Scout
09-08-2007, 08:53 PM
Blades land Saskatoon defenceman
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, September 07, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades have laid out the welcome mat for another Saskatoon native to come home and finish his WHL playing career.
Curtis Patterson, a 6-foot-4 defenceman, broke into the league in 2004-05 with the Regina Pats as a 17-year-old after playing with the AAA midget Saskatoon Blazers. He was acquired Thursday -- giving the Blades their maximum three overagers for the coming season.
Patterson joins fellow Saskatoon natives Chris Durand and Michael Kaye, acquired in the off-season, as the team's 20-year-olds. Patterson spent half of his 18-year-old season with the Pats, then was traded to the Prince George Cougars. Last year, he registered one goal and five assists in 61 games and picked up 68 penalty minutes.
Patterson, expected in Saskatoon Sunday, comes in as a veteran, but finds himself in the same boat as 15 rookies who are also trying to earn a spot on the Blades' roster. His acquisition is contingent on him making the team and if he does, the Blades give up their seventh-round bantam pick in 2009.
He joins 11 other defencemen still on Saskatoon's roster as they head into Prince Albert tonight for their opening pre-season game against the Raiders, who have won two pre-season contests against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Blades will likely carry seven or eight defencemen during the year.
In all, there are likely eight or nine spots available for newcomers and, beginning tonight, it's show time for head coach Lorne Molleken's troops. There will be a lot of youngsters in the lineup, not many veterans, Molleken said Thursday before practice. "I want to see how they compete, whether they're ready to play."
The Blades will likely carry two or three 16-year-olds with both forward Curtis Hamilton and defenceman Stefan Elliott getting good looks. As well, a decision will have to be made about the two 16-year-old goaltenders still in camp. Both will get the bulk of playing time this weekend with Winnipeg's Matthew Krahn starting tonight and Surrey, B.C.'s Adam Morrison playing Saturday.
There's no point in keeping a 16-year-old if they're not going to get lots of playing time, Molleken said. If they're not ready to play, they can go home and play AAA midget and get lots of ice time.
But when you're 18 and trying to make a spot, as are Saskatoon forwards Kirk Belyk and Jordan Braid and defenceman Colton MacPherson of Whitewood, time isn't on their side.
It's a make-or-break year, MacPherson acknowledges. Having played with the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL last year, the 6-foot-2 defenceman says it's one thing to have a good training camp, but it's something else come game day. "The SJHL is a good league, but you always want to jump up. You want to show people what you can do and (now) it's one game, 60 minutes, so you go shift by shift."
BLADE BITS: D Woodie Klassen of Watrous, 16-year-old brother of Blades D Sam Klassen and D Josh Middleton, 15, of Edmonton, impressed Blades scouts during camp and have been added to the team's 50-player protected list. D Ryan Funk, who suffered both shoulder and groin injuries last season, is still recovering.
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, September 07, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades have laid out the welcome mat for another Saskatoon native to come home and finish his WHL playing career.
Curtis Patterson, a 6-foot-4 defenceman, broke into the league in 2004-05 with the Regina Pats as a 17-year-old after playing with the AAA midget Saskatoon Blazers. He was acquired Thursday -- giving the Blades their maximum three overagers for the coming season.
Patterson joins fellow Saskatoon natives Chris Durand and Michael Kaye, acquired in the off-season, as the team's 20-year-olds. Patterson spent half of his 18-year-old season with the Pats, then was traded to the Prince George Cougars. Last year, he registered one goal and five assists in 61 games and picked up 68 penalty minutes.
Patterson, expected in Saskatoon Sunday, comes in as a veteran, but finds himself in the same boat as 15 rookies who are also trying to earn a spot on the Blades' roster. His acquisition is contingent on him making the team and if he does, the Blades give up their seventh-round bantam pick in 2009.
He joins 11 other defencemen still on Saskatoon's roster as they head into Prince Albert tonight for their opening pre-season game against the Raiders, who have won two pre-season contests against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Blades will likely carry seven or eight defencemen during the year.
In all, there are likely eight or nine spots available for newcomers and, beginning tonight, it's show time for head coach Lorne Molleken's troops. There will be a lot of youngsters in the lineup, not many veterans, Molleken said Thursday before practice. "I want to see how they compete, whether they're ready to play."
The Blades will likely carry two or three 16-year-olds with both forward Curtis Hamilton and defenceman Stefan Elliott getting good looks. As well, a decision will have to be made about the two 16-year-old goaltenders still in camp. Both will get the bulk of playing time this weekend with Winnipeg's Matthew Krahn starting tonight and Surrey, B.C.'s Adam Morrison playing Saturday.
There's no point in keeping a 16-year-old if they're not going to get lots of playing time, Molleken said. If they're not ready to play, they can go home and play AAA midget and get lots of ice time.
But when you're 18 and trying to make a spot, as are Saskatoon forwards Kirk Belyk and Jordan Braid and defenceman Colton MacPherson of Whitewood, time isn't on their side.
It's a make-or-break year, MacPherson acknowledges. Having played with the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL last year, the 6-foot-2 defenceman says it's one thing to have a good training camp, but it's something else come game day. "The SJHL is a good league, but you always want to jump up. You want to show people what you can do and (now) it's one game, 60 minutes, so you go shift by shift."
BLADE BITS: D Woodie Klassen of Watrous, 16-year-old brother of Blades D Sam Klassen and D Josh Middleton, 15, of Edmonton, impressed Blades scouts during camp and have been added to the team's 50-player protected list. D Ryan Funk, who suffered both shoulder and groin injuries last season, is still recovering.