The 2024-25 Western Hockey League (WHL) season is true across the nook and all eyes shall be on the Saskatoon Blades. Final season, they completed first with 50 wins and 105 factors due to the energy of their veteran core. Sadly, a lot of these veterans are gone, having both aged out or gone to play professionally, leaving huge hole on the prime of the roster that won’t be simple to fill.
Nevertheless, the Blades’ remaining veterans aren’t too fearful concerning the pressures of the upcoming season. “I don’t suppose our mindset modifications going into this yr,” stated 20-year-old defenceman Ben Saunderson. “It’s not a re-set, laid-back yr for us. We’re nonetheless trying to come out on prime each evening…It’s going to be a distinct method of profitable. We had loads of expert older guys final yr and typically we’d get wins not taking part in our greatest hockey, and it’s going to want our full effort each evening.”
“It will be a distinct method of profitable”
📽️ Defenceman Ben Saunderson forward of Saturday’s @merlinyxe Dwelling Opener pic.twitter.com/6qrx3sZJ08
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 19, 2024
Saunderson’s excessive stage of confidence in his workforce isn’t undeserved. This workforce is aware of the right way to win and has performed so pretty constantly over the previous 4 seasons. However, with out Fraser Minten, Trevor Wong, Alexander Suzdalev, Yegor Sidorov, Easton Armstrong, and Charlie Wright, the Blades aren’t going to have the strongest offence like they did final season. As a substitute, Saskatoon will depend on their stable defence and stellar goaltending to grind out wins. They received’t be as fairly, however this workforce stays simply as aggressive because it did earlier than.
Moose Jaw Collection Left a Chip on Their Shoulder
Heading into the 2023-24 playoffs, Saskatoon was a favorite to take dwelling the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the primary time in franchise historical past. Sadly, they bumped into the Moose Jaw Warriors within the Convention Closing, dropping to them in seven video games. These reminiscences shall be powerful to neglect for the returning veterans.
Though the game-seven time beyond regulation loss was a troublesome tablet to swallow, Rowan Calvert might have one of the crucial painful experiences of the Blades’ closing recreation. A Moose Jaw native, his older brother, Atley Calvert, performed for the Warriors and helped them sweep previous the Prince George Cougars, and Rowan was within the stands, supporting his household. But it surely was powerful not to consider being on the ice as an alternative.
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“To be trustworthy, I didn’t need to go to the sport,” he stated forward of the Blades’ season opener towards the Swift Present Broncos. “That was what actually stung. He introduced the Cup to the home and I advised him, ‘Don’t convey it to the home.’ I wasn’t too pleased about that truthfully and that’s extra of what I’ve considered being a lot nearer to it…it’s positively fuelled me and it’s one thing that I’ll take into consideration for an extended, very long time.”
However the Blades aren’t bitter over the loss. “We weren’t mad with our efforts,” added Saunderson. “The main target is, that’s hockey and typically bounces don’t go your method…I don’t suppose anybody’s hanging their head.” Nor ought to they; six of the seven video games within the collection went into time beyond regulation, and though many left heartbroken after the 3-2 loss, none had been ashamed of what they’d completed, and now they’ll take that motivation to the remainder of the workforce.
Blades Happy with Their Skill to Defend
Nevertheless, regardless of how motivated the gamers are, they are going to have a more durable time placing the puck within the web. Of the ten highest scoring Blades within the playoffs final season, solely Brandon Lisowsky, Tanner Molendyk, Saunderson, and Grayden Siepmann stay, and the 4 mixed for 13 objectives. Sidorov alone scored 15, whereas Minten and Armstrong mixed for 14. That can go away Calvert, Misha Volotovskii, Tyler Parr, and Lukas Hansen to choose up loads of the slack. Calvert believes that they’re prepared for it, although. “They’re taking steps into turning into extra of the highest guys after we had been depth guys and performed a distinct function for the workforce’s success,” he stated. “Everybody’s acquired just a little bit extra bounce and everybody’s just a little bit extra excited.”
Nonetheless, that’s loads of duty to position on a bunch who hasn’t seen somebody file greater than 31 factors in a single season. Ben Riche was added to assist in that space, and though he led the WHL in pre-season scoring with 9 factors in 4 video games, he too hasn’t posted greater than 35 factors in a season. It is going to actually assist to have Evan Gardner again in web and can look to construct on his spectacular rookie numbers, however one participant received’t be capable of flip the tides.
That’s the place the Blades’ secret weapon is available in – defence. “It’s one thing that we actually take pleasure is defending right here,” stated Saunderson, “and even in case you have all of the ability on the planet you continue to should defend. It’s tremendous essential to us and one thing we glance to do each single evening.” New head coach Dan DaSilva additionally emphasised the significance of taking part in a decent defensive recreation, saying, “Before everything, now we have to be actually structurally and sound defensively. It’s not going to be simple to attain towards us. We’re going to be very, very tight defensively. We take loads of pleasure in that.”
On prime of Saunderson and Molendyk, who just lately returned from the Nashville Predators coaching camp, the Blades can even have Siepmann, who made vital strides final season after coming over from the Calgary Hitmen and was invited to the Washington Capitals’ rookie camp. At 6-foot-4, Morgan Tastad will add some much-needed physicality and dimension on the again finish as will the 6-foot-2 17-year-old Isaac Ballot, whereas 16-year-old Brayden Klimpke has stood out early due to his pace and intelligence, drawing reward from each Saunderson and DaSilva.
Saskatoon’s Younger Guys Will Be taught from the Greatest
Nobody is kidding themselves that this workforce will replicate final season’s success. Nevertheless, nobody is taking this as a rebuilding season regardless of so many 16 and 17-year-olds on the roster. As a substitute, the main focus has been on management and serving to the younger guys succeed whereas taking part in powerful, aggressive hockey. Saunderson mirrored on final season’s loss as a motivator for this season, saying, “Falling quick final yr brings motivation to the older guys and simply making an attempt to get that in via the younger guys, we’re right here to win video games…I’ve been right here for 5 years now, I do know what the day-to-day is like and what it takes to achieve success on this league and simply form of present the younger guys the place to go from there.”
Gamers like Klimpke, Zach Olsen, Vlastimil Blazek, Willy James, Cooper Williams, and Colten Worthington couldn’t ask for a greater place to be. Every one seems primed for a really profitable junior profession and have all proven flashes of brilliance throughout coaching camp and pre-season video games, however now it’s time to determine the right way to succeed all through a WHL season. In line with DaSilva, all of it comes down to at least one factor – getting higher each day.
There’s nonetheless lots to do earlier than the Blades’ season opener on Friday, Sept. 20 and their dwelling opener on Saturday, Sept. 21 each towards the Broncos. Profitable these video games will take loads of gritty hockey. However Saskatoon is aware of what they’re moving into, they usually’re able to strive some new issues with a purpose to stay among the best within the league.
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