Saskatoon Blades
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Saskatoon Blades | |
---|---|
City | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
League | Western Hockey League |
Conference | Eastern |
Division | East |
Founded | 1964 |
Home arena | SaskTel Centre |
Colours | Navy blue, royal blue, silver and white |
Owner(s) | Mike Priestner |
General manager | Colin Priestner [1] |
Head coach | Dean Brockman [2] |
Website www.saskatoonblades.com |
The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat SaskTel Centre.
Contents
History[edit]
The Saskatoon Blades were originally founded in 1964 as part of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and transferred leagues in 1966–67 with the foundation of the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League. The WCHL renamed itself the Western Hockey League in 1978 with the inclusion of some US based teams. Of the seven original franchises, the Blades are the only team to have never relocated or left the league (the Regina Pats returned to the SJHL from 1968 to 1970).
The Blades spent a number of seasons at the old Saskatoon Arena and developed many future professional players, such as Bernie Federko, Wendel Clark and Pat Price. The Blades hold the dubious distinction of having the longest championship drought in the Canadian Hockey League, having never won the WHL Championship or Memorial Cup in their entire history. As of 2016, the Blades also have the longest playoff drought in the CHL, having not made the playoffs since 2013.
In 1988, the Blades moved to Saskatchewan Place (now SaskTel Centre) and hosted the Memorial Cup tournament in May of that year. As the host city, they were allowed to play in the tournament independent of their season standing. In the tournament, they finished the round robin with a 5–4 victory over the Swift Current Broncos, who had a 14-game undefeated streak dating back to the start of the WHL playoffs. Despite their strong performance, the Blades ultimately lost the Final to the Broncos in overtime. In the early 90s, the team was one of the strongest in the league and made it to the league finals twice, losing to the Kamloops Blazers in both 1992 and 1994. The Blades have not returned to the final round of the playoffs since despite several successful regular seasons, including winning the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy in 2010-11 as the regular season champions.
The Blades were owned by the Brodsky family for 37 years [3] On August 27, 2013, the team was sold to Go Auto owner Mike Priestner for a reported $9 million.[4] Throughout their existence the team has had a fierce rivalry with the Prince Albert Raiders, although recently the team has placed more of a focus on its growing rivarlry with Regina Pats. As many of the players are still in their mid-teens andcontinue to go to high school, Marion M. Graham Collegiate plays educational host to many of the players, due to the short distance from their home rink.
Before the start of the 2005-06 season, the Blades retired their long-time mascot Helmutt, an anthropomorphic dog whose name was a pun on the word helmet, in favor of a mascot that would appeal to younger fans. Helmutt was replaced by Poke Check, a yeti, at the Blades home opener that season. He has since remained the team's mascot, and also appears at community events throughout Saskatoon.
Highlights[edit]
In the 2008–09 season, the Saskatoon Blades made history by tying a WHL record for most road wins in a single season (28) with the 1999–00 Calgary Hitmen. In that season, the Blades went on to win their first East Division Championship since 1994.
With a 5-3 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, the Blades clinched first place in the Western Hockey League and earned themselves the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL's champion with the most points earned during the regular season.
Current roster[edit]
Updated April 24, 2015.[5]
NHL alumni[edit]
Bernie Federko is the only former Blade in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
- Dennis Abgrall
- Brent Ashton
- Blair Atcheynum
- Mike Babcock
- Frank Banham
- Wade Belak
- Ryan Bonni
- Bob Bourne
- Dave Brown
- Murray Brumwell
- Jeff Buchanan
- Lindsay Carson
- Blair Chapman
- Kelly Chase
- Rich Chernomaz
- Tim Cheveldae
- Wendel Clark
- Pat Conacher
- Barry Cummins
- Larry DePalma
- Bruce Eakin
- Stefan Elliott
