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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Valiant Effort Not Enough to Get Past ICE

February 2, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Winnipeg, MB - Three different Blades scored but couldn't stop a second period onslaught, losing 5-3 against the Winnipeg ICE at Wayne Fleming Arena.

Blades forward Lukas Hansen opened the scoring in his hometown, while fellow forwards Egor Sidorov and Jake Chiasson found the net as well.

Don't let the score fool you because Saskatoon netminder Ethan Chadwick was outstanding tonight. The 19-year-old 'tendy denied 43 of 47 shots, the fifth goal being an empty netter. The 6-foot sophomore's record falls to 13-7-1-1, but his performance earned him third-star honours.

It was a fierce effort from the Blue and Gold who went toe-to-toe with the Eastern Conference's top team missing half-a-dozen key pieces in their lineup.

The Blades record drops to 30-12-3-1, still good for third in the Eastern Conference with 64 points.

Regardless of being outshot 20-8 in the first period, the Blades made the most of their opportunities. Winnipeg, MB. native Lukas Hansen found a wide open cage following a rebound from a Tanner Molendyk point-shot for his seventh of the season. The 5-foot-11 defensive center has 12 points in 45 games and is a +16 in his sophomore year. Hansen's goal shifted momentum in favour of Saskatoon for the remainder of the period, going into intermission up 1-0.

Blades forward Egor Sidorov shot out of a cannon on to the ice for the second period making it 2-0 just 1:55 into the frame. A 3-on-1 opportunity presented itself to the Blades and Toronto Maple Leafs' draft pick Brandon Lisowsky made good on the cross-crease pass to Sidorov. The sniper from Vitebsk, Belarus will not stop scoring, his team-leading 28th of the season giving him 12 goals in his last 13 games. The goal also extended the 6-foot winger's point streak to four games.

It was an important two-goal lead considering all the bodies out of the lineup for Saskatoon. That lead quickly vanished as the ICE began to take-off.

6-foot-3 center Zach Ostapchuk buried his 15th goal on the season on an ICE powerplay 11-minutes into the second. The St. Albert, AB. notched his 38th point of the year and lit a fire under the rest of his team going forward.

NHL draft-eligible forward Zach Benson scored just 17-seconds later to even things up 2-2. The ICE's leading scorer wasn't finished on the night, striking again later in the third period.

Just over three-minutes after the equalizer, Philadelphia Flyers sixth-rounder Connor McClennon potted his 25th goal of the campaign to give Winnipeg their first lead of the game. The WHL senior's tally gave his club a 3-2 edge heading into the final 20.

Winnipeg extended their lead on the man-advantage thanks to Benson's second goal of the evening 4:16 into the third. The NHL draft-eligible center finished the game with three points, leading the team with 69 points in 42 games this year.

The Blades didn't curl up and pack it in, instead they clawed their way back into the fight. Edmonton Oilers prospect Jake Chiasson tapped home his 12th of the season after a loose puck came free around Winnipeg goalie Mason Beaupit's crease. It took the Blades' trade deadline acquisition nine games to find his first goal with the club, but has two goals and one assist in three games since. Adding speed and size to the Blades roster, Chiasson improves his point total to 36 points in 48 games this season.

Chadwick headed to the bench with just over a minute remaining in the game putting six skaters on the ice to force their third straight overtime. They managed some offensive zone pressure, but McClennon sprawled free to finish with a pair of goals on the evening.

What's Next?

Goalie Night

The Blades are done in Manitoba for the regular season, but square off against the ICE one more time at SaskTel Centre Saturday for a chance at vengeance. Solid goaltending has treated the Blue and Gold all year and it's being celebrated with Goalie Night at the rematch.

Puck drop is 7:00pm.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2023


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