WHL Saskatoon Blades

Robins Scores 2nd Career Teddy Bear Toss Goal as Blades Best Raiders 4-1

Published on December 16, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Saskatoon, SK - Sophomore forward Tristen Robins scored his second Western Hockey League career Teddy Bear Toss goal at the 10:44 mark of the first period on Sunday evening as the Saskatoon Blades' bested the Prince Albert Raiders for the third time this season by a final score of 4-1.

"Send in the stuffies!" cried Blades' play-by-play commentator Les Lazaruk as Robins' 11th goal of the campaign triggered the Teddy Bear Toss to open the scoring one-nothing Saskatoon. The goal puts Robins in rare company as a back-to-back Teddy Bear Toss goal scorer having also scored the lone goal in the Blades' 1-0 defeat over the Raiders for Saskatoon's 2018 edition of the Teddy Bear Toss. The play was set up by Colton Dach who found Scott Walford down low in the left corner. From there, Walford thread a pass right across the front of the goal and backdoor to Robins.

The Teddy Bear Toss goal wasn't the only storyline of the night, as three other Blades jumped on the scorers' sheet. Team Captain Chase Wouters added some insurance for the home side with 2:03 left in the second period, scoring his 13th goal of the season and tying him for the team lead in goals scored with veteran forward Riley McKay. Wouters' goal, a great individual effort following an intercept, also put him on a three game point streak (3G-1A).

The Raiders appeared ready to respond with an early third period goal, however the Blades quickly wrestled back control of the game via 19-year-old forward Zach Huber's 11th goal of the campaign. Huber, who now has five goals in the last six games, was given the puck in the slot by Kyle Crnkovic who gained possession from an Eric Florchuk face-off win. Each with an assist on the play, Crnkovic is now on a three game point streak (4A) & Florchuk has six points in his last six games (2G-4A).

Back on top, Saskatoon put their foot down on the match when Florchuk collected his 11th goal of the year at the 12:33 mark of the final frame to earn himself a multi-point night. Robins assisted on the play to also collect a multi-point night, as did Walford. For Walford, who after last night has five points (1G-4) against the Raiders since joining the Blades, the game was also his second multi-point outing against Prince Albert in 2019.

Collecting his third win against the Raiders for the season, goaltender Nolan Maier made 24 saves on 25 shots to shut the Raiders down. While the guys in front of him did a solid job of suppressing the Raiders' chances, Maier still had to make a number of quality saves and answered the call when required of him.

Associate Coach Ryan Marsh, who is in the position of interim Head Coach while Mitch Love attends World Juniors as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada, earned his first WHL career win as the Head Coach role.

For their efforts; Robins, Florchuk & Maier were honoured as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Stars during the post-game ceremony. For his role in topping the division leading Raiders, Maier was also named 2nd Star of the night for the league by the WHL.

The thousands teddies collected off the ice following Robins' goal will be donated to the Saskatchewan Chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, as well as various local charities and school groups in the community. The teddies will be distributed over the holiday season.

The team will now have the next 10 days to return home for the Holiday season, spending time resting, visiting family and friends. However, Saskatoon and Prince Albert will quickly get reacquainted following the Christmas break with back-to-back games against one another on the 27th of December in Prince Albert and on the 28th in Saskatoon. ~ Click here to buy tickets for the Blades' December 28th game against the Prince Albert Raiders at SaskTel Centre.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2019


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