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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Split Weekend Series, Fall 7-3 to Oil Kings

September 18, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


SASKATOON, SK - The Edmonton Oil Kings are heading back to Alberta's capital on winning terms.

Carter Souch scored twice and added three assists, leading the Oil Kings to a 7-3 victory over the Saskatoon Blades at SaskTel Centre on Saturday afternoon, splitting the two-game series.

Saskatoon's goals came off the sticks of Carter Streek, Brendan Lee and Charlie Wright - all of which in the third period.

Ethan Chadwick and Nolan Maier split time in the Blades crease, with Chadwick making 13 saves and Maier stopping five. Saskatoon's preseason record now sits at 1-1-0-0 with Edmonton improving to 2-1-0-0.

Despite the result on the scoreboard, Saskatoon outshot Edmonton 34-25, including 17-5 in the final frame. Kolby Hay made 31 saves to earn the victory for the Oil Kings.

It took Souch just 46 seconds to open the scoring, collecting a cross-slot pass from Jacob Boucher and wiring it over the glove of Chadwick. The two Oil Kings added to the lead roughly three minutes later - Boucher's long point-shot deflected off Souch's stick in the high-slot and fooled the Blades rookie 'tender, giving Edmonton a 2-0 lead.

Edmonton capitalized on a 5-on-3 powerplay with 5:34 remaining in the opening frame, stretching the lead to three. Parked to Chadwicks left, Logan Dowhaniuk finished off a pretty play to notch his first of the pre-season.

Edmonton outshot Saskatoon 13-4 in the first period, and continued its offensive charge into the second frame.

Souch and Boucher each notched their fourth points of the afternoon on a shorthanded rush, with Boucher collecting a pass in front and snapping home his fourth goal in three games. Defenceman Ross Stanley gave the Oil Kings a 5-0 lead midway through the middle frame after his long shot found its way through a mess of bodies in front of Chadwick.

Brendan Kuny and Dowhaniuk both collected powerplay markers ahead of the intermission, giving Edmonton a commanding 7-0 lead with 20 minutes to play.

Nolan Maier relieved Chadwick of duties to start the third.

Sophomore forward Carter Streek broke Hay's bid for a shutout 1:45 into the final frame, notching his first career preseason goal. Eight minutes later, Brendan Lee added another for the home team, one-timing a hard slapshot from the slot on the powerplay. Lee leads the Blades in preseason scoring, having notched a pair of goals over the two games.

Charlie Wright, who's eligible to be drafted into the NHL next summer, picked up his first preseason tally with just under five minutes remaining. The Olds, AB product cut into the high slot and found a hole overtop the glove hand of Hay, cutting the Oil Kings lead to 7-3.

Saskatoon will now turn its attention to next weekend's two-game series against the Raiders. The crew will head to Prince Albert on Friday, followed by their final preseason match on Saturday in Warman. Both games begin at 7:00pm.

Tickets to Saturday's contest can be purchased at the Blades Business Office, or at the Legends Centre in Warman.

2021-22 season ticket memberships are now on sale for as low as $17 per game for adults, and $5 for children. Single-game tickets are also now on sale.

Be sure to contact one of our ticket associates by calling/texting (306) 975-8844, or shoot us an email at info@saskatoonblades.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from September 18, 2021


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