Blades Score Four-Unanswered Completing Comeback vs Wheat Kings
February 5, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
Saskatoon Blades' Trevor Wong celebrates win
(Saskatoon Blades)
Saskatoon, SK - Outside the glass the kids took over, while the kids inside came through clutch.
Jordan Keller and Jake Chiasson led the charge for the Saskatoon Blades 4-2 comeback vs the Brandon Wheat Kings at SaskTel Centre Sunday.
The Blades were down 2-0 at one point in the contest but delivered four-unanswered goals improving their record to 32-11-3-1.
Alternate captain Charlie Wright ignited kicked into another gear and the rest of the team followed suit.
It was another great performance by goalie Ethan Chadwick who earned his second consecutive victory with 21 saves. The hometown boy now rocks an admirable 15-7-1-1 record.
The Blue and Gold have strung together wins in four of their last five games, and continue making ground on the Eastern Conference's second place Red Deer Rebels. Saskatoon remains third in the conference with 68 points while the Rebels have 72, both with 48 games under their belt.
It was a tame start for both sides, each credited with seven shots heading down the tunnel. Play couldn't get started for either club past the neutral zones as both teams set in for a defence stalemate.
On the odd dangerous chance the Wheat Kings got, Chadwick continued his hot play between the pipes from last night vs the Winnipeg ICE.
All looked well-and-good for a 0-0 score after 20, but Wheat Kings forward Rhett Hyland became the buzz-kill. The 19-year-old sniper tucked his 23rd goal of the season with three seconds remaining in the first, sending Saskatoon into the dressing room down 1-0.
Soon to be WHL graduate Nolan Ritchie continued to dampen the mood with his 19th goal of the campaign 6:34 into the middle frame. From Brandon, MB., Ritchie has played his whole career in the black and gold, and is averaging over a point-per-game in his final season with 51 points in 47 games.
There was no way with hundreds of screaming children in the stands the Blades were going to let the vibes get low for long.
Alternate captain Charlie Wright has the Wheat Kings' number recently as he scored his second goal in two games vs the visitors. The Olds, AB. native shifted near the Wheat Kings blueline before driving a seeing-eye shot past goaltender Nicholas Jonas. "Chuck" as many like to call him scored the 2-1 overtime winner Tuesday at Westoba Place against the Wheat Kings with a beautiful end-to-end play. In his last six outings, good-guy Charlie has five points.
It was a massive goal for the Blue and Gold, paving the way for a third period comeback.
Nothing was more fitting than rookie Keller evening things up on Kids Takeover Night. The 2005-born winger was in prime position 7:28 into the final frame to tap home his eighth goal of the season on the rebound. Keller came into tonight pointless in his last six, and he still had lots of fuel in the tank to burn.
Former Wheat King Chiasson provided the game-winning tally last night vs the ICE, and gave Blades fans another for free. The Edmonton Oilers prospect took the breathe away from everyone inside the arena roofing a between-the-legs goal in tight on Jonas. Fans have to be excited with what they're seeing from the 6-foot-2 forward who's got four goals in his last five games, and finished the evening with three points. When the team returns to health Chiasson's presence is going to be felt that much more by teams in the league.
Keller saw his linemate's nasty goal and wanted to try one-up it himself. The Kamloops, BC. product put his head down and drove to the net with a brilliant power move sliding home his second of the night. Keller leads all rookies on the team in points with 20, and has proven to be a reliable player at both ends of the ice in his first WHL season.
Brandon got a few looks as the clock winded to zero, but Chadwick and company stood tall for their fifth win against the Wheat Kings this year. Saskatoon now leads the season series 5-0 with one more to play on Mar. 18th on home soil.
What's Next?
The Blades get one day of rest before finishing off their three-game home stretch against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Tuesday.
Game starts at 7:00pm.
Images from this story
 Saskatoon Blades' Trevor Wong celebrates win |
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