SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Blades are looking to battle back this week against the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinals.
On the road this past weekend, the Rebels won the opening two games of the series. Red Deer triumphed 3-1 on Friday and 5-1 on Sunday.
The schedule for the rest of the series is:
- Tuesday, April 18 at Red Deer
- Wednesday, April 19 at Red Deer
- Friday, April 21 at Saskatoon (if needed)
- Sunday, April 23 at Red Deer (if needed)
- Tuesday, April 25 at Saskatoon (if needed)
WHL News
The Regina Pats’ Tanner Howe has been selected to play on the Canadian National Men’s Under-18 Team. The squad competes in the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship, April 20-30 in Basel and Porrentruy, Switzerland. The team also includes Saskatoon products Colby Barlow (who plays for the Spokane Chiefs) and Caden Price (of the Kelowna Rockets).
The WHL announced last week that Pats forward Connor Bedard is the East Division’s nominee for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy for the WHL Player of the Year presented by Kia Canada.
The Pats’ Stanislav Svozil got the East Division nod as a finalist for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for the WHL Defenceman of the Year. Last week the blueliner from Czechia played in his first National Hockey League game and recorded an assist for the Columbus Blue Jackets. After a second game with the team, he was assigned to its top farm team – the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.
Game One
Rebels 3, Blades 1
After a scoreless first period on April 14, the visiting Rebels struck first with a Jhett Larson goal. In the third, Red Deer’s Jace Isley made it 2-0. The Blades fought back with Jake Chiasson lighting the lamp. Christoffer Sedoff capped the contest with an empty net goal.
For Saskatoon, Austin Elliott stopped 17 shots. Kyle Kelsey made 23 saves for the Rebels.
Game Two
Rebels 5, Blades 2
Red Deet exploded for three second period goals on April 16 on the way to a 5-2 win and 2-0 series lead. The two teams once again were scoreless after the first period. In the second, the Rebels got rolling with goals from Ben King (on a powerplay), Sedoff, and Larson.
Carson Birnie made it 4-0 for Red Deer early in the third period. On the powerplay, Brandon Lisowsky got the Blades on the board. Jayden Grubbe answered for Red Deer to create a 5-1 score. In the final minute, Saskatoon’s Charlie Wright got the Blades’ another powerplay marker.
Elliott started and made 11 saves on 14 shots. Ethan Chadwick came on in relief in the second and stopped four of the six shots he faced. Kelsey recorded 14 saves.
