WHL Saskatoon Blades

Storybook Finish as Blades Beat Oil Kings in Overtime on Frank Banham Night

March 10, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


STORYBOOK ENDING: There couldn't have had a better ending than what fans inside SaskTel Centre witnessed on Frank Banham's Jersey Retirement Night.

Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Brandon Lisowsky brought the win home for the greatest Saskatoon Blade of all time Saturday in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The Blades honoured Banham with a jersey retirement ceremony prior to the game. The all-time leading scorer in franchise history made an emotional return to the Bridge City after nearly three decades away. Banham played for the Blades between 1992-96 and was joined by many family, friends, and former teammates for the celebration.

In front of the best goal scorer the organization has ever seen, Lisowsky called game with a penalty-shot goal in overtime to send the arena into a frenzy. The 19-year-old sniper was mauled by his teammates as he scored his 36th goal of the season, setting a new career-high in points with 71 in 62 games.

21-year-old forward Easton Armstrong collected his 29th goal of the campaign to give him 48 points in 56 games.

Rookie netminder Evan Gardner returned to the pipes with a 16-save performance, improving his record to 18-5-0-2.

The Blades need just one point to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference and remain first in the league with a 45-12-2-3 record.

NEXT GAME: The Blades begin the second half of their four-game homestand Tuesday against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

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