A fourth one-goal deficit was too much for the Saskatoon Blades to overcome as they dropped their first game of the season 6-3 at InnovationPlex against the Swift Current Broncos.
It was a valiant effort by the Blue and Gold who were down a forward with the absence of alternate captain Tyler Parr. The Blades never led in the game but tied it three times before the Broncos scored three unanswered in the third period. Rookie forward Cooper Williams extended his season-opening point streak to five games with his third goal of the year. Saskatoon’s 41st overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft is tied for the team lead in points with eight alongside Parr and 19-year-old forwards Ben Riche and Rowan Calvert.
Calgary, AB product William James found the back of the net for a second straight game, giving him points (3G, 4A) in four straight contests. The second-year winger has more than doubled his point totals from last season in 21 less games.
Blades alternate captain Rowan Calvert finished with a goal and an assist on the evening, giving him four goals and two assists in his last three games. The Moose Jaw, SK product has five goals and seven points in five games to start the year. Defenceman Grayden Siepmann pushed his point streak to four games with an assist on Calvert’s goal, giving him one goal and three assists in five game.
It wasn’t the performance fans have become accustomed to from goalie Evan Gardner. The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick fell to 1-1-0-0 on the season after allowing five goals on 30 shots.
The Blades eight points are tied for first in the Eastern Conference alongside the Brandon Wheat Kings and Lethbridge Hurricanes. All three clubs are 4-1-0-0.
Saskatoon was awarded the first powerplay of the night 6:41 into the game, but it was the Broncos who opened the scoring. The 19-year-old forward potted a shorthanded goal for his third tally of the season. Gould’s previous two goals came in each game of the opening weekend home-and-home series against the Blades.
A double-willy followed less than seven minutes later when Williams and James connected to tie the game for Saskatoon. The duo provided a spark to the Blades bench who outshot the Broncos 10-8 after 20 minutes of play.
Blades alternate captain Rowan Calvert finished with a goal and an assist on the evening, giving him four goals and two assists in his last three games. The Moose Jaw, SK product has five goals and seven points in five games to start the year. Defenceman Grayden Siepmann pushed his point streak to four games with an assist on Calvert’s goal, giving him one goal and three assists in five game.
It wasn’t the performance fans have become accustomed to from goalie Evan Gardner. The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick fell to 1-1-0-0 on the season after allowing five goals on 30 shots.
The Blades' eight points tie them for first in the Eastern Conference alongside the Brandon Wheat Kings and Lethbridge Hurricanes. All three clubs are 4-1-0-0.
Saskatoon was awarded the first powerplay of the night 6:41 into the game, but the Broncos opened the scoring. The 19-year-old forward potted a shorthanded goal for his third tally of the season. Gould’s previous two goals came in each game of the opening weekend home-and-home series against the Blades.
A double-willy followed less than seven minutes later when Williams and James connected to tie the game for Saskatoon. The duo provided a spark to the Blades bench, who outshot the Broncos 10-8 after 20 minutes of play.
Coupland responded swiftly for the Broncos with his second of the night just over two minutes later. The Broncos had momentum in their corner. It was amplified as Williams went to the penalty box for two minutes for slashing. Gould buried his second of the night to make it 5-3 Broncos with 10:29 remaining in the game, capping off a five-point performance for the 19-year-old. All seven of Gould’s points this season have come against the Bridge City Bunch.
Coupland completed the hat-trick with 13 seconds left in the game, scoring his fourth of the season into an empty Blades net.
The Blades welcome exceptional status defenceman Landon Dupont and the Everett Silvertips Saturday, October 5 to SaskTel Centre.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
