Saskatoon Blades

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Saskatoon Blades
City:	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
League:	Western Hockey League
Conference:	Eastern
Division:	East
Founded:	1964–65
Home Arena:	Credit Union Centre
Colours:	navy blue, royal blue, silver and white
Head Coach:	Lorne Molleken
General Manager:	Lorne Molleken

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 11,310 seat Credit Union Centre.

Division titles won (regular season): 6 – 1972–73, 74–75, 75–76, 82–83, 87–88, 93–94

Conference titles won (playoffs): 2 (1991–92, 1993–94)

President's Cup Titles: 0

Memorial Cup Titles: 0

Contents 1 History 2 Players 2.1 Current Roster 2.2 NHL Alumni 2.3 Retired Numbers 3 Coaches 4 Season-by-season Record 5 Team records 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] History

The Saskatoon Blades were originally founded in 1964 as a team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and transferred leagues in 1966–67 with the foundation of the Western Hockey League. They are the only team remaining in the league from the WHL's foundation still in their original city (the Regina Pats are also still around, but they dropped out of the WHL for a few seasons early on to go back to the SJHL). The Blades spent many seasons at the old Saskatoon Arena where they built up a strong fanbase and developed many top players. In 1988, they moved to Saskatchewan Place and hosted the Memorial Cup tournament in May, 1989, where they finished the round robin undefeated. However, the Blades lost in overtime in the Memorial Cup Final to the Swift Current Broncos. They also lost in the WHL league finals in 1992 and 1994 to the Kamloops Blazers in seven games. The Blades have never won the WHL Championship, and currently have the longest championship drought in the Canadian Hockey League.

The Blades are currently owned by the Brodsky Family. They have been a huge success at the gate. Throughout their existence, the team has had a fierce rivalry with both the Regina Pats and the Prince Albert Raiders. As many of the players are still in their mid-teens, Marion M. Graham Collegiate plays host to many of the players, due to the short distance.

[edit] Players

[edit] Current Roster

Goaltenders
#		Player	Born	Place of Birth	Drafted
1		Braden Holtby	1989	Marshall, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008
35		Garret Zemlak	1989	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008

Defencemen
#		Player	Born	Place of Birth	Drafted
3		Sam Klassen	1989	Watrous, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008
4		Teigan Zahn	1990	Bethune, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008
6		Stefan Elliott	1991	North Vancouver, British Columbia	Eligible 2009
8		Jyri Niemi	1990	Hämeenkyrö, Finland	Eligible 2008
11		Colton MacPherson	1989	Whitewood, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008
27		Ryan Funk	1989	Morden, Manitoba	Eligible 2008
44		John Flatters	1987	Calgary, Alberta	Free Agent
55		Brendon Wall	1990	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008

Forwards
#		Player	Position	Born	Place of Birth	Drafted
9		Curtis Hamilton	LW	1991	Kelowna, British Columbia	Eligible 2010
17		Derek Hulak	LW	1989	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008
18		Colton Gillies C	C	1989	Surrey, British Columbia	MIN - 1st round, 16th overall - 2007
19		Garrett Klotz	LW	1988	Regina, Saskatchewan	PHI - 3rd round, 66th overall - 2007
20		Walker Wintoneak	RW	1989	Flin Flon, Manitoba	Eligible 2008
21		Chris Durand	C	1987	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Free Agent
23		Kevin Philp	RW	1990	Victoria, British Columbia	Eligible 2008
24		Ondrej Fiala	LW	1987	Šternberk, Czechoslovakia	MIN - 2nd round, 40th overall - 2006
28		Jordan Braid	LW	1989	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008
29		Kirk Belyk	RW	1989	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008
32		Gaelan Patterson	LW	1990	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2008
37		Travis Toomey	C	1990	Leduc, Alberta	Eligible 2008

[edit] NHL Alumni

Bernie Federko is the only former Blade in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Dennis Abgrall Brent Ashton Blair Atcheynum 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 Jerry Engele Martin Erat Garnet Exelby Bernie Federko Perry Ganchar

Michael Garnett Randy Gilhen Brian Glynn Lee Goren Mike Green Mike Greenlay Marc Habscheid Bill Hajt Neil Hawryliw Dale Henry Bob Hoffmeyer Bill Hogaboam Doug Horbul Darcy Hordichuk Randy Ireland Grant Jennings Terry Johnson Kevin Kaminski Dean Kennedy Orest Kindrachuk Ralph Klassen Joe Kocur Roger Kortko Don Kozak Dave Kryskow

Lane Lambert James Latos Kirby Law Grant Ledyard Curtis Leschyshyn Dave Lewis Ron Loustel Keith Magnuson Norm Maracle Richard Matvichuk Chris McAllister Brad McCrimmon Todd McLellan Jim McTaggart Bill Oleschuk Dave Parro George Pesut Gerry Pinder Pat Price Terry Ruskowski Larry Sacharuk Don Saleski Terran Sandwith Cory Sarich

Bobby Schmautz Scott Scissons Devin Setoguchi Brent Severyn 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

[edit] Retired Numbers

• 7 Brent Ashton
• 10 Brian Skrudland
• 15 Bob Bourne
• 22 Wendel Clark
• 24 Bernie Federko

[edit] Coaches

• 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 present

*interm (regular head coach fired, sick or suspended)

[edit] Season-by-season Record

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	81	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	41	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
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

[edit] Team records

Team Records for a single season
Statistic	Total	Season
Most Points	105	1982–83
Most Wins	52	1982–83
Most Goals For	461	1982–83
Least Goals For	140	2003–04
Least Goals Against	184	1972–73
Most Goals Against	460	1977–78

Individual player records for a single season
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

[edit] See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan

[edit] External links

• Blades official web site
• Saskatoon Blades News Coverage (The Star Phoenix)

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