The Saskatoon Blades are heading into the Western Hockey League's Christmas break after a month of dramatic ups and downs, capping off a demanding stretch with a narrow home-ice loss.
Blades Drop Tight Contest to Raiders to Cap Busy Weekend
After a five-game losing streak to end November, the Blades rallied with three consecutive victories, including decisive wins over the Moose Jaw Warriors and Lethbridge Hurricanes. However, the momentum stalled on Sunday afternoon at the SaskTel Centre, where the rival Prince Albert Raiders edged out a 5-4 victory.
The game was the Blades' third in as many days. Saskatoon started strong, building a 3-1 lead in the first period on goals from Hayden Harsanyi, Kazden Mathies, and Tristen Doyle. Prince Albert responded forcefully in the second frame, scoring three unanswered goals from Brayden Dube, Brock Cripps, and captain Justice Christensen to take a 4-3 lead.
In the third period, former Raider defenceman Tyrone Sobry tied the game for Saskatoon, but Evan Smith netted the winner for Prince Albert at the 5:58 mark. The Raiders outshot the Blades 35-26 overall, holding a 28-18 advantage over the final two periods. On special teams, Saskatoon went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Prince Albert capitalized on one of their two opportunities.
Final Game Before Holiday Pause and Key Roster Shake-Up
The Blades have one final matchup before dispersing for the holidays. They are set to host the Kelowna Rockets on Wednesday night at SaskTel Centre. Following that game, the team will break for Christmas and return to action on December 27, facing off against the Regina Pats in a 7 p.m. start.
The holiday weekend schedule remains busy. The Blades will conclude a home-and-home series with the Pats in Regina on December 28 for a Sunday afternoon matinee. The team then travels to Brandon for a New Year's Day clash against the Wheat Kings.
In a significant move to address a depleted defensive corps, Blades general manager and president Colin Priestner executed a trade. Saskatoon acquired 19-year-old forward Elias Pul and 17-year-old defenceman Kaden Allen from the Spokane Chiefs. In exchange, the Blades sent overage import centre Dominik Petr and a 2029 fifth-round WHL draft pick to Spokane.
"I felt over the last month our group was in need of a shakeup," Priestner stated in a team release. "With the significant long-term injuries we have on the blue line, we thought it was a great opportunity to add a big 17-year-old defenceman that we feel has a great chance to be drafted to the NHL this summer."
Looking Ahead to the New Year
The roster adjustments signal the Blades' intent to solidify their lineup for the second half of the WHL season. The upcoming break provides a chance for players to rest and for new acquisitions to integrate. The team will look to regain its winning form and build consistency starting with the post-Christmas showdown against Regina. Fans will also keep an eye on Blades defenceman David Lewandowski, who is slated to represent Team Germany at the upcoming IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
