WHL Wenatchee Wild

Wild Knock off East's Top Team Tuesday with 4-2 Win Over Saskatoon

November 22, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


WENATCHEE, Wash. - The newest team in the Western Hockey League may well be its toughest to play against in its home building as well.

The Wenatchee Wild won their ninth consecutive home game on Tuesday, earning a 4-2 defeat of the Saskatoon Blades to knock off the top team in the WHL's Eastern Conference. The Wild also held one of the league's most dangerous power play units scoreless on three chances, and stayed even through the first 20 minutes against the league's most effective first-period team.

The first lead of the night lasted just 18 seconds - at 14:45, Charlie Wright threw a shot down the slot past Brendan Gee to get Saskatoon in front, but Matthew Savoie caught a rink-wide pass from Kenta Isogai and tossed a wrister past Austin Elliott to tie the game with 4:57 left in the period. The Blades took the lead back on the penalty kill at 2:27 of the second period, when Misha Volotovskii finished a 2-on-1 chance off a Wenatchee turnover at the blue line.

The third period belonged entirely to the Wild - with just 1:33 off the clock, Jonas Woo roped a shot to the top corner of the net in transition to even the game at 2-2 before Evan Friesen tucked a shot into the top of the net from along the goal line for the lead at the 5:20 mark. Conor Geekie jogged the puck into the empty net for the final two-goal margin with 1:21 remaining.

"I thought we got a lot better as the game went on," said Wenatchee assistant coach Andrew Sarauer. "Our start seemed to be a little slow - that seems to be a theme around our team, but they stuck with it and found a way to beat a really good hockey team. Saskatoon played with a lot of pace tonight and were moving pucks. Their defense was jumping up all night, and we got out-chanced pretty significantly early, but give our guys credit. It was a big win."

Gee made 30 saves to earn his third consecutive victory, while Savoie earned a goal and an assist, just two nights after collecting his 200th career point in WHL play. Ashton Cumby and Briley Wood had two assists each, while Woo notched his second goal since his 17th birthday on Sunday. Elliott finished with 32 saves for the Blades, dropping to 11-4 for the year, but the Saskatoon penalty kill came through on all four of its chances.

Wenatchee finishes its three-game homestand Friday against the Spokane Chiefs, presented by Les Schwab, with the opening puck drop at Town Toyota Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tickets for that game and all home regular-season contests are on sale now at 509-888-7825, or by visiting the team office at Town Toyota Center. Updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team's website and on the team's social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Check out the Wenatchee Wild Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2023


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