Chase Wouters. (Saskatoon Blades/Twitter)
Saskatoon Blades captain Chase Wouters got quite a surprise following his final game of junior hockey Wednesday.
After scoring the game-winning goal and adding an assist in the Blades’ 5-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Regina hub, Wouters’ post-game media availability was interrupted by Blades general manager Colin Priestner.
“I’m so proud of you. You embody everything that we ever want in a Blade and I want you to be the first to know that no one is ever going to wear (No.) 44 for this club again,” Priestner said.
“As far as I’m concerned, 44 belongs to you.”
Wheat Kings spoil Raiders comeback bid - Prince Albert Daily Herald paherald.sk.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from paherald.sk.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
REGINA Members of the Saskatoon Blades are making history in the WHL hub, despite a shortened season and year unlike any other. The Blades are the top Saskatchewan team and tied for second with the Winnipeg Ice in the East Division hub with 31 points. The Brandon Wheat Kings are in sole possession of first, with 34 points. With less than a week left, the Blades are just three points away from claiming the top spot in the East Division for the first time since 2013. “They’ve all been must-wins here in the hub. Everything’s magnified with only 24 games. So these last three, we have to put our best foot forward,” Chase Wouters, the Blades’ captain, said.
Prince Albert Daily Herald
Photo Courtesy of Keith Hershmiller/WHL Prince Albert Raiders forward Niall Crocker has three assists in 20 games thus far in his first season in the Western Hockey League.
After not knowing when he would make his debut in a Prince Albert Raiders uniform due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rookie forward Niall Crocker has just been trying to take everything in while competing in the East Division hub at the Brandt Centre in Regina.
“I think all of us are very lucky to even play this season,” Crocker said. “It’s a privilege to be here and I’m trying to take in as much as I can.
Prince Albert Daily Herald
Photo Courtesy of Keith Hershmiller/WHL Ozzy Wiesblatt, left, and Evan Herman celebrate after Wiesblatt opened the scoring for the Prince Albert Raiders in Thursday s 4-0 win over the Saskatoon Blades.
While the Saskatoon Blades won this year’s season series over the Prince Albert Raiders, the Raiders were able to prevent their archrivals from sweeping all four of their meetings in the Western Hockey League’s East Division hub in Regina with an impressive 4-0 performance on Thursday afternoon.
“I’ve been a part of some pretty big wins here with the Raiders and this is right up there,” Raiders forward Ozzy Wiesblatt said.