis (Saskatoon, SK) with a goal and an assist and Walker Wintoneak (Flin Flon, MB) had the other goals. Adam Morrison (White Rock, BC) made 29 saves in goal to claim the victory.

Saskatoon Blades

The Blades (13-3-0-2, 1st in East Division, 1st in Eastern Conference) enter tonight's game on a five-game winning streak and winners of 11 of their last 12 hockey games. On Sunday night, the Bridge City Bunch completed a three-game sweep of weekend games with a 3-1 road victory over the Swift Current Broncos. Jyri Niemi (Hameenkyro, Finland), Travis Toomey (Leduc, AB), and Gaelan Patterson (Saskatoon, SK) scored the Blades' goals in the victory, while Steven Stanford (Calgary, AB) turned aside 25 of 26 shots in between the pipes.

Overage forward Derek Hulak (Saskatoon, SK) is Blades' leading scorer with 9 goals and 18 assists for 27 points on the season, good enough for 5th in the Western Hockey League. Wintoneak is second on the Blades with 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points and is 8th in WHL scoring. Patterson is third on the Blades in scoring with 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points. Elliott, a third-year Blade, is tied for third in scoring among WHL defenseman on the season with 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points.

The Blades are led in goal scoring by the 20-year-old Wintoneak, who has 10 markers on the campaign.

The hometown Blades welcome right winger Randy McNaught (Nanaimo, BC), the WHL leader in penalty minutes with 70, back into the lineup after the third-year player served a five-game suspension. Darian Dziurzynski (Lloydminster, AB) is second in both the WHL and on the Blades with 62 penalty minutes.

In goal, Morrison has an 8-3-0-2 record in 13 appearances this season with a 2.50 goals against average (7th in the WHL), and a.913 save percentage. Stanford is 5-2-0-0 on the season with a 2.17 goals against average (2nd in the WHL) and a.912 save percentage in 7 games played.

The Blades' power play is currently working at a 13.1% conversion rate this season, 20th in the WHL. While shorthanded, the Blades have killed off 87.5% of situations while a man short, 2nd overall in the WHL.

Moose Jaw Warriors

The Warriors (11-6-0-0, 2nd in East Division, 3rd in Eastern Conference) last played in Saturday's game against the Blades, falling 4-3.

Jason Bast is the team leader in scoring with 14 goals and 9 assists for 23 points, putting him in a tie for 10th in the WHL. Veterans Brendan Rowinski (10-11-21) and Travis Hamonic (7-14-21) are tied for second on the team. Hamonic's 21 points are tops among WHL defensemen this season.

With 14 goals on the season, Bast is the team leader in that category and is 4th in the Western Hockey League.

Defensemen Dylan McIlrath and Ryan Stanton both have 37 penalty minutes on the season for the team lead.

Between the pipes, Jeff Bosch has appeared in 12 games this season, compiling an 8-4-0-0 record with a 3.20 goals against average and a.876 save percentage. Rookie Brandon Glover has seen action in 6 games this season, putting together a 3-2-0-0 record with a 3.75 goals against average and a.886 save percentage.

The Warriors feature the #2-ranked power play in the WHL, converting at a 28.0% rate on the season. The penalty kill unit is ranked 20th in the WHL, killing off 75.6% of shorthanded situations.

Tickets for tonight's game are available online at ticketmaster.ca, by calling 938-7800, or by visiting any Ticketmaster location.


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