Sports stats



WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Handed 5-1 Loss from Rebels

January 28, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Red Deer Rebel's Craig Armstrong hits the glass
Red Deer Rebel's Craig Armstrong hits the glass
(Saskatoon Blades)

Red Deer, AB - Egor Sidorov scored the Saskatoon Blades only goal Friday in a 5-1 loss against the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavey Mart Centrium.

The score doesn't paint an accurate picture about the play itself as the Blades outshot their opponent 35-27 with several high-danger chances.

It's the first time the Blue and Gold have dropped a game to the Rebels this season with one left to play in Saskatoon at SaskTel Centre.

Red Deer hands the Bridge City Bunch their second straight loss, dropping their record to 28-11-3-1.

Blades netminder Ethan Chadwick got the nod in net debuting a brand-new set of golden goalie equipment, and they were shining bright early.

Red Deer turned the pressure up early resulting in the opening goal 3:34 into the game. Rebels' leading point-man Kai Uchacz sent home his 37th goal of the campaign to give the home side an early 1-0 lead.

That goal jolted the Blades into the game, bringing physicality and multiple dangerous chances for the visitors into first intermission. No Blue and Gold member was able to solve Rebels' netminder Kyle Kelsey and headed to the dressing room down a goal.

The second period is where everything went off the rails.

It's a sight nobody ever wants to see about 5:30 into the middle frame. Blades forward Justin Lies was taken off the ice on a stretcher following a hit from Rebels' winger Carson Birnie. The Red Deer rookie was assessed a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct.

Justin is stable and awaiting observation at Red Deer Hospital. He's alert, in good spirits and thanks everyone for their concern and well wishes.

Obviously with the well-being of Lies on their mind, the period got away from the Bridge City Bunch.

Forward Kalan Lind scored his 15th of the season at the 12:09 mark, making it 2-0 for the home side.

Under a minute later, Rebels' forward Dwayne Jean Jr. got touches on a sky-high puck for his fifth of the campaign. Defenceman Christoffer Sedoff was initially credited with the goal off his point shot, but was changed at the beginning of the third. The goal was also initially waved off for goaltender interference, but after review was deemed a good goal.

Heading to the man-advantage, WHL senior Ben King extended Red Deer's lead to 4-0. The 6-foot-3 center has 13 points in just nine games this season tallying 105 in a full 68-game slate last year. Rookie goalie Austin Elliott entered the crease, marking an end to Chadwick's night. There was plenty of work in front of the Blades heading into the final 20 down by four.

Despite some great pressure from Saskatoon, Red Deer was the next club to put one on the board. Uchacz was denied on a shot off the rush thanks to a Tanner Molendyk block, but roofed his own rebound for his second of the game. A De Winton, AB. native, Uchacz has a 38 goals and 63 points in 45 games this season.

It was looking like Kelsey was en route for his second shutout of the season, but Blades forward Egor Sidorov had other plans. The NHL draft-eligible winger turned on the jets and cruised past the Rebels back end before rifling the puck past Kelsey. No goalie is safe from the Vitebsk, Belarus product who now has eight goals in his last seven. In 32 games, the Blades sniper leads his team with 26 goals and is second at 46 points only behind alternate captain Trevor Wong who has 55.

After an emotional game, neither team found a way to bury another giving the Rebels their 32nd win of the season.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics




Images from this story

Red Deer Rebel's Craig Armstrong hits the glass
Red Deer Rebel's Craig Armstrong hits the glass
   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Saskatoon Blades Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central