The Saskatoon Blades backend provided every goal in the team’s 6-3 loss Wednesday at SaskTel Centre to the Swift Current Broncos.
2007-born blueliners Jack Kachkowski and Jordan Martin found the back of the net, while 20-year-old veteran Grayden Siepmann completed the trio of goals.
Blades sophomore forward Willy James was named the game’s third star with a pair of assists, giving him eight points (1G, 7A) in his last ten games. The Calgary, AB native has five goals and 13 assists in 42 games.
Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Evan Gardner returned to the crease for Saskatoon for the first time since February 2 after coming in relief for goalie Ethan McCallum in the second period. The 19-year-old netminder stopped 19 of 21 shots.
The Blades' magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains five points, either earned by themselves or lost by the Red Deer Rebels. Saskatoon is 31-21-3-4 with 69 points, good for third place in the East Division.
Kachkowski opened the scoring 5:31 into the game to give Saskatoon a 1-0 lead. The former Medicine Hat Tiger fired a shot through traffic at the point, beating Broncos goalie Reid Dyck clean on its way to the net. The St. Albert, AB native has two goals and nine assists in 54 games this season.
Siepmann made it 2-0 for Saskatoon just over five minutes later. The 20-year-old blueliner snapped a six-game goalless drought with his ninth of the season.
Martin scored the Blades's third unanswered goal of the frame less than two minutes later. The Abbotsford, BC native has goals in back-to-back games and four points in his last five. The Blades third goal on five shots marked the end of Dyck’s night.
The Broncos tied the game 3-3 before the end of the opening 20 minutes. Saskatoon product Hunter Mayo responded immediately for the Broncos with his 17th goal of the year eight seconds later. Just over three minutes later, there was 20-year-old forward Carlin Dezainde, followed by winger Parker Rondeau, who had 32 seconds left in the period to conclude a wild opening 20 minutes later.
Bradie Birnie gave the Broncos their first and permanent lead 2:28 into the second period with a powerplay goal. Gardner came in to relive McCallum following the goal.
Broncos captain Clarke Caswell scored the Broncos fifth unanswered goal with under five minutes left in the second to make it 5-3. The 5-foot-11 forward’s 21st goal of the year gave Swift Current a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes.
Dezainde potted his second of the night in the dying minutes of the third into an empty net.
What’s Next?
The Blades get set for a weekend home-and-home series against the East Division’s top Prince Albert Raiders. The first game is Friday, March 7, at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, followed by the rematch on Saturday, March 8, at SaskTel Centre.
The puck drop for both games is 7:00 p.m.
