The Blades scored five unanswered third-period goals — including a pair from veteran forward Brandon Lisowsky — to erase a 2-0 deficit for a 5-2 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors before a crowd of 7,638 at SaskTel Centre arena.
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The Saskatoon Blades put an end to their winless slump in a big way Friday night.
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The Blades scored five unanswered third-period goals — including a pair from veteran forward Brandon Lisowsky — to erase a 2-0 deficit for a 5-2 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors before a crowd of 7,638 at SaskTel Centre arena.
With the win on the annual Teddy Bear Toss Night, Saskatoon improves its Western Hockey League record this season to 18-10-2-2 while climbing back atop the Eastern Conference standings.
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It took until the 6:18 mark of the third period for the Blades to hit the score-sheet with a much-anticipated Teddy Bear Toss goal by Lisowsky.
“A very special day and I’m glad we were able to get one in front of the home fans,” said Blades head coach Dan DaSilva.
“Nobody’s coming to save us. We were in a bit of slump there. You could feel the weight of the world on the shoulders of the guys. They feel the pressure. We knew that nobody was going to feel sorry for us. We’re the ones in the room that go out there and make the difference and it was going to take one positive play at a time — you don’t know what they play might be. It might be a block. It might be getting a puck in deep or chipping a puck (out of the defensive zone). Or a back-check. So we were just looking for positive plays and, obviously, we went out there and executed and got those plays. We got some momentum and the bench came to life and it energized guys. They played with so much more freedom and energy after that.”
Moose Jaw slipped to 8-20-3-1.
Morgan Tastad, Rowan Calvert and Ben Riche also scored for the Blades, who went 2-for-3 on the power play.
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Ethan Semeniuk and Lynden Lakovic replied for the Warriors, who out-shot the Blades 30-27, including a 9-3 margin in the opening period.
Ethan Gardner made 28 saves in the Saskatoon net for the win.
BLADES DEAL HANSEN TO HITMEN
Earlier Friday, the Blades sent veteran forward Lukas Hansen to the Calgary Hitmen for 2009-born forward Adam Halat.
Hansen leaves the Bridge City after playing 218 games for the Blue and Gold. He recorded 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points in 168 regular-season games. He added three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 34 playoff games and four goals and one assist in 16 pre-season matches.
“Lukas has been an exemplary Blade over his four years with the team,” said Blades general manager Colin Priestner in a release. “He has battled through injuries and adversity and come through night after night for us when we needed a shot block or penalty killed off. We’re excited for him to get a fresh start in Calgary on a great team where he can bring his playoff experience and leadership.”
Halat, a native of Chestermere, Alta., was drafted by the Hitmen in the fourth round (72nd overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
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He’s the leading scorer in the Alberta Elite Hockey U18 AAA League (AEHL) as a member of the Okotoks Oilers. Halat is averaging just under a goal-per-game as a 15-year-old rookie with 20 goals and 40 points in 23 games.
“Adam is having the same kind of year in Alberta U18 AAA as a 15-year-old that Cooper Williams did last season,” said Priestner. “With us not having a first or second round pick in the 2024 draft in May, this adds another high-skill player to the forward group alongside Jaggar John, Mason Moreland, and Cohen Lewko.”
The Blades are now home to the top two point-per-game players in U18 AAA with Halat and 2008-born winger Kohen Lodge, who is currently called up to the Blades roster.
“Adam is a dynamically skilled and highly intelligent forward that can change the game with his ability to create offence,” said Blades director of scouting, Dan Tencer. “He’s having an exceptional season in Okotoks, demonstrating in a very good AEHL U18 league that he can produce at an elite level. We scouted him aggressively in the last month or so and were consistently impressed.”
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“Adam has an elite hockey IQ and his passing ability is second to none,” added Priestner, “He’s not going to be the biggest guy on the ice, but he’s proven that his compete and skill level are best in class. We think his upside is extremely high.”
BLADE BITS: The Blades are back in action Saturday night in Regina to play the Pats. They’re in Priince Albert on Monday to visit the rival Raiders before returning home to host the same Raiders on New Year’s Day on Wednesday afternoon.
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