The Saskatoon Blades had plenty of questions heading into 2024-25, however the largest was who was going to take over as the first scorer. The group misplaced Yegor Sidorov, Easton Armstrong, Fraser Minten, Trevor Wong, and Alexander Suzdalev, who mixed for 121 targets final season (practically 50% of all of the targets the Blades scored.) The quintet additionally put up just below 45% of Saskatoon’s assists, with Wong’s 86 assists main the group. These had been some huge skates to fill, and whereas nobody doubted Brandon Lisowsky’s means to place the puck away, he was going to wish plenty of assist to convey the Blades again to the highest of the standings.
But, after three video games, the Blades sit first within the Jap Convention, are the one group and not using a regulation or time beyond regulation loss, they usually did so with out the help of Lisowsky or Tanner Molendyk, each of whom are nonetheless away at NHL camps. They haven’t been gritty, 2-1 wins both; the Blades at the moment sit second within the Western Hockey League (WHL) with 17 targets. There are various causes for Saskatoon’s sizzling begin, however one of many largest must be newcomer Ben Riche, who leads the group with 4 targets. He has not solely meshed nicely with the core in Saskatoon, however he’s change into precisely what the group wanted – somebody who can put pucks within the web.
Riche Thriving With First-Line Deployment
A local of Bethune, Saskatchewan, Riche started his profession with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2021-22 and promised to be a premier sniper within the WHL, however by the 2023-24 season, the 2020 second-round bantam draft decide hadn’t scored greater than 15 targets in a season. With the Warriors had been taking a look at making at run on the league title, Riche was shipped off to the Victoria Royals for veterans Brayden Schuurman and Kalem Parker.
In Victoria, Riche was given a extra outstanding position, transferring as much as the second line, and responded by scoring a hat trick in his second sport with the group. However the Royals struggled to string wins collectively, and though they made the playoffs, they had been shortly despatched residence by the Portland Winterhawks. Riche went scoreless within the sequence regardless of ending the season with 15 targets and 34 factors. The hope was the group would take a step ahead the next season and Riche would emerge as a worthwhile top-six centre.
That’s when the Blades got here calling, providing the Royals 20-year-old Vaughn Watterodt in a one-for-one swap. Common supervisor Colin Priestner was frank concerning the commerce, saying, “With our 20 yr outdated state of affairs, we felt it was the appropriate time to make a transfer to make sure Vaughn had an awesome touchdown spot within the league with an rising group. Getting a talented 19-year-old centre again in Ben Riche made it quite a bit simpler to do.”
Nevertheless, the transfer couldn’t have turned out higher for the Blades. Riche immediately slot in with Saskatoon’s returning group and by no means felt like there was a transition interval. “Actually, from the second I stepped in, I got here a bit bit early and we did a bit youngsters camp which was good for me to return meet a few of the guys,” he mentioned forward of the 2024-25 season. “They had been very welcoming, nice group and it’s all the time been tremendous optimistic and an awesome ambiance within the room… Regardless that it’s a reasonably completely different group from final yr you may inform it’s fairly tight, proper? All people could be very inclusive and we’ve acquired a great management core in order that makes it quite a bit simpler to return into a gaggle like this and have some enjoyable.”
Enjoyable is correct. Riche led the WHL preseason with two targets and 7 factors in 4 video games, and within the Blades’ home-and-home sequence towards the Swift Present Broncos to start the season, he scored three targets and added two assists whereas taking part in on the Blades prime line. “It’s thrilling for me,” he mentioned when requested about being one of many group’s go-to producers. “That’s one thing I’ve all the time needed to do and I’ve needed to grow to be that position on this league and I do know I can, in order that’s what I’m right here to do and present.”
DaSilva’s Deal with Velocity
There’s no query that Riche has change into an instantaneous favorite in Saskatoon because of his unimaginable manufacturing to date, however the teaching workers have been equally impressed with him. From day one, head coach Dan DaSilva was blown away with how briskly he was. “I knew, clearly, his skating, he’s a extremely quick skater,” he mentioned, “however I didn’t understand how briskly he was. We had a follow on Monday (Sept. 16) the place he was simply flying by everybody. It was loopy how briskly, he was at one other degree.”
Skating has all the time been huge for DaSilva. It was the very first thing he talked about about Riche, and the Blades’ coach talked about it once more when speaking about not too long ago acquired defenceman Cameron Sytsma, saying, “I’m a giant fan of men who can transfer on the ice. I believe the best way that the sport’s going, has been going for a couple of years, you bought to have the ability to skate.” But it surely’s not all about skating, and DaSilva addressed a couple of issues he needed Riche to enhance on. “He’s acquired some issues defensively we have to work on,” he admitted, “however he’s the preseason level chief so hopefully that carries over.”
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Riche smiled when informed about these feedback, however he didn’t appear too shocked. “[My skating is] one thing that I’m assured in, it’s one thing I’ve labored on quite a bit over the previous 10 years, it’s one thing I do know I like to make use of and I’m going to proceed to maintain utilizing it.” He was additionally assured with DaSilva’s criticisms, including, “I believe the consistency is certainly necessary. It’s one thing I’ve been engaged on quite a bit and I believe that’s form of me as a participant. So I believe I simply acquired to maintain working at these little issues.”
Lisowsky’s Immanent Return Guarantees Even Larger Returns
Thus far, Riche has been thriving alongside Tyler Parr, who leads the group with seven factors, and teen Willy James, who’s trying to earn a extra constant position after taking part in 26 video games final season. His velocity and consciousness allow him to get to the appropriate spot on the proper time, making him the road’s major finisher.
However the prime line is probably going going to get shuffled barely within the close to future, because it appears to be like like Lisowsky will quickly be returning to the lineup after he was made one of many group’s alternate captains for this season. That’s going to have an effect on Riche’s deployment barely, as Lisowsky served as the first finisher for Minten and Suzdalev, though Minten took over because the second line’s scorer within the playoffs. Having two guys who play related roles might end in some clashes, however Riche isn’t taking a look at preventing for a spot on the highest line. As an alternative, he’s excited concerning the potential of taking part in alongside an awesome participant like Lisowsky. “It’s been nice,” he mentioned in the course of the preseason concerning discovering consistency together with his new linemates. “Hopefully when Lisowsky will get again right here we will fireplace it up a bit bit extra.”
Riche has accomplished the whole lot requested of him and extra early into 2024-25, which has made him one of many Blades’ greatest gamers to start out the season. His means to push the play and rating targets has made the transition from final season’s championship-calibre roster to this season’s retooled lineup specializing in youth a a lot simpler one. Who is aware of? Perhaps with him centreing the highest line, Saskatoon can stay one of many prime groups within the WHL.
