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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Wong Nets Hat-Trick, Blades Hold Bedard Pointless in 5-2 Win vs Pats

March 5, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Saskatoon Blades goaltender Austin Elliot stretches to make a save against the Regina Pats
Saskatoon Blades goaltender Austin Elliot stretches to make a save against the Regina Pats
(Saskatoon Blades)

Regina, SK - Sorry Connor Bedard, the spotlight's on our guys tonight.

Alternate captain Trevor Wong's hat-trick propelled the Saskatoon Blades to a 5-2 victory Sunday over the Regina Pats at the Brandt Centre. The Vancouver, BC. native stole the show in the province's capital putting home goals 21,22, and 23 of the season.

Blades forward Egor Sidorov recorded another multi-goal game, cracking the 40-goal plateau in his second WHL season. The NHL draft-eligible winger is putting his name on the map with 74 points in just 49 games.

Saskatoon held the consensus first-overall pick for the upcoming NHL Draft Bedard pointless, only the third time that's happened this season. The Blades stellar play resulted in the WHL superstar finishing -5 on the afternoon.

Fatigue didn't appear affect the Blades playing their third game in as many days. It was also the Blades fourth game in five nights and they walked out with a win in each one. Winners of five straight, the Blades are imposing their will on the WHL with 89 points and a 42-13-4-1 record for third in the Eastern Conference.

Offence is the Pats biggest strength, but the Blades nearly managed to get through the first period without a goal against. Forward Alexander Suzdalev broke the deadlock with 1:36 remaining in the opening 20, scoring his 36th goal of the season on a one-timer. It's the 19-year-old winger's first season in the WHL, and the Washington Capitols prospect has 77 points in 57 games.

Everyone always hears about Bedard and for good reason but the Blades boast loads of firepower upfront as well. Just under halfway through the middle frame Saskatoon's top center Trevor Wong chipped his first goal in the matchup over the shoulder of Pats netminder Drew Sim. The play all started with a Charlie Wright stretch pass up to forward Jake Chiasson, who delivered an astonishing pass over to the Blades alternate captain to cap off the play. The Vancouver, BC. product's game tying goal was only a taste of what was yet to come.

Regina shot back just over halfway through the contest with 6-foot-2 winger Sam Oremba nabbing his ninth goal of the season. The Regina, SK. native has 22 points in 56 games this season, scoring two goals in as many games with the Seattle Thunderbirds before coming to the Pats.

If you can do it once, you can do it again. Wong scored his second goal of the game 1:22 seconds later tying it 2-2. The 5-foot-9 speedster leads the club with 77 points and has played in all 60 games so far this season. Wong's effort is never question as he hounds his opponents at both ends of the ice which is what happened on this goal when he jammed home his own rebound.

Sidorov wants to hear his name called to the stage in Nashville during June's NHL Entry Draft and he's making it hard for scouts not to take him sooner. The Belarusian sniper turned on the jets for a 2-on-1 rush with Wong, and carefully placed the puck into the cage off a pass from his linemate. It was a fortunate play for the Blue and Gold as Bedard hit the post just moments before in the opposite end, but all that matters is the Blades were the ones up 3-2.

Sidorov potted an insurance marker 6:39 into the final period for his 40th goal in just 49 games. The 6-foot winger was at 33 five games ago, scoring seven goals in his last four. Three of those outings were multi-goal performances. Sidorov's first attempt on the milestone goal didn't go as planned, but he managed to gather the puck back and fire past Sim. The team's leading goal-man scored 23 goals in his rookie year last season and he's far beyond those totals in less games played.

Wong already did damage on the scoresheet with his two tallies and an assist on Uncle Sido's first goal of the game. The second-year Blade was hungry for what everyone had on their mind; a hat-trick.

The playmaker airmailed the puck all the way from his own end with 1:27 left to go and nailed it into the Pats empty-net. Regina didn't get any momentum with the extra attacker on the ice, and Wong capped off an incredible afternoon for a 5-2 final.

What's Next?

The Blades take a well deserved two days off before welcoming the Swift Current Broncos Wednesday at SaskTel Centre for the final Heritage Night of the season.

Puck drop is 7:00pm.

PAW Patrol Jersey Auction

The Saskatoon Blades vs the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Sask Tel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, March 04, 2023

Own a piece of Blades history from our historic season by taking home one of our game-worn PAW Patrol Jerseys!

They come with a winning touch, and all proceeds from the online auction will be donated to the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation!

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Images from this story

Saskatoon Blades goaltender Austin Elliot stretches to make a save against the Regina Pats
Saskatoon Blades goaltender Austin Elliot stretches to make a save against the Regina Pats
   



Western Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2023


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