WHL Saskatoon Blades

Kirby Dach to Remain with Chicago Blackhawks

Published on October 30, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


The Chicago Blackhawks announced via Twitter this afternoon Saskatoon Blades alumnus Kirby Dach will remain, for the foreseeable future, in the National Hockey League.

"We're extremely excited for Kirby," stated Blades' General Manager Colin Priestner regarding the news. "The goal of the Saskatoon Blades and the Western Hockey League is to develop hockey players to get to the next level and to have the first 18-year-old WHL player in the NHL since Ryan Nugent-Hopkins speaks volumes of both Kirby and the job our coaches have done preparing him for this opportunity".

The third-overall selection at the 2019 National Hockey League Draft, Dach was the top player selected from the Canadian Hockey League and one of seven Western Hockey League players taken in the first round of the draft. He signed with the Blackhawks to a three-year entry level contract less than a month after the NHL Entry Draft.

"We knew given his performance at their summer camp, prospects tournament and early in the season that sticking with the Hawks was a strong possibility, so we have been preparing in anticipation of this news. While it may sting in the short term to not have him in our lineup, overall this is a great day for the Blades in the big picture. This kind of news can really help future recruiting and shows Saskatoon is a place where top-end junior hockey players can come to help reach their goals".

Dach was the 19th player in Saskatoon Blades history to be drafted in the first round and the 121st Blades' player overall to be drafted into the NHL.

During his time in the WHL, Dach appeared in 133 regular season games, posting 129 points (38G-91A), including seven power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and seven game-winning goals. The Blades originally selected him second overall at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

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