Preview: Giants at Blades - October 4th
October 4, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
VANCOUVER GIANTS @ SASKATOON BLADES
Sunday, October 4th - 2:00 PM
SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon, SK
OFF THE TOP: The annual matchup between the Giants and Blades takes place at SaskTel Centre tonight as Saskatoon will see all five B.C. teams visit here over the year. The Blades last played the Giants in December of last year. A game which saw the Giants win 3-2 in a shootout in the 2nd last game of the Blades western road trip. Nikita Soshnin and Josh Uhrich scored while Nik Amundrud made 38 saves in the loss.
KILLER INSTINCT: In each of the last two games, the Blades have held leads in the 3rd period, only to lose the lead and lose in overtime both times. While the team has earned points in all three of their games so far, Saskatoon will look to gain a lead and finish the game strong this afternoon.
BACK IN TOWN: Lorne Molleken returns to Saskatoon this afternoon after spending 13 seasons as Head Coach & General Manager of the Blades, 14 seasons in total with the organization. Molleken racked up 539 wins with the Blades and earned his 600th career WHL win during the 2012-2013 season. From 1991-1995 & 2004-2014, Molleken compiled the best winning percentage in Blades coaching history at .591%. Despite playoff woes, Molleken helped produce one of the best Blades teams in regular season history in 2010-2011 with a 56-13-3 record including 32 home wins.
CREASE CLASH: The Blades acquired 18-year old goaltender Jake Morrissey from the Tri-City Americans yesterday. The Calgary product posted a 1.98 GAA, and a .932 SV% in 11 games last season for the Kelowna Rockets. Saskatoon now carries three goaltenders on their roster. Amundrud, Hamm, and Morrissey will all push each other for the two roster spots.
SUNDAY FUNDAY: Today represents our first Mosaic Sunday Funday game of the year. Every Sunday game this year is proudly presented by Mosaic and will start at 2:00 PM. Following the game, make sure to stick around for a post-game skate and get autpgraphs from some of the players.
APPROACHING MILESTONES:
Brycen Martin sits at 97 career WHL points.
Nick Zajac sits at 299 career PIMS.
Josh Uhrich sits at 290 career PIMS.
AGE BREAKDOWN:
3 - 20 year olds, 3 - 19 year olds, 8 - 18 year olds, 5 - 17 year olds, 5 - 16 year olds.
GEOGRAPHICAL BREAKDOWN:
9 - AB, 8 - SK, 2 - MB, 2 - B.C., 1 - Alaska, 1 - Russia, 1 - Czech Republic
Western Hockey League Stories from October 4, 2015
- Rockets Double 'Canes 6-3 in Lethbirdge - Kelowna Rockets
- Oil Kings Flip Script for First Win - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Pats Fall to Calgary 3-0 - Regina Pats
- Petersen, Hitmen Blank Regina 3-0 - Calgary Hitmen
- Giants Stomp Blades Comeback - Saskatoon Blades
- Stukel Lifts Giants Past Blades - Vancouver Giants
- Game Day: Rockets in Lethbridge to Take on Hurricanes - Kelowna Rockets
- Preview: Giants at Blades - October 4th - Saskatoon Blades
- Game Notes: Broncos in Edmonton - Swift Current Broncos
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, October 4 at Regina - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Blank Pats - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Royals Best Blazers 5-1 Saturday Night - Kamloops Blazers
- Silvertips Top Portland 3-1 before Big Crowd - Everett Silvertips
- Chiefs Spoil Americans' Home Opener in Overtime - Tri-City Americans
- Royals Trump Blazers - Victoria Royals
- T-Birds Cage Cougars in Home Opener - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hawks Fall 3-1 to Everett Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Rebels Defeat Rockets 7-4. - Red Deer Rebels
- Rockets Fall 7-4 in Red Deer - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Lose Wild One in Overtime - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Reid Gardiner's second of the game gives Prince Albert another OT win - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen lose to Warriors - Calgary Hitmen
- Red Deer wins over Kelowna - Kelowna Rockets
- Pats blanked by Wheat Kings - Regina Pats
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.
