The Saskatoon Blades overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period to defeat the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 in overtime Friday at SaskTel Centre.
2007-born forward Hayden Harsanyi scored the overtime winner to improve the Blades record to 23-14-2-3 on the year. The Bridge City Bunch acquired the Calgary, AB product on January 6 from the Medicine Hat Tigers and has four goals and one assist in four games since joining the team. Harsanyi’s overtime heroics extended his point streak to six games (3G, 5A). Despite missing 32 games this season with a lower-body injury, the sophomore centre has four goals and five assists in 11 games.
16-year-old centre Cooper Williams was named the first star for the Blades with two goals and an assist in the victory. Saskatoon’s second pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft scored both goals in the third period to force overtime and assisted on the game-winner. The 6-foot forward leads all Blades rookies in points with 12 goals and 18 assists in 42 games this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Evan Gardner returned to the win column with a 17-save performance. The 18-year-old netminder is 17-10-2-1 in his second WHL season.
Rebels forward Ty Coupeland opened the scoring 2:01 into the game with his tenth goal of the season. The early lead was short-lived as Rebels defender Luke Vlooswyk went to the penalty box for two minutes for cross-checking, giving the Blades their first powerplay.
20-year-old blueliner Grayden Siepmann potted his fifth goal of the year off the initial offensive zone face-off to make it 1-1. The Langley, BC product has two powerplay goals on the season and leads the team’s backend in points with five goals and 25 assists in 42 games.
The Blades’ next powerplay was a five-minute opportunity after forward Jaxon Fuder was ejected for cross-checking Rowan Calvert from behind at the Saskatoon bench. The Blue and Gold didn’t strike on the man advantage, allowing the Rebels to regain their lead after the penalty expired. Forward Brett Calhoon picked up his fifth goal of the season with 3:35 remaining in the first to make it 2-1 Red Deer. After a lengthy review to determine whether the puck was played with a high stick before the goal, the Rebels kept their one-goal lead after 20 minutes.
Calhoon added to the Rebels’ lead 3:07 into the middle with his second of the game. The Rebels 3-1 lead stood after 40 minutes of play.
Williams kickstarted the Blades' comeback 4:07 into the third with his second goal in as many games. The Calgary, AB product redirected a point shot from forward David Lewandowski, who was ranked 52nd amongst North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings on Tuesday.
Williams tied the game just over two minutes later with his fourth goal in as many games. It marked the left-handed shot’s second powerplay goal of the season. Momentum was on Saskatoon’s side as they outshot the Rebels 12-5 in the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Harsanyi needed all of 56 seconds into the extra frame to seal the Blades 4-3 victory. The 5-foot-10 speedster beat Rebels goalie Chase Wutzke alone with a breakaway to give the Blades their second straight win against the Rebels. The season series is tied 2-2, with the rubber match scheduled for Friday, Feb. 1, at the Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer.
What’s Next?
The Blades welcome the Swift Current Broncos to SaskTel Centre for Kids Takeover on Sunday, Jan. 19.
Puck drop is 4:00 p.m.
