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.
A fast start nearly didn’t pay off for the Saskatoon Blades on Friday.
The Blades scored five straight goals in the first period, but then had to hold off the host Victoria Royals the rest of the way to post a 6-4 WHL victory.
Victoria outscored Saskatoon 4-1 in the second period, but couldn’t get any closer in a scoreless third as the Blades posted their third straight win.
Trevor Wong had two goals in Saskatoon’s big opening frame, while Jake Chiasson, Egor Sidorov and Conner Roulette had one goal each.
Jake Poole scored twice in the second for Victoria, which got its other goals in the period from Tanner Scott and Carter Dereniwsky.
Sidorov had the Blades’ goal in the middle stanza. He also had two assists in the game to finish the night with four points.
Ethan Chadwick made 31 saves for the Blades, who improved to 36-13-3-1 and pulled into a tie with the Red Deer Rebels for second place in the Eastern Conference. Red Deer lost 7-4 to the visiting Kamloops Blazers on Friday.
Braden Holt started in goal for Victoria (15-33-5-1), but was pulled after allowing five goals on 17 shots in the first period. Nicholas Cristiano went the rest of the way for the Royals, surrendering one goal on 10 shots.
The Blades are to visit the Vancouver Giants on Saturday to complete their B.C. trip. Saskatoon takes a 3-1-0 record on the swing into Vancouver.