WHL Saskatoon Blades

Starting off with a Bang

Published on January 1, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


SASKATOON, SK - The start of a new calendar year usually means a chance to do some good and make a new start. As for the Blades, they looked to get back to their winning ways heading into 2016.

"We weren't happy how it went the 27th in P.A. we let that one slip away. The first two periods were similar to the one in P.A. but we mustered up enough energy to get it done," says a much more happier Woods on this effort against the Raiders compared to December 27th's match up in P.A.

After a scoreless first period with good pressure by the Blades who led in shots 8 to 5, a strong second period started to surmount.

Twenty nine seconds into the second, Cameron Hebig picks up the loose puck on a Libor Hajek shot that made it a 1-0 game for the Blades.

On that same play, Connor Gay now extended his point streak to 11 games which is tied for the most in the WHL this season.

P.A. would respond with pressure of their own in the Blades zone but couldn't find an answer for Brock Hamm who made miraculous saves throughout the afternoon including 30 other key saves in this game.

No shortage of hate in this contest as both teams got chippy and physical early on in this game. Example being Bryton Sayers on one shift levelling Kolten Olynek not once, but twice in the same shift.

The Blades would get key opportunities that could have extended their lead but either missing the net or going high and wide.

Prince Albert would get on the board as the power play expired on a wrist shot from Matteo Gennaro that beat Hamm low blocker side which was resulted from a tired PK unit on the ice for the Blades.

Another Blades power play with 39 seconds left in it, and Ryan Graham unloaded a bullet from the point to give the blades back the lead at 2-1 with two and a half minutes left to play in the second.

The Raiders would get a power play of their own but Hamm making some more big saves playing unreal and stealing this one away from the Raiders.

6:14 in the third, Connor Gay with a cross ice pass fed Graham who roofed it over Scott for his second of the game extending the lead to 3-1.

More offensive fire power continued a Wyatt Sloboshan out of the corner sniped it high glove over Scott making it 4-1 at the 10:06 mark of the third.

Forty nine seconds after Sloboshan made it 4-1, Bryton Sayers's threw a curve ball shot on net as Scott gets a piece of it but not enough as the Blades made it 5-1.

Another power play for the Blades would occur as they finished the night with two goals on the man advantage on five opportunities. Lukus MacKenzie with a sweet saucer pass to Sayers who rushed up on the door step to finish the one timer to make it 6-1 with 1:39 left in the third as it capped off a huge offensive night for the Blades as they brought up the intensity from last game on December 30th. "We talked about what happened the other night and we weren't going to let that happen again. With Graham getting that goal just made something happen early instead of something negative and that was the difference. I thought Hamm played unbelievable and made the big saves we needed at key times and that's what you look for," added Woods on his teams effort on this night compared to last game against the Broncos.

The Blades will have one day to prepare for the Moose Jaw Warriors who come into town on another Sunday afternoon game at 2:00 P.M.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2016


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