WHL Saskatoon Blades

Game Preview: Blades at Raiders

Published on March 29, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


GAME PREVIEW | Blades @ Raiders Mar 29th 2021, 12:45

Saskatoon Blades (6-0-1-0) @ Prince Albert Raiders (3-3-1-1)

Date | Time Monday, March 29th | 4:00pm MT

Place Brandt Centre, Regina, SK

Video Stream WHL Live

Radio 98 COOL FM | Pre-Game Show w/ Les Lazaruk @ 3:50pm CT

Mobile App Apple | Android

What's Next Wednesday, March 31st vs. Winnipeg ICE (8:00pm)

Social Media @BladesHockey| Facebook | Instagram

Hub Season 50/50

Tonight

After a weekend away from the rink, the Saskatoon Blades look to continue its historic start to the 2021 season, battling the Prince Albert Raiders at the Brandt Centre in Regina. The Blades are coming off their fifth straight victory, and seventh in eight games to start the campaign - earning 15 of a possible 16 points.

This is recognized as the organization's best eight-game start in 57 years of existence. Saskatoon's blazing hot start comes thanks to a by-committee approach to offense, with seven players averaging a point-per-game or better. With scoring contributions from five different players, the Blades throttled the Regina Pats most recently on Friday 7-3.

Tale of the Tape

This is the second of four contests between the two rivals. Saskatoon knocked off the Raiders 3-1 in their first meeting on March 19th.

That same game saw both teams come together and salute Bobby Kirkness, the Blades cherished locker-room attendant, who's battling stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer and was given the opportunity to spectate the game.

https://twitter.com/BladesHockey/status/1373379021795323908

Who to Watch

Defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere matched his career-high scoring four points (4A) against the Pats on Friday. The alternate captain leads the Blades in defensive scoring with 8 points (2G-6A), and sits tied with fellow alternate captain Caiden Daley with the highest rating at +10.

His eight points also lands him atop the East Division among defensive scoring and third across the entire WHL.

https://twitter.com/BladesHockey/status/1375619853365616647

Swift-moving winger Kyle Crnkovic has been red hot over the last three games with nine points (2G-7A) combined and continues to lead the team with 12 points over eight games.

My oh Maier

Veteran netminder Nolan Maier has a chance to ink his name into the Blades record books tonight. The Yorkton, SK product needs just one more victory to match Tim Cheveldae with the most career wins in franchise history at 85.

Maier dons a perfect 5-0-0-0 record this season, and has allowed two or less goals in three of his five starts.

On the Record

#44 | Chase Wouters

#34 | Colton Dach

Head coach | Mitch Love

NHL Radar

Draft Eligible forward Colton Dach is taking a similar path as his older brother and former Blade, Kirby Dach, cracking the latest ranking put together by NHL Central Scouting.

The Fort Saskatchewan, AB product has been ranked with a 'C' rating by NHL Central Scouting in the latest 'Players to Watch' list, indicating either a fouth-, fifth-, or sixth-round draft pick in 2021.

Dach stacked a pair of goals against Regina on Friday, his first multi-goal game of the season, and is up to eight points (4G-4A) in eight games.

Captain's Quarters

Pending WHL graduate Chase Wouters is enjoying a strong start to his final year. The Lloydminster, AB product scored a pair of goals against Regina last Friday, and sits second in team scoring with 10 points (4G-6A). He also continues to excel as one of the best faceoff artists in the WHL.

Wouters ranks fourth among centreman in the WHL with 112 faceoff wins, boasting a 54.9% success rate. Hailed as one of the greatest leaders in the WHL, the career-Blade is the only player in franchise history to wear the 'C' for three consecutive years.

Ecologik Game Day 50/50

24 games mean 24 chances to win a hefty cash prize through our Ecologik Game Day 50/50!

Purchase your tickets online beginning 1 hour prior to puck drop for every Blades game during the 2021 season. Participants must be of legal age to purchase and live in the Saskatoon area to purchase. Tickets are:

1 for $10

10 for $20

30 for $30

You know the drill: winner takes half the pot and the other half goes towards the Saskatoon Blades Player Education Fund.

Need to Know

Looking for a place to join your friends and watch the Blades this season? The following establishments will be showing all Blades games for the 2021 season. Be sure to ask about their Original 16 Beer specials, the official beer of the Saskatoon Blades.

Shoeless Joe's Sports Grill

Wendel Clark's Classic Grill & Bar

All five Boston Pizza locations in Saskatoon

Both Canadian Brewhouse locations

Birmingham's Vodka & Ale House

Brown's Social House Lawson Heights

Hudson's

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 29, 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.

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