- Jerry Engele
- Martin Erat
- Garnet Exelby
- Bernie Federko
- Perry Ganchar
- Michael Garnett
- Randy Gilhen
- Colton Gillies
- Brian Glynn
- Lee Goren
- Mike Green
- Mike Greenlay
- Marc Habscheid
- Bill Hajt
- Curtis Hamilton
- Neil Hawryliw
- Dale Henry
- Bob Hoffmeyer
- Bill Hogaboam
- Braden Holtby
- Doug Horbul
- Darcy Hordichuk
- Randy Ireland
- Grant Jennings
- Terry Johnson
- Kevin Kaminski
- Ryan Keller
- Dean Kennedy
- Anton Khudobin
- Orest Kindrachuk
- Ralph Klassen
- Joey Kocur
- Roger Kortko
- Don Kozak
- Dave Kryskow
- Lane Lambert
- James Latos
- Kirby Law
- Grant Ledyard
- Curtis Leschyshyn
- Dave Lewis
- Ron Loustel
- Steve MacIntyre
- Keith Magnuson
- Norm Maracle
- Richard Matvichuk
- Chris McAllister
- Brad McCrimmon
- Todd McLellan
- Jim McTaggart
- Bill Oleschuk
- Dave Parro
- George Pesut
- Warren Peters
- Gerry Pinder
- Pat Price
- Aaron Rome
- Terry Ruskowski
- Larry Sacharuk
- Don Saleski
- Terran Sandwith
- Cory Sarich
- Brayden Schenn
- Nikita Scherbak
- Bobby Schmautz
- Scott Scissons
- Devin Setoguchi
- Brent Severyn
- Duncan Siemens
- Todd Simpson
- Brian Skrudland
- Randy Smith
- Martin Sonnenberg
- Brent Sopel
- Lee Sorochan
- Daryl Stanley
- David Struch
- Todd Strueby
- Ken Sutton
- Ryan Tobler
- Rocky Trottier
- Tony Twist
- Shaun Van Allen
- Russ Walker
- Rhett Warrener
- Fred Williams
- Clarke Wilm
- Mark Wotton
- Trent Yawney
Retired numbers[edit]
- 7 Gerry Pinder
- 7 Brent Ashton
- 10 Brian Skrudland
- 12 Bob Bourne
- 22 Wendel Clark
- 15 Bernie Federko
Coaches[edit]
- Burns McDonald 1964–65
- George Agar 1964–65 to 1969–70
- George Senick 1969–70*
- Jackie McLeod 1970–71 to 1978–79
- Jerry Engele 1979–80
- Lorne Frey 1980–81
- Daryl Lubiniecki 1981–82 to 1983–84
- Marcel Comeau 1984–85 to 1988–89
- Terry Ruskowski 1989–90 to 1990–91
- Lorne Molleken – 1991–92 to 1994–95
- Donn Clark – 1995–96 to 1997–98
- Willie Desjardins – 1998*
- Brad McCrimmon – 1998–99 to 1999–2000
- Kevin Dickie – 2000–01 to 2003–04
- Jamie Reeve – 2003–04*
- Lorne Molleken – 2004–05 to 2012-13
- Dave Struch – 2013-14
- Bob Woods - 2014-15 to 2015-2016
- Dean Brockman - 2016-2017 to Present [6]
*interim (regular head coach fired, sick or suspended)
Season-by-season record[edit]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
1966–67 | 56 | 25 | 24 | 7 | – | 288 | 271 | 57 | 5th Overall | Lost quarter-final |
1967–68 | 60 | 20 | 31 | 9 | – | 260 | 362 | 49 | 7th Overall | Lost quarter-final |
1968–69 | 60 | 24 | 35 | 1 | – | 195 | 271 | 49 | 3rd West | Lost quarter-final |
1969–70 | 60 | 18 | 41 | 1 | – | 202 | 282 | 37 | 4th West | Lost quarter-final |
1970–71 | 66 | 29 | 36 | 1 | – | 295 | 299 | 59 | 3rd West | Lost quarter-final |
1971–72 | 68 | 37 | 28 | 3 | – | 312 | 258 | 77 | 2nd East | Lost quarter-final |
1972–73 | 68 | 46 | 11 | 11 | – | 323 | 184 | 103 | 1st East | Lost final |
1973–74 | 68 | 30 | 29 | 9 | – | 283 | 272 | 69 | 4th East | Lost quarter-final |
1974–75 | 70 | 38 | 22 | 10 | – | 344 | 244 | 86 | 1st East | Lost final |
1975–76 | 72 | 43 | 19 | 10 | – | 390 | 269 | 96 | 1st East | Lost final |
1976–77 | 72 | 30 | 30 | 12 | – | 317 | 290 | 72 | 2nd East | Lost preliminary round |
1977–78 | 72 | 20 | 50 | 2 | – | 340 | 460 | 42 | 4th East | Out of playoffs |
1978–79 | 72 | 26 | 32 | 14 | – | 385 | 398 | 66 | 2nd East | Lost East Division final |
1979–80 | 72 | 27 | 40 | 5 | – | 331 | 382 | 59 | 7th East | Out of playoffs |
1980–81 | 72 | 22 | 47 | 3 | – | 297 | 427 | 47 | 8th East | Out of playoffs |
1981–82 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | – | 450 | 343 | 90 | 3rd East | Lost East Division quarter-final |
1982–83 | 72 | 52 | 19 | 1 | – | 467 | 303 | 105 | 1st East | Lost East Division semi-final |
1983–84 | 72 | 36 | 36 | 0 | – | 347 | 350 | 72 | 7th East | Out of playoffs |
1984–85 | 72 | 29 | 41 | 2 | – | 309 | 378 | 60 | 6th East | Lost East Division quarter-final |
1985–86 | 72 | 38 | 28 | 6 | – | 381 | 360 | 82 | 4th East | Lost East Division semi-final |
1986–87 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | – | 369 | 282 | 90 | 2nd East | Lost East Division final |
1987–88 | 72 | 47 | 22 | 3 | – | 381 | 294 | 97 | 1st East | Lost East Division final |
1988–89 | 72 | 42 | 28 | 2 | – | 366 | 335 | 86 | 2nd East | Lost East Division final; Lost Memorial Cup final |
1989–90 | 72 | 33 | 34 | 5 | – | 325 | 354 | 71 | 4th East | Lost East Division semi-final |
