Blades Set To Close Out Season With A Bang For Fans

Hockey Saskatoon Blades Top Stories WHL

 

PHOTO COURTESY: Steve Hiscock

Tonight’s final game of the season for the Saskatoon Blades will give them an opportunity to thank the fans.

A $50,000 starting point for the 50/50, lots of giveaways and post game fireworks are planned to send the team into the off-season with a bang.

Additionally, the Prince Albert Raiders are desperate for a win to make the post season as they trail Brandon by two points for seventh in the east and are ties with Red Deer for the 8th and final play-off spot, however, the Rebels have a game in hand.

If P-A wants to have any shot at the post season they need to score a win tonght at Credit Union Centre. Here is how the match-up breaks down:

The Saskatoon Blades play their final game of the 2013-14 season tonight as they play host to the Prince Albert Raiders on Fan Appreciation Night.  Last night these teams kicked off the annual season-ending home and home in Prince Albert with the Raiders walking away with a 7-2 win.  The Raiders kicked off the game with a trio of goals in the first 8:44, eventually getting a combined 11 points from the top line of Leon Draisaitl, Dakota Conroy and former-Blade Collin Valcourt.  Saskatoon got goals from Cory Millette and Mitch Lipon, with Troy Trombley making 31 saves.

2013-14 Season Series

Tonight’s game is the seventh of the season between these clubs.  So far the season series is as follows:

September 20th – Raiders 6 – Blades 1 – Collin Valcourt scored the Blades goal; Troy Trombley stopped 12 of 12 shots

September 21st – Blades 5 – Raiders 6 – Collin Valcourt, Brett Stovin, Matt Revel had 3 points each

November 12th – Blades 1 – Raiders 4 – Logan Harland scored the Blades goal; Alex Moodie stopped 42 shots

December 27th – Blades 2 – Raiders 5 – Ayrton Nikkel and Chase Clayton scored; Troy Trombley stopped 36 shots

December 28th – Raiders 4 – Blades 2 – Nathan Burns and Graham Millar scored; Alex Moodie stopped 34 shots

January 17th – Raiders 1 – Blades 3 – Brett Stovin had 1G, 1A while Troy Trombley made 41 saves on 42 shots

March 14th – Blades 2 – Raiders – 7 – Mitch Lipon and Cory Millette had 1 goal each, Troy Trombley had 31 saves

One Final Game

Tonight’s game marks the final WHL game for the three 1993’s on the Saskatoon Blades roster:

#23 Dylan Busenius – 342 GP – 25 G – 93 A – 118 P – 202 PIM with Medicine Hat, Prince Albert and Saskatoon

#8 MacKenzie Johnston – 314 GP – 13 G – 49 A – 62 P – 117 PIM with Kelowna, Prince Albert and Saskatoon

#34 Connor Sanvido – 258 GP – 43 G – 51 A – 94 P – 115 PIM with Seattle, Swift Current and Saskatoon

Ryan Raising The Bar

Saskatoon Blades forward Ryan Graham continues to add onto his career-best season as we head into the final game of the year.  The 17 year old forward from Calgary currently sits 4th on the Blades in goals with 15 and 1st with 2 SHG.  To go along with that, the 6’2 winger has put up 5 goals in his past 7 games and 8 in his past 12.  Graham has also earned a promotion up to the Blades top line, putting up 15 points in his past 27 games since Jan. 8th while looking to get on the radar for NHL scouts. 

Scherbak’s Final Showing

Saskatoon Blades leading scorer Nikita Scherbak is looking to end the season and his NHL Draft year on a high note.  The Russian right-winger has picked up points in 14 of his past 18 games, registering 3 goals and 18 assists in that span.  Scherbak currently leads the team and WHL rookies in scoring with 27 goals, 50 assists and 77 points in 64 games.  Scherbak will become the first Blades rookie to lead the team in scoring since Garrett Prosofsky did so in 1996-97.

 

Thomson Fitting In Nicely

The Saskatoon Blades have been getting solid play from newcomer Jordan Thomson.  The former member of the Kamloops Blazers has appeared in 8 games with the Blades, putting up a goal and 4 assists for 5 points.  Thomson was the 4th overall selection in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft and has put up 27 points in 79 career WHL games.

 

Injury List  – 138 man games lost to injury

Nelson Nogier – Upper Body

Alex Moodie – Lower Body

Ayrton Nikkel – Lower Body

Brett Stovin – Lower Body

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