Saturday, February 27, 2010

Blades Punished By Pats.... Jordan Eberle Puts On A Show Once Again........

Wow was this ever a head scratcher of a game!!!!!!!!!! The Pats just outworked & outplayed the Blades in every area of the game tonight. Not much else to say really. It was once again a pleasure to watch Jordan Eberle as usual..... The Oilers picked a good one...........

Keep into consideration that that fact of the matter was: The Blades just finished 3 games in 5 nights and they looked tired out there...

Travis Toomey was the Hardest Working Player and Marek Viedensky had the Hit of the Game. Although it was late hit and also looked like it was from behind and was penalized for it. There was another hit that should have been awarded hit of the game...... oh well.

The final score was 3-0 for the Pats,they also out shot the Blades 29-19.

I was surprised that the Pats did not sweep the 3 star selection!!!!!!!

There was a very proud & brave group of Pats fans sitting in the bottom of my section tonight. I loved the sign they had too..... short but to the point, Here is what it said: "WE HAVE EBERLE" No disrespect at all but I had a chuckle,because yes he is a world class talent and and a classy guy but if the Pats do not make it into the playoffs then why did they Keep Jordan Eberle and also Colton Tuebert.... I can answer that myself haha. They think they still can make the playoffs but they would have been set for a couple seasons after this one if they would have dealt those two players.....and the offers were out there.

From what I heard it sounds like Levi Bews will remain with the Blades for the duration of the regular season.

The Blades have a 3 game road trip coming up and the game against Brandon is on Shaw TV on Wednesday night and I work a closing shift so I will probably miss a dandy of a game. They will then play in Edmonton and Calgary on the weekend.

The Blades next home game is on Wednesday March 9th against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

I was told by someone tonight that the Playoffs start on March 19th... I hope this is true because I might be off to Las Vegas for a Canadian Paralympic Soccer Team training camp on April 1st-5th. So I hope the WHL hockey gods help me out haha.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Blades Shut-out Raiders

I thought that the Raiders would put up a fight in this game because Garrett Zemlak was in goal...... Adam Morrison was given the start.... I almost forgot that he was our other goalie because Steven Stanford was getting most of the games.

I am not picking on of trying to make fun of anyone here.... (well except maybe the Philliadelphia Flyers for taking him so high) but yet again they took unranked Garrett Klotz in the 2nd or 3rd round, But there are some things that Adam Morrison needs to work on... one thing that I noticed tonight is that he needs to work on his glove hand.

Other than that he played an ok game. The Blades as a team struggled periodically bringing the puck up ice and even making passes.

Josh Nicholls played an excellent game tonight,and he has not stepped it up for a while. Good for him.

Even Randy McNaught scored a goal tonight.

Both Marek Viedensky and Derek Hulak had strong games as well.

Charles Inglis threw the hit of the game and Dalton Thrower was awarded the Hardest working player award...well I dont think you are given a medal or anything haha but just recognized for your hard work with these awards.

The Blades scored 5 goals and the defence played solid which allowed Adam Morrison to get the shutout.

The Blades out shot the Raiders 41-32 and the Blades swept the 3 star selections as well. Derek Hulak was the 1st star.Adam Morrison was the 2nd star and Marek Viedensky was the 3rd star.

The Blades have 93 points. Tomorrow night Jordan Eberle and his crew roll into Saskatoon after playing on the road in Swift Current tonight. The Broncos defeated the Pats tonight 6-4...... It should be a good game tomorrow......

East Division Battle....... Double Header @ Home This weekend.

Tonight and tomorrow night the Blades will take on two teams that are fighting for a playoff spot. Prince Albert is tonight and Regina is on Saturday night. It is always a treat to watch Jordan Eberle and Colton Tuebert. We might see fireworks in one of these two games or both because these two teams have always disliked one another.. It should be a good weekend of hockey.

I was going to watch my brother and his team play in a hockey tournament in PA on Saturday and Sunday but I can not go. I am glad that I have a back up plan...watch the Blades this weekend.

Have a good weekend........

Go Blades Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Blades WOW the Warriors.

I checked the score of the game once and it was 3-1 Warriors going into the 3rd period.

I thought to myself another loss for the Blades but I get home and check the score.... I was thrilled!!!!!!

The Blades scored 3 consecutive goals and obviously one in Overtime to take the game 4-3.

I bet you that the bus ride back to Saskatoon is gonna be much more enjoyable and may go by faster as well.

The Blades are still 3 points up on the Wheat Kings and 2 points up on the Calgary Hitmen.

Another double header this weekend at the CUC.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Blades Fall to Bruins in a Shootout. 15 Year Old Levi Bews Makes His WHL Debut.

The Blades coming off of a win against the Wheat Kings in their last game were without Travis Toomey and may be without him for sometime because he has a bruised kidney... The Bruins came out to play and any team who has a respectable coach should be in a game no matter what because coaches are important and Marc Habschied is a good coach.

