SASKATOON — After a win at home last week, the Saskatoon Blades went 1-1 on the road in British Columbia.
The Blades improved their record to 34-13-3-1. At the start of this week, that put the Blades third in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference. With 72 points, the Blades were four behind second place Red Deer (36-12-1-3) and trailed the first-place Winnipeg Ice by nine (40-7-1-0).
Before heading to B.C., the Blades shut out the Edmonton Oil Kings, 4-0, at home on Feb. 7. Hometown product Ethan Chadwick stopped 21 shots for the Saskatoon club for his second shutout of the season. Scoring for Saskatoon were Brandon Lisowsky, Lukas Hansen, Egor Sidorov, and Charlie Wright. The Blades sent 44 shots at Oil Kings’ goalie Kolby Hay. He stopped 40 of them.
The Blades were in Kamloops on Feb. 10 and fell 5-2 to the Blazers. The Saskatoon squad outscored the hosts in the opening frame with Blades Trevor Wong and Aidan De La Gorgendiere light the lamp. Olen Zellweger had Kamloops’ goal.
Logan Barios tied the game for Kamloops in the second period. In the final frame, the Blazers got goals from Daylan Kuefler, Fraser Minten, and Matthew Seminoff. One of the third period markers came on the powerplay and the final one was into an empty net.
Chadwick made 32 saves. For Kamloops, Dylan Ernst stopped 25 shots.
In Kelowna on Saturday night, it was the “J” show for the Blades. Recently returned from injury, Jayden Wiens had a goal and an assist on his way to being named the first star. Jordan Keller lit the lamp twice. In the third period, Wiens’ goal broke a 2-2 tie. Keller’s second of the night was an insurance marker that created the 4-2 final score.
Saskatoon’s other goal was Conner Roulette’s 19th of the season. Blades goalie Austin Elliott made 16 saves on 18 shots. For Kelowna, Talyn Boyko stopped 35 shots.
The Blades wrap up their B.C. road trip this week. The team is in Prince George on Tuesday and Victoria on Friday. The five-game swing concludes against the Vancouver Giants on Saturday.
