Saskatoon Blades
Saskatoon Blades | |
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File:Saskatoon Blades Logo.svg | |
City | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
League | Western Hockey League |
Conference | Eastern |
Division | East |
Founded | 1964 |
Home arena | SaskTel Centre |
Colours | Navy blue, royal blue, silver and white |
Owner(s) | Mike Priestner |
General manager | Bob Woods |
Head coach | Bob Woods |
Website | www.saskatoonblades.com |
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 SaskTel Centre.
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 to go back to the SJHL from 1968 to 1970). The Blades spent many seasons at the old Saskatoon Arena where they built up a strong fan base and developed many top players. In 1988, they moved to what was then known as Saskatchewan Place (now SaskTel 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 were owned by the Brodsky Family for 37 years [1] On August 27, 2013, the team was sold to Go Auto owner Mike Priestner for a reported $9 million.[2] The Blades 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.
Before the start of the 2005-06 season, the Blades retired their long-time mascot Helmutt, an anthropomorphic dog whose name was a pun on the helmet, in favor of a mascot that would appeal to younger fans. The Blades introduced Poke Check, a yeti-like creature, at the Blades home opener that season. He has since remained the team's mascot, and also appears at community events throughout Saskatoon.
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.
With a 5-3 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, the Blades clinched first place in the Western Hockey League and earned themselves the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL's regular season champion.
Current roster
Updated April 24, 2015.[3]
NHL alumni
Bernie Federko is the only former Blade in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Retired numbers
- 7 Gerry Pinder
- 7 Brent Ashton
- 10 Brian Skrudland
- 12 Bob Bourne
- 22 Wendel Clark
- 15 Bernie Federko
Coaches
- 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
- 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 present
*interim (regular head coach fired, sick or suspended)
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
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 | 82 | 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 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 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-final |
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-final |
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-final |
2009–10 | 72 | 46 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 258 | 227 | 99 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
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 |
WHL Championship history
- 1972–73: Loss, 2-0-3 vs Medicine Hat
- 1974–75: Loss, 3-4 vs New Westminster
- 1975–76: Loss, 1-2-4 vs New Westminster
- 1991–92: Loss, 3-4 vs Kamloops
- 1993–94: Loss, 3-4 vs Kamloops
Team records
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 |
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 |
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.saskatoonblades.com/article/blades-to-honour-brodsky-family-this-weekend.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.