What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
Nov 18, 2024
Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
It would have been hard to find anyone who thought the Saskatoon Blades could take all six points from a three-game home stand squeezed into four nights.
But the hard working Blades answered their critics by coming one shot shy of accomplishing the feat. After wins over Prince Albert (2-0), Portland (3-1), the Blades took the Edmonton Oil Kings to the wire on Sunday, going down 3-2 in overtime.
A team missing two of its top scorers due to injury, the Blades have turned to defense. Logan Flodell led the way in goal, making 65 saves on 66 shots to post back to back wins against the Raiders and Winterhawks. Flodell is now third among all WHL goalies with a .947 save percentage.
“He’s going to make the first save and we just have to make sure we don’t give up the secondary chances,” said Blades head coach Dean Brockman after a 3-1 win over Portland.
“Our guys followed the game plan as best as the could it’s a pretty good team so credit to them.”
Over the homestand, Saskatoon gave up just three goals while scoring seven, as the team appears to be buying into coach Brockman’s workhorse mentality. Something the team’s emerging star goaltender is thankful for on Thanksgiving.
“Good to get the wins for the boys but they make it easy to keep the shots to the outside like they did against P-A.”
On the offensive side, youngster Josh Patterson scored twice while five other Blades added singles, highlighted by Jesse Shynkaruk’s game winner against Prince Albert.
Maybe it’s the @BlueJays fever, but Jesse Shynkaruk’s hand eye skills earned him the Play Of The Week! #RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/l961xEm885
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) October 7, 2016
The big weekend moves the Blades to 4-2-1 on the season, good enough for fourth in the East Division.
Up next Saskatoon embarks on their British Columbia road trip, starting off Friday, Oct. 14 in Kelowna.