Saskatoon Blades
Encyclopedia : S : SA : SAS : Saskatoon Blades
| 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 an ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in the Saskatchewan city of Saskatoon.
- Founded: 1964-1965 (franchise awarded 1964)
- Arena: Credit Union Centre (capacity 11,310)
- Uniform colours: navy blue, royal blue, silver and white
- Logo design: A sword that uses SB on the blade
- Division titles won (regular season): 2 (1991-92, 1993-94)
- Conference titles won (playoffs): 2 (1991-92, 1993-94)
- President's Cups won: 0
- President's Cup Finalists: 2 (1991-92, 1993-94)
- Rivals: Brandon Wheat Kings, Moose Jaw Warriors, Regina Pats and Prince Albert Raiders
Contents
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, and have a great rivalry with the Prince Albert Raiders in what is dubbed the Highway 11 Rivalry. 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 from there to the arena.
Players
Current roster
| Number | Player | Positon | Birthyear | Hometown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Derek Price | D | 1985 | Fruitvale, BC | |
| 3 | David Schulz | D | 1986 | Winker, MB | |
| 6 | Brad Cole | D | 1986 | Miniota, MB | |
| 8 | Ryan Funk | D | 1989 | Morden, MB | |
| 9 | Joe Barnes | F | 1986 | Winnipeg, MB | |
| 11 | Michael Hengen | D | 1987 | Surrey, BC | |
| 14 | Justin McCrae | F | 1988 | Cochrane, AB | |
| 16 | Devon Setoguchi | F | 1987 | Taber, AB | |
| 17 | Brennan Zasitko | F | 1988 | Arborg, MB | |
| 18 | Colton Gilles | C | 1989 | Surrey, BC | |
| 19 | Aaron Bader | F | 1985 | Fairbault, MN | |
| 20 | Wacey Rabbit | F | 1986 | Calgary, AB | |
| 21 | Adam Geric | F | 1989 | Victoria, BC | |
| 23 | Ryan Menei | F | 1986 | Winnipeg, MB | |
| 24 | Brett Ward | D | 1988 | Swift Current, SK | |
| 26 | Todd Panchyson | D | 1988 | Nipawin, SK | |
| 27 | Joe Logan | D | 1986 | Gull Lake, SK | |
| 28 | Michael MacAngus | C | 1988 | Edmonton, AB | |
| 29 | Chris Cloud | C | 1987 | Waywayseecappo, MB | |
| 30 | Anton Khudobin | G | 1986 | Magnitogorsk, Russia | |
| 32 | Zdenek Bahensky | F | 1986 | Litvinov, CZE | |
| 35 | Jim Watt | G | 1986 | Edmonton, AB | |
| 39 | Chad Klassen | C | 1985 | Warman, SK | |
| 44 | Blair Macaulay | F | 1986 | Winnipeg, MB | |
NHL Alumni
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Retired Numbers
Coaches
- Burns McDonald 1964-65
- George Agar 1964-65 to 1969-70
- George Senick 1969-70*
- Jack 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
External links
| Western Hockey League |
|---|
| Current teams : Brandon Wheat Kings | Calgary Hitmen | Chilliwack Bruins | Everett Silvertips | Kamloops Blazers | Kelowna Rockets | Kootenay Ice | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Medicine Hat Tigers | Moose Jaw Warriors | Portland Winter Hawks | Prince Albert Raiders | Prince George Cougars | Red Deer Rebels | Regina Pats | Saskatoon Blades | Seattle Thunderbirds | Spokane Chiefs | Swift Current Broncos | Tri-City Americans | Vancouver Giants |
| Expansion for 2007-08 : Edmonton |
| CHL: | Memorial Cup | OHL | QMJHL | WHL |
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