Few expected the Saskatoon Blades to be competing for first place in the East Division this season. Too much talent had left the team from last year’s roster, which finished first in the Western Hockey League (WHL). But this group has persevered every step of the way, making the race to first one of the most chaotic in league history. With just two games remaining, three teams were still competing for the top spot.
Unfortunately, the Blades couldn’t get by the Prince Albert Raiders, picking up just one point in their final two games against them. That left them sixth in the Eastern Conference and forced to face the Calgary Hitmen, who were a win away from taking first place in the Conference from the dominant Medicine Hat Tigers.
On paper, it’s a lopsided matchup; Saskatoon finished with 82 points and scored only 235 goals, the second-lowest total among teams in the Eastern Conference playoffs, while the Hitmen loaded up at the deadline and soared to second in the Conference and third in the league while scoring 266 goals and allowing just 183, the second lowest of any team in the playoffs. However, the two teams may be more evenly matched than expected, promising a hard-fought and exciting series.
Hitmen Have Skill and Experience Over the Blades
The Hitmen didn’t luck their way into nearly claiming first place in the Conference. After failing to make the playoffs last season, leading to a brand-new coaching staff, it was all but expected Calgary would be a top competitor in 2024-25. Defenceman Carter Yakemchuk had just been selected seventh overall at the NHL Draft, with Carson Wetsch following him in the third round. Ben Kindel and Reese Hamilton also looked ready to break out after strong rookie seasons and emerge as top prospects for the 2025 Draft.
However, the Hitmen were leaving nothing to chance. At the beginning of the season, they acquired 20-year-old Connor Hvidston from the Swift Current Broncos. Then, at the deadline, they sent Hamilton to the Regina Pats for 2024 Canadian World Junior member Tanner Howe, then acquired his international teammate Sawyer Mynio from the Seattle Thunderbirds. Finally, they added 20-year-olds Kalem Parker from the 2024 WHL Champion Moose Jaw Warriors and goalie Daniel Hauser from the Wenatchee Wild to give their roster some added grit and experience.
Yet, Hitmen veteran Oliver Tulk led the team in points, becoming the first player to hit the 100-point plateau since Brandon Kozun in 2010. He also led the team with 38 goals, which ranked 13th among all WHL players. Right behind him was Kindel, who led all draft-eligible WHLers with 99 points, while his 35 goals were third. Wetsch was the final 30-goal scorer, hitting 33. Yakemchuk wasn’t nearly as offensively driven this season, but with Mynio and Parker, the team’s defence was smothering. If anyone got through them, they had to get by Hauser, who was a brick wall for the Hitmen, posting five shutouts in 25 appearances.
While the Blades roster went to the Conference Final last season against the Warriors, the team moved some of their most skilled veterans at the deadline. Brandon Lisowsky was the first to drop, going to the Victoria Royals for Tanner Scott, and he was followed by Lukas Hansen, Ben Riche, Tanner Molendyk, and Misha Volotovskii. In their place were a bunch of fresh-faced 17 and 18-year-olds who offered a lot of potential for the future, but not as much for this season.
Related: Saskatoon Blades Defy the Odds to Clinch Playoff Berth
That left Tyler Parr and Rowan Calvert to propel the offence, with the former leading the team with 61 points and the latter putting up a team-high 24 goals. They got some help from the newly acquired Hunter Laing and Hayden Harsanyi, who combined for 26 goals, while Rookie Cooper Williams hit the 20-goal mark and finished with 57 points. Goalie Evan Gardner sustained an injury that kept him out roughly a month, but he remained one of the best goalies in the WHL, finishing with a .911 save percentage and 23 wins in 44 appearances. While it can’t compare to the Hitmen’s offence, it worked out well enough for Saskatoon, as they kept on winning despite losing several core pieces.
Blades and Hitmen Split Regular Season Matchups
The Blades’ tenacity was evident against the Hitmen. The two teams faced each other four times this season, yet despite their gap in the standings, the series was remarkably close. Both teams won twice, with the Blades slightly edging Calgary 16-15 in total goals, and in their most recent meeting, Saskatoon won 6-3.
Given the Blades’ ability to match top teams despite their skill gap, this series has a chance to go the whole seven games. However, it won’t be easy, and there are several players Saskatoon will need to deal with if they want a chance to move on to the second round. The first is Tulk, who tallied four goals and eight points against the Blades, all of which came against Gardner. He went scoreless only against Saskatoon’s backup Ethan McCallum, who backstopped the Blades in their February meeting.
Kindel was also a problem against the Blades, scoring three goals and seven points. However, all three of his goals came on Dec. 7, with the final goal getting the Hitmen the 5-4 win in overtime. Hvidston was the only other player who recorded multiple goals against Saskatoon. Hauser, who just set a WHL record with 123 wins in his junior career, struggled against Saskatoon, allowing seven goals on 42 shots and posting a .833 save percentage (SV%) over two appearances.
Meanwhile, the Blades had a few players who snuck a couple of goals by the Hitmen over their four meetings. Calvert was the most effective against Calgary, scoring twice and adding four assists, while Grayden Siepmann, Williams, and Hudson Kibblewhite also scored twice. Lisowsky also contributed a couple of goals before leaving to Victoria, and his replacement, Scott, only faced the Hitmen twice and put up one assist. Like Hauser, Gardner was also uncharacteristically subpar in their meetings, posting a .847 SV% in two appearances against Calgary while allowing nine goals on 59 shots. When Calgary and Saskatoon met, it was almost always a high-scoring affair.
While Calgary still has an edge over Saskatoon thanks to Kindel, Wetsch, and Tulk all hitting 30 goals and Parker, Mynio, and Howe bringing international and championship experience, the Blades have proven again and again that they cannot be underestimated. They’ve gotten better with each passing game, and now they get to put all that they’ve learned to the test. While the goal is likely to build for the future, they won’t shrug off the chance to take it earlier than expected.
