It’s a new season in the Western Hockey League for the Blades, who play their home-opener Saturday night (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre) against the Swift Current Broncos.
The Saskatoon Blades were chasing a bit of history last season, but now that season is indeed history.
It’s a new season in the Western Hockey League for the Blades, who play their home-opener Saturday night (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre) against the Swift Current Broncos.
It’s a new season with a new head coach and a new-look squad, which has lost some key pieces from last season’s Eastern Conference finalist team.
Dan DaSilva has taken over as head coach in place of Brennan Sonne, who has moved up to the American Hockey League pro ranks.
“Our team speed has been refreshing,” noted DaSilva. “There are a lot of players who can skate, and the compete and resilience has been there, too, through the pre-season. A couple of times, we’ve been down two, three goals and it could be very easy for us to pack it in but we haven’t.
“We’ve pushed back and made those games tighter and given ourselves a chance to win. That’s been a pleasant surprise and just the maturity of these kids already. Hopefully that continues in the regular season.”
LOOKING BACK AT LAST SEASON
A high-flying Blades team finished first in the WHL’s Eastern Conference and captured the Scotty Munro trophy as the top team in the WHL during the regular season with a 50-13-2-3 record and 105 points.
However, Saskatoon lost to the Moose Jaw Warriors in overtime during Game 7 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference final. Moose Jaw went on to win the WHL championship and Ed Chynoweth Cup.
“It’s a no-brainer to say, ‘We want to get there (again),’ ” said Blades forward Rowan Calvert. “Obviously a lot of the personnel has changed and there’s a lot of differences around the rink but at the end of the day, no team goes out there and tries to lose. Everyone wants to win; everyone’s goal is to win. So, that’s the drive. That’s the hunger. It’s super exciting to be here.”
OFF-SEASON DEPARTURES
The Blades graduated over-agers F Trevor Wong, D Charlie Wright and F Easton Armstrong, all key players last season. Wong has joined the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Wright, who was also recruited heavily by the Huskies, has been reunited with Sonne by signing with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. Armstrong has also turned pro with the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators.
Also going the professional route are F Egor Sidorov (NHL Anaheim Ducks), F Fraser Minten (Toronto Maple Leafs) and F Alexander Suzdalev.
“So we lost five forwards who are elite players in this league,” noted DaSilva. “First and foremost, we have to be really structurally sound defensively. It’s not going to be easy to score against us. It’s going to be very, very tight defensively. We take a lot of pride in that.
“On the flip side, on offence, we’re going to have to do it by committee. We’re not going to rely on one guy or one line or two lines. It’s going to have to be everyone in the lineup providing offence and chipping in that way, with the mentality of taking care of our end first and then putting teams in tough spots with turnovers and then attacking with shot volume and pucks and bodies at the net, and spending time in the offensive zone.
“Not really a lot different than we’ve seen as our style of play in the past. We just don’t necessarily have those elite scorers right now. Not saying that guys can’t emerge and develop that side of the game — but we’ve got to establish the mindset early.”
RETURNEES INCLUDE SOME KEY COGS
Brandon Lisowsky,Tyler Parr, Lukas Hansen, Rowan Calvert, Misha Volotovskii, Hudson Kibblewhite and William James all return up front for the Blades.
The blueline brigade includes holdovers Ben Saunderson, Tanner Molendyk, Brayden Siepmann and Morgan Tastad.
Austin Elliott, Evan Gardner (.927 save-percentage, 1.91 goals-against average) and Logan Cunningham give Saskatoon some experienced options in net.
NEWCOMERS TO THE BLUE AND GOLD
The Blades released their opening-day roster Thursday and it includes some newcomers.
Ben Riche has joined the Blades from the Victoria Royals and led the team in scoring during the regular season.
Saskatoon will look to Czech F Vlastimil Blazek to fill the import void with Sidorov gone. The young forward, still 16 years old, recorded 76 points at the under-17 level last season.
Also new up front are fellow rookies Colten Worthington, Kohen Lodge, Cooper Williams, Lochlan Tetarenko and Zach Olsen.
In the back end, Jordan Martin, Brayden Klimpke, Isaac Poll and Jack Lavallee are also, officially speaking, rookies.
Look for Blazek, Olsen and Klimpke, in particular, to make an impact this season.
Rookie Ryley Budd is getting an extended look in net while Evan Gardner attends the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets camp. Veteran Elliott and Cunningham are also fighting for a spot in the crowded crease.
Joining DaSilva on the coaching staff is new assistant coach Andrew Sarauer.
FOUR 20-YEAR-OLDS, THREE SPOTS
Elliott, Lisowsky, Siepmann and Saunderson give the Blades four prospective 20-year-old players vying for one of three available spots.
Saskatoon will have to reduce to the WHL cap of three by Oct. 10.
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