This game was a close game and at times the Blades were fighting the puck and struggling but when they did gain the offensive zone they did pretty well.

I have to say this: I thought Sam Klassen had a rough night causing 2 giveaways that lead to Bruins goals. Hopefully he can redeem himself this weekend.

Kudos to Lorne Molleken, for acquiring Sena Acolatse because he has played the defensive role really well. He even made some nice hits out there too.

I think that those BC based teams are really well coached and they play solid hockey. Proof being that both Vancouver and Chilliwack defeated the Blades who have a pretty impressive record,but any team can win on any given night!

I have to say I liked the Darian Dzuirzynski that was not taking so many questionable or stupid penalties. I hope he can stay out of the box and find his game again.

Randy McNaught did manage to score against his former team and I thought he could have easily had 1 or 2 more goals but putting up points is not his specialty,but that is A ok if he does put up points.

Jamie Crooks on the other hand spent 4 minutes in the penalty box and was held pointless.

The Blades were trailing 4-3 until Walker Wintoneak stole the puck from behind the Bruins net and fed a pass in front to Charles Inglis who tied up the game 4-4.

Levi Bews (who the Blades selected in the 2nd round,42nd overall) of the 2009 WHL Bantam draft was called up and he saw limited ice time but he looks like he has the potential to be a good player in this league.

16 year old rookie Brent Benson was the Hardest Working player tonight and Gaelan Patterson delivered the hit of the game.

But it took awhile before the Shootout even started because as per usual the Zamboni came out and scraped centre ice but there was a delay and it was because he did not do a proper job of scraping the ice or something because the referee and linesmen were explaining to him what he needed to do.... I thought it was kind of weird because I have never seen anything like it before.

On to the Shootout.

Jeremy Boyer shot 1st for the Blades he deked and tried to flip the puck in the net but was stopped.

Marek Viedensky tried the same through the legs shot that he scored with before but shot the puck wide.

Ryan Howse and Jesse Craige both scored for Chilliwack giving the Bruins the victory.

The Blades are still 1 point ahead of Brandon because Vancouver did them a favor by shutting out the Wheat Kings 4-0.

The Blades will travel to Moose Jaw on Wednesday to battle the Warriors.

The Blades have a pair of home games this weekend.... Friday taking on the Prince Albert Raiders and Saturday the Regina Pats are in town.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Holy Comeback Batman!!!!!! Blades Beat Wheat Kings.....

The Brandon Wheat Kings started the game exactly the way they wanted to and they scored 3 goals to go up 3-0. The Blades did not play dead either they scored two goals of their own,and penalties was the Blades problem early on.

The Blades did a pretty good job of shutting down the Wheat Kings offensive weapons,and yes there are many weapons on that Wheat Kings team.

Sena Acolatse was one of the best defenders for the Blades tonight but I think the winner this game was Sam Klassen. He threw the hardest body check of the game and was the hardest working player,chipped in with an assist and was the games 1st star.

When the Blades were down and out they found a way as a team to battle back. Randy McNaught showed some offensive promise by taking the puck to the net a couple of times and directing some decent shots on goal.

Darian Dzuirynski was all over the score sheet and a very effective player tonight tallying a goal and an assist as well as 6 minutes in penalties. He was named the 2nd star of the game tonight.

I thought each player showed what they can do on the ice and together that helped the Blades get the win. Steven Stanford played great in net making big saves.

The final score was 6-4 for the Blades.

The Blades and Wheat Kings are now tied at 88 points each.

Randy McNaught will face his former team on Tuesday and former Blade Jamie Crooks will do the same as the Chilliwack Bruins are touring the East Division.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Blades Could not Contain Giants.

The Blades were working hard but they could not really generate any more than 2 good scoring chances,and the Vancouver Giants were just a tough team to play against tonight.

Walker Wintoneak opened the scoring for the Blades but after that there was no hope really for the Blades in sight. I mean they did keep the game close but they did not ever have a 2nd lead of the game and I think if a team can not do that then it will be very difficult to win hockey games.

Stefan Elliott scored the 2nd goal for the Blades,and they tried to tie the game up by pulling Steven Stanford but no dice and they allowed 2 empty net goals.

Travis Toomey was responsible for the hit of the game and Randy McNaught was the Hardest Working player once again.

The final score was 5-2 for the Giants and the Blades even out shot the visiting team 32-23.

The Blades better be ready for the Brandon Wheat Kings tomorrow because they defeated the Pats pretty easily tonight by a score of 10-2.

Brandon is now 2 points ahead of the Blades.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Blades Route Rebels & Reach 40 wins.

