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nivek_wahs
09-24-2007, 08:29 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=012ca798-744d-4dcc-a0b8-f16df1a47fa6


Home opener rude awakening for Blades
Get blitzed by Brandon; team embarrassed by performance, says Molleken

Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, September 24, 2007

WHEAT KINGS 6, BLADES 1

Well, at least someone from Saskatoon was smiling.

Brayden Schenn, a 16-year-old centre with the Brandon Wheat Kings, couldn't help but beam Saturday night. The Saskatoon product registered two assists as his Wheaties sank the Saskatoon Blades 6-1 before 4,668 spectators at Credit Union Centre.

"We have lots of rookies -- lots of talented rookies," said Schenn, whose team is 2-0-0-0 after outscoring the Blades 11-3 in two games. "(Coach-GM) Kelly (McCrimmon) has given us an opportunity to play and we have to make the most of it."

Schenn, the ninth overall pick in the 2006 WHL bantam draft, originally balked at going to Brandon. Trade requests went unheeded by McCrimmon, though. Schenn finally committed to the Wheat Kings during the summer. He said his older brother, Luke, a defenceman with the Kelowna Rockets, helped convince him to report to Brandon.

With three assists in two games -- and plenty of ice time -- the younger Schenn has no regrets.

"I'm 100 per cent happy with going to Brandon," said the six-foot, 196-pounder. "It's a great hockey city and a good hockey team."

The situation isn't so rosy in Saskatoon.

For the second straight game, the Blades showed little zip and lots of slips.

"Where do you start?" said Blades coach-GM Lorne Molleken. "We weren't ready to play right from the drop of the puck. Why? I don't know, but I guess we'll get to the bottom of it. I know the players feel extremely bad right now because it was truly embarrassing."

Saskatoon starter Garrett Zemlak was the scapegoat on the stats sheet -- surrendering four goals on 13 shots -- but he had little help. In fact, if not for three early stops by Zemlak, the rout would've been on sooner. Zemlak made point-blank stops on Tyler Dittmer and Andrew Clark in the first 30 seconds. Then, after Daniel Bartek's shot hit the post, Zemlak dove to pull Clark's offering out of the air.

Brandon rookie Scott Glennie opened the scoring at 6:03 after a turnover at the blue-line by Garrett Klotz. Glennie increased the lead to 2-0 less than three minutes later.

Matt Calvert, Clark, Cale Jefferies and Colby Robak also scored for the Wheat Kings.

Braden Holtby replaced Zemlak with 2:46 remaining in the first and Brandon leading 4-0.

"We didn't play as well as we know we can," said Blades captain Justin McCrae. "Our system play wasn't where it needs to be. We have to forget about this and get back to practice."

The Blades were a step behind all night. As result, they gave Brandon 10 power-play opportunities. The Wheat Kings were far more disciplined, taking just three minor penalties. Officially, Robak's goal was the only power-play marker of the night, but Glennie's second goal found the net just as a tripping penalty to Blades defenceman Curtis Patterson expired.

"They were on us all night," said Molleken. "They were just like the flies in this building. . . . They played with determination, grit and character. That was the difference."

Gaelan Patterson broke Joe Caligiuri's shutout with a short-handed goal at 8:39 of the third. Brandon outshot Saskatoon 32-27.

The Moose Jaw Warriors visit Credit Union Centre on Wednesday.

cwolfe@sp.canwest.com




© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007