Sports stats



WHL Saskatoon Blades

Shmyr Powers Blades For Revenge

January 30, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


SASKATOON, SK - There was extra motivation for the Blades as they looked to try and avenge their loss the night before to the Pats. Tonight was all about honouring the captain Nick Zajac on his 300th game and it couldn't have been written any better on thing night.

"We played with passion and worked hard and if something bad happened we didn't let it crumble us and that was a big step for us. Some guys had some big nights, but it was just the effort and compete every shift," says Bob Woods on the way the Blades earned the victory.

Just like the previous night, a goal was scored in the opening minute of the game. This time it was Saskatoon who opened the scoring. Braylon Shmyr with some nice hands to steal the puck from James Hilsendager and waited out Tyler Brown just 1:11 in the first period breaking the shutout for Brown on the second shot of the game

Saskatoon would take advantage of a Sergey Zbrovoskiy hooking call and Connor Gay on the 4 on 3 power-play fired a shot through a screened Tyler Brown that gave the Blades a 2-0 lead on just their third shot of the game.

A mad scramble on the Regina power-play in the Saskatoon crease lead to a lot of whacks as Evan Smith appeared to have it covered but Jared Freadrich found a way to get one past Smith to get the Pats within one.

With four minutes left in the first, a turnover by Bishop at the Pats blue line that lead to an Adam Brooks breakout creating a 2 on 1 Pat blue line and broke on a 2 on 1 to find Robbie Holmes who tapped his second of the year in as many games to tie the game at two.

Saskatoon answered the bell early in the second period. Libor Hajek's shot on the rush is stopped and kicked to Wyatt Sloboshan who took not one, but two tries to put it past Brown just 34 seconds into the second period giving the Blades back the lead.

Twenty seven seconds after Sloboshan gave Saskatoon a one goal lead, Braylon Shmyr's behind the net pass couldn't have gone to anyone better on this night but to the captain Nick Zajac on his 300th game going top corner to give the Blades a 4-2 lead.

With 4:30 left in the second, Nick Zajac on 2 on 1 rush returned the favour with a feed to Braylon Shmyr who backhanded it upstairs for his second of the game giving the Blades a 5-2 lead.

Regina answered back 17 seconds after Saskatoon made it 5-2. On the breakout, Riley Woods and Adam Brooks give and go and the puck eventually went to Woods who backhanded it past Smith who has his third goal in this weekend's home and home series cutting the Blades lead to two goals.

Early goals seemed to be a theme for the Blades tonight. Colton Waltz went end to end and finished with the wrap around to beat Jordan Hollett who replaced Tyler Brown for the third for his first goal as a Blade just 1:43 into the third period.

Braylon Shmyr capped off his big night with the hat-trick on a backhand shot from a horrible angle off the back of Jordan Hollett for his third goal and fourth point of the evening. "It felt really good but I felt better winning that game knowing that we lost last night. But winning that game felt even better," added Shmyr who was happier on winning then getting four points.

"It was pretty special that they could do that for me tonight, I was almost tearing up on the bench there but I was glad I wasn't starting to. We got off to a great start, I give credit they just played awesome," said Zajac about the ceremony before his 300th game.

When asked what Zajac loved most about being a Saskatoon Blade, family, was the one word that came to mind. "I love the family atmosphere. I've been here my whole career and everyone truly does love each other it's been great for me and hope it keeps on going here for the last bit."

"He set the tempo, he was physical and he did the things he has to do to have success and when he plays that way usually things go well," added Woods on his Captain on his 300th game. "We worked hard and we deserved to get some bounces tonight. The other night when we weren't working we deserved to go the other direction."

Saskatoon welcomes the Prince George Cougars to town on Tuesday night at SaskTel Centre.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2016


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.

OurSports Central