SASKATOON — A Conner Roulette hat trick and a 16-save performance by Ethan Chadwick Sunday night lifted the Saskatoon Blades to a 4-1 home victory and a 2-2 record for the week.
The Blades had dropped their first two contests last week but rallied to win their last two tilts. On the season, the Western Hockey League team had a 5-2-0-0 record, as of Sunday. The Blades, Winnipeg Ice (5-1-0-0) and Red Deer Rebels (5-0-0-0) are at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with 10 points. The Blades’ next game is Sunday when they host the Calgary Hitmen.
After opening the campaign on a three-game winning streak, the Blades suffered their first loss of the season last Tuesday at home versus Lethbridge with 2,490 looking on. In an action packed second period, the Hurricanes outscored Saskatoon 3-1. That accounted for all of the game’s goals. Egor Sidorov had Saskatoon’s marker. Austin Elliott made 18 saves for the Blades.
On the road the next day in Moose Jaw, the Saskatoon club lost 3-1. Moose Jaw led 1-0 and 2-0 at the intermissions. Conner Roulette lit the lamp to cut the Warriors’ lead to 2-1. However, the Blades were unable to tie things up and Moose Jaw added an empty net goal. Ethan Chadwck made 19 for the Blades. Saskatoon sent 41 shots at Moose Jaw goalie Connor Ungar.
In Brandon last Friday, the Blades outscored the hosts, 3-2 in the first period. Sidorov lot the lamp twice and captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere once. Jake Chiasson’s second of the night knotted the game at 3-3 in the second. Before the end of the period, Sidorov scored the game winner to complete the hattrick and boost his team to a 4-3 victory. Roulette added an insurance goal in the third.
Roulette and the Blades returned home last Sunday to give their fans plenty to cheer about. The 2,586 in attendance witnessed Moose Jaw take a 1-0 lead early on, but the Blades came roaring back. Roulette lit the lamp twice to give his squad a 2-1 advantage. In the second period, he completed the natural hat trick with a power play goal. Josh Pillar capped the scoring with a third period marker. The Blades outshot Moose Jaw, 50-17.
