WHL Saskatoon Blades

Chadwick Earns First Career Victory 4-3 over Warriors

Published on October 17, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


MOOSE JAW, SK - Ethan Chadwick recorded his first career win, Tristen Robins picked up a goal and an assist, and the Saskatoon Blades defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors 4-3 on Saturday night at Mosaic Place.

Egor Sidorov, Kyle Crnkovic, and Moritz Elias also scored for Saskatoon, and Charlie Wright picked up two assists.

It's the second win in as many nights for the Blades, who are now 4-1-1-0 on the season and just one point back of the Winnipeg ICE for first place in the East Division. The team collected five of a possible six points in three games over the last four nights.

Chadwick, born and raised in Saskatoon, took the game's third star after earning the victory in his first career start. San Jose Sharks prospect Robins was awarded first-star honours, following up a string of second-star performances, and pushes his multi-point scoring streak to five games.

The Clear Lake, MB product continues to lead the league in points, now up to 13 (3G-10A) on the season.

Ryder Korczak scored in the first period, while Cade Hayes and Jagger Firkus notched markers in the third for the Warriors, who fall to 3-3-0-0 on the year. Saskatoon's beaten Moose Jaw twice this season, and don a daunting 9-1-0-0 record against the Warriors on the road over the last five years.

Moose Jaw netminder Brett Mirwald allowed four goals on 19 shots to suffer his second loss in as many starts this season.

Korczak opened the scoring for the Warriors with a shorthanded marker 2:25 into the game. The New York Rangers prospect cut low behind a couple of Blades defenders before swooping in front of Chadwick and roofing his second of the season unassisted.

But the lead didn't last long. On the same powerplay opportunity, Robins ripped down the left side of the attacking zone, outmuscled Denton Mateychuk one-on-one, and deked around Mirwald to calmly pot his third of the campaign.

The Blades added another powerplay marker with just under four minutes to go in the first. Elias, the Blades second-round selection from the 2021 CHL Import Draft, snapped a hard shot from the left circle over the glove-hand of Mirwald. It was the first career goal for the German winger, and fourth Blade to light the lamp for the first time in the last four games.

Saskatoon went into the first intermission leading 2-1, and narrowly outshot by a 9-8 margin.

In the second, alternate captain Kyle Crnkovic added to the Blades lead with the team's third powerplay marker of the night. Minutes after ringing a hard shot off the post, the sniper went bar-down on Mirwald from the right faceoff dot to push the Blades lead to 3-1.

Crnkovic has collected multi-point performances in three of six games this season, and is the lone Blade to have points in all six contests this year.

Complimenting the team's ability to capitalize on the powerplay was Chadwick's calm demeanor between the pipes. After allowing the game's opening marker, the pride of Saskatoon was flawless with 17 saves through 40 minutes.

Moose Jaw answered back in the third period with back-to-back goals 1:35 apart to tie the game 3-3, but Blades import Egor Sidorov regained the Blades lead with less than six minutes to go.

Moose Jaw fumbled a clearing attempt that wound up on Brendan Lee's stick in the corner. Lee fed the puck towards the net, where Sidorov was parked with enough room to deflect it overtop Mirwald. Sidorov's second goal in as many games would serve as the game-winner.

The Warriors pressed in the final few minutes of play, but Chadwick and company locked down defensively and cruised to their fourth victory of the campaign.

Special teams continued to excel for the Blue & Gold, going 3-for-4 on the powerplay and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Saskatoon will now enjoy six days off, with their next game coming in Regina against Connor Bedard and the Pats next Friday.

NOTE: The Blades were lacking the help of two of their top defenders. Alternate captain Rhett Rhinehart and former first-round pick Tanner Molendyk did not dress due to day-to-day injuries. Forward Jayden Wiens returned to action after serving a two game suspension and collected an assist on Robins' first-period goal. Saskatoon has scored four goals or more in five straight games, and are tied for third in goals scored across the WHL with 23 this season.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2021


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.

OurSports Central