WHL Saskatoon Blades

Game Notes: October 17 - Blades vs. Rebels

Published on October 17, 2014 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


OFF THE TOP: The Blades (2-6-0) open up a six-game homestand tonight against the Red Deer Rebels (3-5-1) at SaskTel Centre, looking to extend their winning streak to three. This is the first of four meetings between these two teams this season. In 2013-14, the Blades and Rebels split their four-game set, each winning a pair on the road and losing both at home. Adam Musil (4-5-9) and Brett Cote (0-9-9) lead the Rebels in scoring, both running at a point-per-game pace through nine games so far this season.

LAST TIME OUT: Cory Millette scored a pair, Sam McKechnie chipped in with a single (all three coming on the power-play) and Alex Moodie made 37 saves in a 4-3 shootout win over the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday, Oct. 15. After a scoreless overtime period, the game progressed to a shootout where, after eight rounds and seven spectacular saves by Moodie, Austin Adamson ended the drama, rifling a shot over the shoulder of Landon Bow for the game-winner.

OH HENRY: Collecting another two helpers on Wednesday at Swift Current, defenceman Adam Henry has now assisted on four of the last five Blades goals.

BETWEEN THE PIPES: Coming off a 37-save performance against the Broncos, Moodie is expected to get the start in goal, potentially playing in both tonight's game vs. Red Deer and Saturday's tilt with the defending Memorial Cup Champion Edmonton Oil Kings. ... Moodie, 19, appeared in 28 games last season with the Blades, posting a 7-18-2 record, a 4.29 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. The product of Winnipeg, MB, was then dealt to the Spokane Chiefs in May for a conditional fourth round pick in the 2016 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. The Chiefs exercised their option to return Moodie to Saskatoon, which also returns the draft choice back to Spokane. ... At the other end, the Rebels are expected to go with Rylan Toth, who has seen the bulk of the work this season in Red Deer, posting a 3-3-0 record, a 3.72 goals-against average and .871 save percentae in eight appearances.

INJURY REPORT: Ryan Graham (mono) has been cleared to play and will make his 2014-15 season debut tonight vs. Red Deer. He will skate on the top line alongside Cameron Hebig and Austin Adamson. Graham, 18, recorded 15 goals and eight assists for 23 points in 70 games last season.

AT A GLANCE:

2014-15 LEADING SCORERS:

Wyatt Sloboshan: 8GP-3G-3A-6PTS

Cory Millette: 8GP-4G-1A-5PTS

Adam Henry: 7GP-0G-5A-5PTS

2014-15 SPECIAL TEAMS:

The Blades connected for three goals on only four attempts with the man-advantage in Swift Current, jumping nine spots to eighth overall in power-play proficiency.

PP: 8-for-32, 21.9% (8th); PK: 35-for-46, 76.1% (18th)

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! The Blades announced their 2014-15 team captains on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at SaskTel Centre. Veteran winger Brett Stovin was named as the club's 55th captain in franchise history. Making his WHL debut in 2010, Stovin is currently in his fourth full season, appearing in 198 regular-season games - all with the Blades. The 19-year-old product of Stony Mountain, MB, has recorded a combined 38 goals and 78 points in his career. Stovin was originally drafted by the Blades in the fifth round - 90th overall - in 2009.

"Brett has proven himself as one of the most respected players in our locker room," Head Coach and General Manager Bob Woods said. "As a lifetime Blade, his commitment to our organization and to the city of Saskatoon is second to none. I could think of no one more deserving and I have no doubt he'll succeed in this role, continuing to speak up and provide unparralled leadership for our team both on and off the ice.

The Blades also announced that the alternate captaincy will be shared between Adam Henry, Nelson Nogier, Nick Zajac and Ryan Graham. Henry and Nogier will don the letters exclusively at home, while the latter pair will sport the A's on the road.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS: Reacquired defenceman Ryan Coghlan from the Prince Albert Raiders (Oct. 5); claimed forward Landon Welykholowa off waivers from the Calgary Hitmen (Oct. 3); released forward Ty Mappin, who will report to the Olds Grizzlies of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (Oct. 2); assigned goaltender Trevor Martin to Melville of the SJHL (Oct. 2); acquired goaltender Alex Moodie from the Spokane Chiefs, returning a conditional fourth round pick (Oct. 1); acquired defenceman Adam Henry from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for defenceman Turner Ottenbreit (Sept. 29); acquired defenceman Cole Bevan and a seventh round pick from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for defenceman Ayrton Nikkel (Sept. 29); released defenceman Tyler Dea and 20-year-old pivot Chase Clayton (Sept. 29); acquired right-winger Sam McKechnie from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for a conditional sixth round pick in 2015 (Sept. 25).

HEAD COACH BOB WOODS: Hired on Jun. 2, 2014, Bob Woods made his Western Hockey League coaching debut on Sept. 19 in Prince Albert, collecting his first win on Oct. 11, 3-2 over the the very same Raiders. Woods, 46 and a product of LeRoy, SK, brings 13 years of experience and a championship-winning pedigree to the City of Bridges. He won a Calder Cup as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears back in 2006, and again in 2009 after being promoted to the head-coaching position. Joining the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League as an assistant later that spring, he helped guide the club to a pair of Southeast Division titles and the 2009-10 Presidents' Trophy with a 54-15-13 record for 121 points. As a player/assistant coach in 1999, Woods won a Kelly Cup with the ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves. Assuming the full-time head-coaching position back in 2001, he led the Wolves to 179 wins in 288 regular-season games, emerging as a championship contender in each of his four seasons behind the bench.

Woods was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2012.

Reunited with Bruce Boudreau, with whom he'd be coaching for nearly a decade, Woods spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the NHL heavyweight Anaheim Ducks.

CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT: The Saskatoon Blades will be joining the fight against cancer this Saturday, Oct. 18 against the Edmonton Oil Kings at SaskTel Centre.

As part of the initiative, the Blades will be debuting a special-edition, one-off jersey to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research, as well as to honour those who have lost their battle with cancer of all types. Accenting the primary logo, which features a unique Blades crest and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation ribbon, the bottom of the sweater will include the names of friends and family members of the Blades and season ticket holders who have been affected by the illness, all as a special tribute to the cause.

The game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off during and after the game, with the proceeds benefitting the C95 Radio Marathon for Breast Cancer Research. All money raised will be donated to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, funding a number of local research projects.

The Blades will also be supporting the campaign by skating on pink ice at SaskTel Centre, which will be converted from the traditional white canvas following Friday's game against the Red Deer Rebels. Fans are encouraged to support the cause and help us 'Pink the Rink' by wearing pink attire to the game.

Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.ca and the SaskTel Centre box office.

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