The Blades really came out firing guns a blazing as Darcy Kuemper was only in the Rebels net for 6:36 of the 1st period.He then was replaced in favor of Kraymer Barnstable. The Blades had a 4-0 lead early and never looked back,every Blades player played a solid game but I thought Darian Dzuirzynski was not himself....he was not really throwing too many hits or trying to get under their skin like he usually does.

The Blades had other guys do that tonight.

Some stat info here: Derek Hulak had 3 points(1G & 2A) and 17 PIMS 1st star of the game

Charles Inglis had 1 assist 2 fights and I think he won his first tussle against Turner Elson but had a much more difficult time with the much taller Alex Petrovic. Inglis was named 3rd star.

Josh Nicholls had 2 goals

Marek Viedensky had 3 points (1G & 2A) Also was named 2nd star.

Sam Klassen was awarded the Hit of the Game,and Randy McNaught was awarded the Hardest Working Player of the Game.


Brent Benson did not hit the score sheet but he leveled Nick Bell (I think it was) into the Blades bench and he completely went head over heals!!!) It was pretty impressive.

The Blades beat the Rebels 8-1 and hopefully the bridge city bunch can continue this into the weekend against the Giants and Wheat Kings.

With this victory tonight the Blades are assured a spot in the post season!!!!!!!!!!

These two teams could potentally meet in the playoffs (if the standings stayed the same) It also depends on the crossover rule which I am not to sure about.

Game Day VS Red Deer.

The Blades are still looking for their 40th win of the season and they will try to get it against the Ref Deer Rebels @ the CUC tonight.

The Blades recently completed a 3 in 3 coming away with 2 wins. They also play 6 of their next 7 games at home to end out February.

The Blades currently sit in 4th in the CHL Top 10 Rankings. Success feels good haha.

More thoughts after the game tonight!!!!!!!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Blades End Road trip With A Loss

One could say that the Blades were out of gas having played 3 games in 3 nights but I am sure that these guys should be able to handle this type of thing. It also depends on many factors: how physical the game was and how much time of possession the Blades controlled. The Blades were successful 2 out of 3 times meaning 2 wins in 3 games which in my mind is awesome. Keep in mind that the Kootenay Ice are a good hockey team. The final score was 6-3 for the Ice.

The Blades are still one win short to hit 40 on the season.

The Blades now play 6 0f their last 7 games in the rest of the month of February at home,so get used to seeing a fair amount of Blades games at the CUC over the next half month or so. The Blades will play teams like: Red Deer,Vancouver,Brandon,Chilliwack,Regina,Prince Albert.

Hopefully some good games can be played at home because a team should be able to win @ home or on the road.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Blades Play Overtime Spoiler In Lethbridge.

The game was a back and forth type of game and in the 3rd period when the Blades had a powerplay to start the 3rd they capitalized on it as Marek Viedensky was the goal getter on the play,thus tying the score at 2 a piece.

In the overtime Derek Hulak the captain scored the winner while being assisted by Sena Acolatse.

3-2 was the score.

This win gives the Blades them a 2-0 record on the trip and increases the winning streak to 5 games now.

Another tough game tonight against the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook. I loved Les Lazaruk's call at the end of the O.T when the Blades scored "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner".

I absolutely love listening to him call Blades games but do not get me wrong, there are other great announcers out there in the WHL. Jon Keen is a good one and they are all pretty good because teams do not hire anyone to do this job. So kudos to ALL of the WHL Radio Broadcasters!!!!!!! I will admit this would be MY DREAM JOB.......

For now the Blades are 4 points up on Calgary and 1 point up on the Wheat Kings. So the hard work must continue for the bridge city bunch.

Blades Tame Tigers Take Season Series 4-1

The Blades special teams(P.P) seemed to secure them the 5-2 victory tonight. Marek Viedensky and Darian Dzuiryznski each had 2 points as well as Gaelan Patterson and Stefan Elliott. The Blades captain came through with a 3 point effort tonight as the Blades beat up on the Tigers by a score of 5-3.

The Blades continue their trip with a visit to Lethbridge to take on the Hurricanes .

Expect another good game tonight in Lethbridge.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Blades Invade The Gas City (Medicine Hat)

Tonight is the 1st of 3 games in 3 nights for the bridge city bunch. The Blades are riding a 3 game winning streak meanwhile the Tigers are riding a single game winning streak. This is final meeting between these two teams.

May the best team win. I hope the CUC(who is hosting the Motor Sports Spectacular) will let the people in the building know the score of the Blades game is but just in case my radio will be accompanying me.

On a side note I am excited to seeing Motor Sports Spectacular tonight.

An update will follow on the blog, after the Blades game and after I get home from my night out.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Blades Battle Back & Beat Broncos in the Shoot-out

As mentioned in my previous post I did not attend the game,but hopefully soccer will not be on the same day as Blades home games from now on.

The score was one 1-0 Broncos for the entire game until Josh Nicholls scored to give the Blades life again. and 2 Blades shooters were successful in the shoot-out to lift the Blades onto victory.