1990–91 | 72 | 29 | 41 | 2 | – | 309 | 363 | 60 | 7th East | Out of playoffs |
1991–92 | 72 | 38 | 29 | 5 | – | 315 | 260 | 81 | 3rd East | Lost final |
1992–93 | 72 | 42 | 27 | 3 | – | 311 | 236 | 87 | 3rd East | Lost East Division semi-final |
1993–94 | 72 | 49 | 22 | 1 | – | 326 | 229 | 99 | 1st East | Lost final |
1994–95 | 72 | 41 | 23 | 8 | – | 324 | 254 | 90 | 3rd East | Lost East Division semi-final |
1995–96 | 72 | 29 | 42 | 1 | – | 314 | 351 | 59 | 4th East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
1996–97 | 72 | 18 | 48 | 6 | – | 227 | 344 | 42 | 6th East | Out of playoffs |
1997–98 | 72 | 25 | 39 | 8 | – | 263 | 327 | 58 | 4th East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
1998–99 | 72 | 16 | 49 | 7 | – | 184 | 291 | 39 | 6th East | Out of playoffs |
1999–00 | 72 | 34 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 216 | 223 | 79 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
2000–01 | 72 | 19 | 43 | 5 | 5 | 193 | 265 | 48 | 5th East | Out of playoffs |
2001–02 | 72 | 27 | 37 | 5 | 3 | 216 | 257 | 62 | 4th East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2002–03 | 72 | 40 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 234 | 205 | 85 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2003–04 | 72 | 7 | 52 | 11 | 2 | 140 | 279 | 27 | 5th East | Out of playoffs |
2004–05 | 72 | 37 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 234 | 215 | 86 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
2005–06 | 72 | 41 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 232 | 217 | 88 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
2006–07 | 72 | 27 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 174 | 231 | 58 | 6th East | Out of playoffs |
2007–08 | 72 | 29 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 182 | 229 | 67 | 5th East | Out of playoffs |
2008–09 | 72 | 49 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 283 | 195 | 103 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2009–10 | 72 | 46 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 258 | 227 | 99 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
2010–11 | 72 | 56 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 310 | 213 | 115 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
2011–12 | 72 | 40 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 268 | 250 | 83 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2012–13 | 72 | 44 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 280 | 221 | 94 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final; Lost Memorial Cup tie-breaker game |
2013–14 | 72 | 16 | 51 | 2 | 3 | 207 | 317 | 37 | 6th East | Out of playoffs |
2014–15 | 72 | 19 | 49 | 2 | 2 | 195 | 308 | 42 | 6th East | Out of playoffs |
2015–16 | 72 | 26 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 219 | 318 | 56 | 6th East | Out of playoffs |
WHL Championship history[edit]
- 1972–73: Loss, 2-0-3 vs Medicine Hat
- 1974–75: Loss, 3-4 vs New Westminster
- 1975–76: Loss, 1-2-4 vs New Westminster
- 1991–92: Loss, 3-4 vs Kamloops
- 1993–94: Loss, 3-4 vs Kamloops
Team records[edit]
Statistic | Total | Season |
---|---|---|
Most points | 115 | 2010-11 |
Most wins | 56 | 2010-11 |
Most road wins (Tied WHL record) | 28 | 2008–09 |
Most home wins | 32 | 2010-11 |
Most goals for | 461 | 1982–83 |
Least goals for | 140 | 2003–04 |
Least goals against | 184 | 1972–73 |
Most goals against | 460 | 1977–78 |
Statistic | Player | Total | Season |
---|---|---|---|
Most goals | Frank Banham | 83 | 1995–96 |
Most assists | Bruce Eakin | 125 | 1981–82 |
Most points | Bernie Federko | 187 | 1975–76 |
Most points, rookie | Lane Lambert | 114 | 1981–82 |
Most points, defenceman | Pat Price | 95 | 1973–74 |
Best GAA (goalie) | Ed Humphreys | 2.57 | 1972–73 |
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ http://saskatoonblades.com/article/new-leadership-team-ready-to-go
- ^ http://saskatoonblades.com/article/bob-woods-to-nhl-dean-brockman-new-head-coach
- ^ http://www.saskatoonblades.com/article/blades-to-honour-brodsky-family-this-weekend.
- ^ "Blades Introduce New Owner And Staff". saskatoonblades.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ^ "Blades Roster". Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ^ http://saskatoonblades.com/article/bob-woods-to-nhl-dean-brockman-new-head-coach
External links[edit]
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