Saskatoon Blades

Saskatoon Blades
City:	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
League:	Western Hockey League
Conference:	Eastern
Division:	East
Founded:	1964
Home Arena:	SaskTel Centre
Colours:	Royal blue, gold and white
Head Coach:	Mitch Love
General Manager:	Colin Priestner

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 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.

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 what was then known as Saskatchewan Place (now Credit Union Centre) and hosted the Memorial Cup tournament in May, 1989, where they finished the round robin with a 5–4 victory over the Swift Current Broncos who had a 14 game undefeated streak, which consisted of sweeping through the WHL playoffs and winning their 1st two round robin games. However, the Blades lost in overtime in the Memorial Cup Final to the 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 Ed Chynoweth Cup, and currently have the longest championship drought in the Canadian Hockey League.

The Blades are currently owned by the Priestner 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.

In the 2008–09 Season, the Saskatoon Blades made history by tying a WHL record for most road wins in a single season (28) with the 1999–00 Calgary Hitmen. In that season, the Blades went on to win their first East Division Championship since 1994.

December 2010: Gene Simmons of KISS fame makes a save during a shootout with cowboys between periods of a WHL game between the Saskatoon Blades and Portland Winterhawks.

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 Gerry Hogue 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 Steve MacIntyre Keith Magnuson Norm Maracle Richard Matvichuk Chris McAllister Brad McCrimmon Todd McLellan Jim McTaggart Bill Oleschuk Dave Parro George Pesut Warren Peters 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

Retired numbers

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

Coaches

Saskatoon Blades Original Logo

• 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
• Bob Hoffmeyer - 1991*
• 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 2012-13
• Dave Struch – 2013-14
• Bob Woods - 2014-15 to 2015-16
• Dean Brockman - 2016-17 to 2017-18
• Mitch Love - 2018-19 to Present

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

Season-by-season record

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	47	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; Lost Memorial Cup 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 WHL 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 WHL 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 Finals
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 Finals
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
2008–09	72	49	18	3	2	283	195	103	1st East	Lost Eastern Conference Quarter Finals
2009–10	72	46	19	1	3	258	227	99	2nd East	Lost Eastern Conference Semi Finals
2010–11	72	56	13	1	2	310	213	115	1st East	Lost Eastern Conference semi-final
2011–12	72	40	29	1	2	268	250	83	2nd East	Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2012–13	72	44	22	2	4	280	221	94	1st East	Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final; Lost Memorial Cup tie-breaker game
2013–14	72	16	51	2	3	207	317	37	6th East	Out of playoffs
2014–15	72	19	49	2	2	195	308	42	6th East	Out of playoffs
2015–16	72	26	42	4	0	219	318	56	6th East	Out of playoffs
2016–17	72	28	35	7	2	190	248	65	5th East	Out of playoffs
2017–18	72	35	33	3	1	237	276	74	6th East	Out of playoffs
2018–19	68	45	15	8	0	259	190	98	2nd East	Lost Eastern Conference semi-finals
2019–20	63	34	24	2	3	211	197	73	4th East	Playoffs cancelled
2020-21	24	16	5	2	1	80	62	35	3rd Hub	Playoffs cancelled
2021-22	68	38	26	3	1	219	217	80	3rd East	Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2022–23	68	48	15	4	1	257	171	101	2nd East	Lost Eastern Conference final
2023-24	68	50	13	2	3	255	163	105	1st East	Lost Eastern Conference final

Team records

Team records for a single season

Statistic	Total	Season
Most points	115	2010-11
Most wins	56	2010-11
Most road wins (Tied WHL record)	28	2008–09
Most home wins	32	2010-11
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

External links

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