The Blades will now head out on a 3 games road trip,a 3 in 3. In Medicine Hat on Friday,In Lethbridge on Saturday,and in Cranbrook against the Ice on Sunday the 15th to end the road trip.

The Blades have home games on Wednesday the 17th, Friday the 19th and Saturday the 20th..... That is what I like to see. LOTS OF HOCKEY!!!!!!!!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Blades Cook Up A Storm!!!!!!!!

The Blades DID NOT get off to a good start in this game,going down 3-0 in the 1st period. This game kinda dragged on and it did not help that the Blades were loosing. The crowd was becoming restless but a couple of power play opportunities changed that.

The Blades regained their confidence as the game progressed and battled through a very skilled Wheat Kings team.

Even though the Blades took some silly penalties and IMO made lazy passes at times but they turned up their compete level and scored when it mattered most.

The Blades came from behind and tied up the hockey game in the 3rd period and they made it count in the extra frame.

I think they stunned the Wheat Kings with there desire to continue working hard while trailing because after the Wheat Kings were up 3-0 that early in the game, I thought against a team like Brandon it would be hard to comeback but they proved me wrong and good on them for doing that.

The final score was 4-3 for the home team and a win which now ties the Blades and Wheat Kings for the East Division lead. GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Blades have another home date against the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday Feb.10th and I have a soccer game at 7:30 that night so I choose to miss that Blades game.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Blades Outlast Pats... 5-4

It took the Saskatoon Blades a shootout to beat the Regina Pats tonight but they did it and that is all that matters.

Walker Wintoneak scored in the 6th round of the shootout to secure the victory.

The Blades play at home tomorrow against the team that they are trying to catch: The Brandon Wheat Kings.

That is all until Saturday night.

Busy weekend for myself!!!!!!!!!! Have a good one!!!!!!!

Game Day Blades @ Pats

After the Blades did not beat the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday night in PA, they look to redeem themselves against a desperate Regina Pats team. I hope the US Roadtrip edition of the Blades show up tonight (minus some key bodies of course) It would be neat to see them go on a streak like that again. The Blades defence will have to stop the Jordans (Eberle and Weal) but I think the Blades should be up for that task.

The next Blades home game is Saturday when they face the Brandon Wheat Kings at the CUC.

May the best/hungrier team win tonight!!!!!!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Blades Handled By Raiders.

I only have the final scored to report cause I was not able to watch the game on Shaw....due to soccer.

Marek Viedensky was in on all 3 goals tonight so it is good to see and it looks like this trade paid off for the Blades.

The Blades were held to just 3 goals and the Raiders scored 7 to secure the win (and help out the Wheat Kings)

The Blades will now face the Regina Pats in the queen City on Friday,and will play at home against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday night.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Ok time for a RANT!!!!!! NHL & Saskatoon related.

I read in the paper today that Credit Union Centre is having another NHL exhibition game (probably next season sometime) Want to take a guess at who the teams are??? This is an easy one. It is the Calgary Flames and New York Islanders again!!!!!!!!!

I can understand that the amount of money that must be spent on travel plus bringing in all of the equiptment and all that jazz and I already saw a game between these two teams. If Florida and the New York Islanders can play here than surely any other NHL team can too.

I guess with Saskatoon hosting the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships it says something but I guess it does not say enough about how awesome of a city Saskatoon is and how great the province of Saskatchewan is.

I just hope that they add another game with a team like Tononto or Vancouver against a US team. I mean now the CUC is a World Class Arena so why not give Saskatoon hockey fans a variety and switch up the teams playing in exhibition games here. Obviously I know Calgary and Edmonton are 45 minute plane rides from Saskatoon and about a 7 hour drive but not everyone can afford that to see an NHL game. Unless they win a contest of course. That would be nice wouldn't it?

Speaking about Saskatoon and hockey(specifically WHL) I was talking to my brother's teamates Dad ,at my brother's hockey practice (which just happened to be at the CUC) and he is suggesting that with an arena of 15,000 + why not lower the ticket prices to get more butts in the seats? That is if they want to aleast fill the seats because, What is the point of having them there if they are goin to be empty. Saskatoon tickets are fairly cheap when you look at Edmonton. Yes I kow that the WHL is not going to lower single game ticket prices but I find it OUTRIGHT PATHETIC that a game on NATIONAL TV was only seen live by about 4,000 people and ok it was on a weekday but here comes my point Saskatoon is not a junior hockey city. In My Opinion.

I know people will make up excuses and cry till the cows come home but hey the Blades are a winning hockey team!!!!!!! That in itself should draw people to the games and to watch great hockey players too.

ok I think I am done now.

My passion for the Toronto Maple Leafs is starting to come alive again!!! Thanks to Brian Burke for acquiring Dion Phaneuf.