Sask. Rush aims to end playoff drought as training camp begins
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The final weekend of training camp is set for Nov. 22-24 back in Saskatoon.
The Saskatoon Blades continue to bolster their roster, adding forward Alexander Suzdalev from the Regina Pats on the final day of 2023.
Saskatoon traded forward Zach Moore, defenceman Samuel Barcik, defenceman Dayton Deschamps, a first-round pick in 2026, a third-round pick in 2026 and a fourth-round pick in 2025 to the Pats for the 19-year-old forward and a 2025 sixth-round pick.
Suzdalev began the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears before being assigned to Mora IK in Sweden, where he has recorded three points (two goals, one assist) in 13 games.
The 6-foot-2, 176-pound forward was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the 2021 NHL draft. The Khabarovsk, Russia product had 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 66 games last season with Regina.
Moore, 17, is playing in his first WHL season and has three points (one goal, two assists) in 27 games with the Blades. Last season, the 5-foot-11, 171-pound forward picked up 54 points (27 goals, 27 assists) in 36 games with the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA team and led his team in goals, assists and points. The Saskatoon product was drafted by the Blades in the second round (34th overall) of the 2021 WHL draft.
Barcik, 18, has six points (one goal, five assists) in 28 games this season as a rookie with Saskatoon. The Zvolen, Slovakia product split last season between HKM Zvolen of the Slovakian pro league and HKM Zvolen U18. The 6-foot-2, 188-pound defenceman was selected by the Blades in the first round (56th overall) of the 2023 CHL import draft.
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Deschamps, 16, has tallied 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 16 games this season with the Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA program. The Saskatoon product was drafted by the Blades in the seventh round of the 2022 WHL draft.
The Blades have been aggressive as they make a push for their first Ed Chynoweth Cup and berth in the Memorial Cup, trading for forward Fraser Minten in November.
Pats busy on New Year’s, complete two other trades
The Pats weren’t done trading players on Sunday, making two other deals.
The team sent defenceman Parker Berge to the Everett Silvertips in exchange for defenceman Ty Gibson and a 2025 second-round pick.
Berge, 20, has tallied a career-high 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) in 36 games this season with the Pats. The Edmonton product ranks fourth among WHL defencemen in points and tied for third in goals.
The 6-foot-1, 187-pound defenceman played in 183 career games with the Pats over four seasons. He recorded 74 points (15 goals, 59 assists) in his WHl career. He was drafted in the eighth round by the Pats in the 2018 WHL draft.
Gibson, also a 20-year-old, has recorded 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 37 games with the Silvertips this season. The Victoria product has played 187 career WHL games, recording 56 points (10 goals, 46 assists) in that time.
Later in the day, the Pats also traded forward Borya Valis to the Prince George Cougars in exchange for defenceman Tyson Buczkowski, a third-round pick in 2026 and a fourth-round pick in 2024.
Valis, a 19-year-old product of Denver, produced 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 35 games this season with the Pats. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound right winger tallied 106 points (44 goals, 62 assists) in 147 career games with the Pats over parts of three seasons.
Buczkowski, 17, has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 36 games with the Cougars this season. The Saskatoon product was drafted in the first round (15th overall) by the Cougars in the 2021 lottery.