WHL Saskatoon Blades

Preview: Broncos at Blades - December 30th

December 30, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


OFF THE TOP: The Blades return to the confines of SaskTel Centre for the first time since December 19th. Saskatoon is coming off a 3-1 loss to the Regina Pats on Tuesday night. Adam Brooks scored the game winning goal in the 1st period on a short handed breakaway. Connor Gay scored the lone goal for the Blades in the 3rd period, while Evan Smith made 27 saves in the loss.

BRONCOS vs. BLADES: This is the fifth meeting of the season between the Broncos and the Blades. Saskatoon has won three out of the four match ups this season, the most recent coming on November 27th in Swift Current. Swift Current tied the game at four late in the 3rd period before Wyatt Sloboshan score the overtime winner 55 seconds into the extra frame. Brock Hamm made 28 saves in the win to remain undefeated against the Broncos this season.

15-16 SEASON SERIES

LEADING SCORERS:

SAS - CAMERON HEBIG (3G-2A) | SC - JON MARTIN (4G-3A)

GOALTENDING:

SAS - HAMM (3-0-0-0) 88/97 (.907 SV%) | SC - BOW (1-2-1-0) 109/124 (.879 SV%)

SPECIAL TEAMS:

PP: SAS - 3/12 (25.0%) | SC - 4/19 (21.0%)

AT THE MAC'S: The Blades have 9 prospects competing at the 38th Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament in Calgary. Blades 2015 1st round picks, Jonny Tychonick and Chase Wouters, are leading the way for Blades representatives. Tychonick, playing for the Calgary Flames, had 3 assists in his team's tournament opening win over the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs. He also scored in his latest game, a 2-1 win over the California Wave. Wouters has recorded 1G-3A in two games played for the Lloydminster Bobcats.

RED HOT DECEMBER: With a goal in Tuesday's loss to Regina, 20 year old Connor Gay has extended his point streak to nine games, recording a point in all but one December games. The Saskatoon native has 15 points (5G-10A) over the nine game span. Cameron Hebig has also recorded a point in all but two December games, scoring 6 goals and adding 6 assists in 10 games this month.

ALUMNI UPDATE: Former Blades goaltender, Braden Holtby, is in the middle of a career year with the Eastern Conference leading Washington Capitals. The 26 year old leads the NHL in wins with 26, is second in GAA at 1.86, and 3rd in save percentage at 93.5%. The Marshall, SK, native played 3 full seasons with the Blades collecting 106 wins to go along with a 2.90 GAA and a .905 SV%. He left the Blades as the franchise leader in shutouts in a season and career shutouts.

CRACKING THE LIST: The NHL's Central Scouting service released their updated "Players to Watch" List, Blades import defenceman Libor Hajek made the list with a 'B' rating. This ranking projects Hajek as a 2nd/3rd round draft candidate. The 2016 NHL draft eligible has 15 points (3g-12a) in 35 games this season for the Blades.

APPROACHING A MILESTONE: Blades captain Nick Zajac will play in his 286th career game in the WHL tonight, all with the Blades. He currently sits 11th on the Blades all-time GP list. If Zajac reaches the 300 game plateau (which he is on pace to hit in late January) he will be one of nine Blades to reach the milestone. Zajac has 44 goals, and 83 assists in his WHL and Blades career.

MILESTONES/STREAKS:

Connor Gay is on a 9 game point streak (4G-15A).

Cameron Hebig has 12 points (6G-6A) in his past 9 games.

Nick Zajac has 10 points (2G-8A) in his past 9 games.

Nolan Reid is 9 game sway from 100 in his career.

Cameron Hebig is 2 goals away from 50 in his career.

AGE BREAKDOWN:

1995 (3): Nick Zajac, Mitch Wheaton, Connor Gay

1996 (2): Ryan Graham, Bryton Sayers

1997 (7): Brock Hamm, Mason McCarty, Cam Hebig, Nikita Soshnin, Terrell Draude, Wyatt Sloboshan, Evan Smith

1998 (5): Nolan Reid, Luke Gingras, Libor Hajek, Anthony Bishop, Schael Higson

1999 (5): Cameron Hausinger, Josh Paterson, Lukus MacKenzie, Logan Christensen, Jake Kustra

GEOGRAPHICAL BREAKDOWN:

SK (8): Brock Hamm, Terrell Draude, Connor Gay, Cam Hebig, Nolan Reid, Bryton Sayers, Wyatt Sloboshan, Jake Kustra

AB (6): Ryan Graham, Lukus MacKenzie, Mason McCarty, Josh Paterson, Mitch Wheaton, Schael Higson

MB (2): Nick Zajac, Logan Christensen

BC (2): Anthony Bishop, Luke Gingras

AK (1): Cameron Hausinger

CO (1): Evan Smith

RUS (1): Nikita Soshnin

CZE (1) : Libor Hajek

LEADING SCORERS:

Cameron Hebig: 35GP-17G-23A-40PTS

Connor Gay: 33GP-13G-23A-36PTS

Nick Zajac: 35GP-9G-18A-27PTS

Wyatt Sloboshan: 33GP-9G-13A-22PTS

Ryan Graham: 35GP-9G-12A-21PTS

Libor Hajek: 35GP-3G-12A-15PTS

DRAFTED PLAYERS: Mitch Wheaton (DET - 5th, 2013)

SPECIAL TEAMS:

PP: 23/146 - 15.8% (19th)PK: 134/160 - 83.9% (4th)

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2015


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