Eight unanswered goals allowed the Saskatoon Blades to overcome a first period deficit and complete a season-opening home-and-home sweep, thanks to a 9-3 triumph over the Swift Current Broncos Saturday night at SaskTel Centre.
After Kohen Lodge scored his first W-H-L goal in Friday’s 4-1 victory in Swift Current, three more members of the Bridge City Bunch hit the back of the net Saturday in front of 8,253 fans. Rookie 16-year-old centre Cooper Williams, 18-year-old sophomore winger Willie James and freshman 17-year-old winger Colten Worthington were among seven different scorers for the Blue and Gold, who trailed the Broncos 3-1 going into the final 30 seconds of the first period. Centre Ben Riche and defenceman Brayden Klimpke (pictured) each posted two goals and two assists while Tyler Parr and Misha Volotovskii also tallied for the Blades, who improved to 2-0-0 to start a season for the 17th time in franchise history. They also improved the franchise’s home-opening game record to 36-22-2. Parr added two assists to his goal while Lochlan Tetarenko and Vlastimil Blazek each chipped in a pair of helpers and Williams had an assist for his first career W-H-L multi-point game. The win was also the eighth consecutive for Saskatoon over Swift Current and the 10th straight home-ice win for the Bridge City Bunch over the Broncos. The Blue and Gold are off until next Saturday when they welcome Brandon to SaskTel Centre. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Dan Da Silva, James and Williams plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..
Swift Current Broncos 3 at Saskatoon Blades 9 – Status: Final
Saturday, September 21, 2024 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Swift Current 3 0 0 – 3
Saskatoon 2 4 3 – 9
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Williams 1 (Kohen Lodge), 6:28. 2, Swift Current, Coupland 1 (Birnie, Mistelbacher), 9:12 (PP). 3, Swift Current, Gould 2 (Mistelbacher, Coupland), 14:34 (PP). 4, Swift Current, Kettles 1 (Burzynski), 17:56. 5, Saskatoon, James 1 (Riche, Klimpke), 19:41. Penalties-Gabriel Sc (tripping), 6:52; Riche Sas (high sticking), 7:14; Parr Sas (interference), 13:48.
2nd Period-6, Saskatoon, Parr 1 (Riche), 2:32. 7, Saskatoon, Klimpke 1 (Parr), 9:47. 8, Saskatoon, Riche 2 (Siepmann, Parr), 16:53 (PP). 9, Saskatoon, Riche 3 (Saunderson, Vlastimil Blazek), 19:22. Penalties-Mistelbacher Sc (hooking), 15:50.
3rd Period-10, Saskatoon, Volotovskii 2 (Klimpke), 10:41. 11, Saskatoon, Klimpke 2 (Williams, Tetarenko), 14:18. 12, Saskatoon, Worthington 1 (Tetarenko, Vlastimil Blazek), 18:52 (PP). Penalties-Rookes Sc (roughing), 9:02; Tetarenko Sas (roughing), 9:02; Mistelbacher Sc (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 16:44; Gerwing Sc (roughing, roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 17:40; James Sas (roughing), 17:40; Clark Sc (checking from behind), 19:03.
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 10-6-6-22. Saskatoon 10-19-13-42.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 2 / 2; Saskatoon 2 / 6.
Goalies-Swift Current, Dyck 0-2-0-0 (29 shots-23 saves); Rocha 0-0-0-0 (13 shots-10 saves). Saskatoon, Elliott 2-0-0-0 (22 shots-19 saves).
A-8,253
Referees-Adam Bloski (16), Troy Murray (34).
Linesmen-Levi Schutz (110), Devan Thiessen (94).