WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Keep Pre-Season Train Rolling with Win in Prince Albert

September 7, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Prince Albert, SK - The Saskatoon Blades improved to 4-0 on the exhibition schedule with a 6-3 win over the Prince Albert Raiders on Thursday night at the Art Hauser Centre.

Josh Paterson opened the scoring in the second period with a short-handed tally. The goal came 6:24 into the middle frame and was unassisted. Minutes later on a Saskatoon power play Brad Goethals tipped in a one-time shot from Michael Farren who was set up by Kirby Dach.

The Blades then ran into some penalty trouble as Riley McKay was assessed 4 minutes of penalty time-- 2 for charging and 2 for unsportsmanlike. Saskatoon then got caught up in a line change and got called for too-many-men giving the Raiders a full 2 minutes 5-on-3. The Raiders struck early, but remained on the two-man advantage as the goal scored only negated McKay's first minor. The home side scored again to tie the game at 2-2 after a scramble near Dorin Luding in the Blades' crease.

Saskatoon managed to answer back later in the period on a power play of their own. Kirby Dach took a cross-ice feed from Riley McKay and then banked a centering pass intended for Josh Paterson off a Raider defender and in. The goal was Dach's first of the pre-season, and second point of the game.

The third period was all Saskatoon. Michael Farren scored 1:11 into the period and then 1:15 later Braden Plaschewsky got in on the fun. The 16-year-old Plaschewsky was set up by Randen Schmidt from behind the goal; Tristen Robins had the secondary assist.

Brad Goethals tallied once more for his second of the game and third point of the night to put the blue & gold up 6-2. Linemate Kirby Dach (2G, 1A) also finished with a 3-point evening.Prince Albert did strike once more, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Veteran netminder Dorin Luding earned his second win of the pre-season making 16 saves while Prince Albert's Donovan Buskey went 17/23 at the other end.

Saskatoon's power play had a decent showing at 2/6 on the night while the penalty killers went 4/6 with one short-handed marker.

The two rivals are set to meet again on Saturday in Warman at the Legends Centre. Tickets are on sale now at the Blades office and at the Legends Centre in Warman for $10 with all proceeds going towards Warman Minor Hockey.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from September 7, 2018


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