hobster
03-03-2008, 11:55 PM
The Saskatoon Blades are one of the hottest teams in the entire Western Hockey League heading into the final stretch of the season thanks to a boost from their longest home stand of 2007/08.
The Blades have earned more points in their last 10 games than every team in the league other than the Tri City Americans and the Everett Silvertips. The Blades are 7-2-1-0 in their past 10 games thanks to continuing production from all lines with a total of 37 goals scored in that span.
On the season, the Blades power play has been a bright spot with a success rate of 19.9% thanks to 73 goals on 366 opportunities.
Ondrej Fiala, Derek Hulak, Colton Gillies, and numerous other forwards had impressive months in February with Fiala on a current 6 game point streak, boosting him to the lead in team scoring (18G; 28A). During the 6 game streak, Fiala has recorded 3 goals and 5 assists for a total of 8 points. Meanwhile line mate Colton Gillies has scored at least one goal in his last 5 games with a total of 6 goals during that stretch thanks to a 2 goal performance on February 23rd against the Regina Pats. Gillies’ 22 goals on the season have him sitting 1st on the team in that category. Chris Durand, the third component of the Blades top line has 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 4 games.
Derek Hulak, the 18 year old home town kid, is coming off of his strongest month of the season after recording points in 11 of the teams 14 games during the compressed month. After starting off the month with a 4 point night against the Regina Pats, Hulak continued his stretch with a total of 6 goals and 8 assists in the month.
This year’s trade deadline saw Justin McCrae moved to the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for forwards Chris Langkow and Burke Gallimore. Langkow’s presence was immediately felt once joined with line mates Curtis Hamilton and Travis Toomey. This youthful line has a combined age of just 51 years and have posted 49 points in 25 games since the addition of Langkow to the Blades roster. The first cousin of Calgary Flame Daymond Langkow, Chris has 4 goals and 12 assists in 27 games with the Blades, putting him 6th in the team scoring race.
The Blades offense has not been limited to their forward units. The addition of 1st round draft choice Stefan Elliott and import draft selection Jyri Niemi to the line-up this season has added a combined 22 goals this season. Elliott, the 16 year old product from North Vancouver, BC, leads all Blades defenseman with 35 points (9G; 26A). Meanwhile Niemi has 13 goals on the year and has bragging rights across the league as the owner of the hardest shot after a 97 mile per hour blast at the 2008 NHL/CHL Home Hardware Top Prospect’s Game.
The Blades currently sit 9th in the Eastern Conference and are 6 points ahead of the Prince Albert Raiders who sit 10th. The Blades lead the league in penalty minutes with 1,433, an average of 21.4 per game. The team also has the league leader in penalty minutes in Mike Reich with 224.
With just 5 games remaining in the 2007/08 season, the Saskatoon Blades are on their way to ending the year on a high note while proving that hard work and team work are key ingredients to success both on and off the ice.
The Blades have earned more points in their last 10 games than every team in the league other than the Tri City Americans and the Everett Silvertips. The Blades are 7-2-1-0 in their past 10 games thanks to continuing production from all lines with a total of 37 goals scored in that span.
On the season, the Blades power play has been a bright spot with a success rate of 19.9% thanks to 73 goals on 366 opportunities.
Ondrej Fiala, Derek Hulak, Colton Gillies, and numerous other forwards had impressive months in February with Fiala on a current 6 game point streak, boosting him to the lead in team scoring (18G; 28A). During the 6 game streak, Fiala has recorded 3 goals and 5 assists for a total of 8 points. Meanwhile line mate Colton Gillies has scored at least one goal in his last 5 games with a total of 6 goals during that stretch thanks to a 2 goal performance on February 23rd against the Regina Pats. Gillies’ 22 goals on the season have him sitting 1st on the team in that category. Chris Durand, the third component of the Blades top line has 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 4 games.
Derek Hulak, the 18 year old home town kid, is coming off of his strongest month of the season after recording points in 11 of the teams 14 games during the compressed month. After starting off the month with a 4 point night against the Regina Pats, Hulak continued his stretch with a total of 6 goals and 8 assists in the month.
This year’s trade deadline saw Justin McCrae moved to the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for forwards Chris Langkow and Burke Gallimore. Langkow’s presence was immediately felt once joined with line mates Curtis Hamilton and Travis Toomey. This youthful line has a combined age of just 51 years and have posted 49 points in 25 games since the addition of Langkow to the Blades roster. The first cousin of Calgary Flame Daymond Langkow, Chris has 4 goals and 12 assists in 27 games with the Blades, putting him 6th in the team scoring race.
The Blades offense has not been limited to their forward units. The addition of 1st round draft choice Stefan Elliott and import draft selection Jyri Niemi to the line-up this season has added a combined 22 goals this season. Elliott, the 16 year old product from North Vancouver, BC, leads all Blades defenseman with 35 points (9G; 26A). Meanwhile Niemi has 13 goals on the year and has bragging rights across the league as the owner of the hardest shot after a 97 mile per hour blast at the 2008 NHL/CHL Home Hardware Top Prospect’s Game.
The Blades currently sit 9th in the Eastern Conference and are 6 points ahead of the Prince Albert Raiders who sit 10th. The Blades lead the league in penalty minutes with 1,433, an average of 21.4 per game. The team also has the league leader in penalty minutes in Mike Reich with 224.
With just 5 games remaining in the 2007/08 season, the Saskatoon Blades are on their way to ending the year on a high note while proving that hard work and team work are key ingredients to success both on and off the ice.