Blades sweep Rebels to reach WHL’s Eastern Conference final

The Saskatoon Blades are heading back to the WHL’s Eastern Conference final.

Egor Sidorov had three goals and two assists Wednesday to help the Blades post a 7-0 victory over the host Red Deer Rebels. Saskatoon swept a best-of-seven semifinal to advance to its second straight conference final.

The Blades were swept by the Winnipeg Ice in the 2023 Eastern championship series.

We’re going back hungrier than every 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nqMeaww7g3

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 18, 2024

In Wednesday’s contest, Sidorov recorded a hat trick in his second straight game; he also had three goals in Saskatoon’s 8-5 victory in Game 3 on Tuesday.

The product of Vitebsk, Belarus has 10 goals in Saskatoon’s nine games this post-season after scoring 50 times in 66 regular-season games.

Brandon Lisowsky added a goal and two assists for the Blades, who got their other goals from Fraser Minten, Rowan Calvert and Alexander Suzdalev.

Evan Gardner turned aside all 26 shots he faced in the Saskatoon net to earn the shutout. Taylor Tabashniuk made 24 saves for the Rebels.

The Blades now await the winner of the other semifinal. The Moose Jaw Warriors took a 3-1 lead on the Swift Current Broncos in that best-of-seven series with a 5-2 road victory Wednesday.

Jagger Firkus had two goals and an assist for the Warriors, who scored four unanswered goals to overcome a 2-1 deficit.

Brayden Yager added a goal and a helper for Moose Jaw, while Ethan Hughes and Rilen Kovacevic also scored for the winners.

Conor Geekie and Caleb Wyrostok replied for the Broncos, who need to win Friday in Moose Jaw to prolong the series.