Hitmen Hand Blades Fourth Straight Loss
Published on November 26, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
SASKATOON, SK - Two things seemed to impress Bob Woods on this night, Brock Hamm and the Penalty Kill. Not much had to be said from the coach following a tough loss to the same team that beat them just three days ago. "If it wasn't for those two things, it could have been a whole lot worse."
The story seemed to be that the Blades looked out of place at times during this game. As Woods mentioned above, it was their time short handed that managed to keep this game from becoming a blowout as Saskatoon killed off all six Calgary Power-Plays.
The Hitmen would strike first as a scramble ensued Keegan Kanzing is there on the doorstep to put it home just 12:02 in the first giving Calgary an early lead.
With the period winding down, Tyler Mrkonjic on the rush with a burst of speed finds Radel Fazleev for his 13th with just 58 seconds left in the first.
The Blades had some solid momentum going in the early bits of the second period to get on the scoreboard.
A power play for the Blades leads to some good puck movement and Zajac's saucer pass to Connor Gay whose shot seemed to have hit the inside bar that would give the Blades their first goal of the game. A quick review upstairs leads to Connor Gay's 7th of the year putting the game at 2-1.
Some miscommunication on the line change leads to top prospect Jake Bean with the long stretch pass Tyler Mrkonjic sent all alone and goes backhand on the breakaway to make it 3-1 Hitmen.
Jakob Stukel would take advantage on an odd bounce off some Blades players just over five to play to extend Calgary's lead to 4-1.
With several turnovers being the difference in the game and had it not been for Brock Hamm making 28 saves on the night, the night according to Connor Gay. "The odd man situations that they get seemed to be getting 2-on-1s, 1-on-1s what ever it is and even on our power play. I don't know what's going on and it's really frustrating."
Gay would add another goal for the Blades with just over five minutes to play on a nice backhand shelf goal on the drop pass from Cameron Hebig.
Frustration did boil over as Mitch Wheaton rag dolls one of the Hitmen players and throws him in the boards resulting in a 10 minute misconduct and an additional roughing minor. Then Loch Morrison and Josh Uhrich would drop the glove with just over four left in the hockey game.
"I think everyone has those moments where they get frustrated. The guy grabbed my helmet and I just lost my mind for a bit it's the way it goes sometimes," added Wheaton on his fight.
"Right now we just look like some of our guys don't know where their heads are at it's certainly not in the hockey game because you can't play that way against teams like that unless you're fully focused and ready to go," added Woods on the efforts from some of his players.
The Blades will have a day of practice tomorrow before heading to Swift Current on Friday night. Only three points separates the Blades from the Broncos in the standings.
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- Hitmen Hand Blades Fourth Straight Loss - Saskatoon Blades
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