For just the second time in franchise history, the Saskatoon Blades have started a season with a 4-0-0 record.
And, for a second straight game, Rowan Calvert snapped a 3-3 tie in the third period as the Bridge City Bunch came-from-behind to upend the home-standing Calgary Hitmen 5-3 Wednesday night. The only other Blue and Gold team to start a season with four consecutive wins was the 1975-76 edition, led by Hockey Hall-of-Famer Bernie Federko. On Wednesday, Calgary led 2-0 after the first period, but the Blades rallied to tie the score twice before going ahead for good when Calvert notched his fourth goal of the young season with 6:45 remaining in regulation time. Rookie Cooper Williams and sophomore Hudson Kibblewhite (pictured) joined Calvert in posting a goal and assist. Willie James scored into an empty net and Grayden Siepmann ended a 72-game regular-season goal-less drought, tallying for the first time for Saskatoon against his former Hitmen mates. Austin Elliott won for the third time in goal for the Bridge City Bunch as they out-shot Calgary 27-21. The Blue and Gold move on to Swift Current for a Friday contest against the Broncos, then return home to play Everett on Saturday. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, my Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Dan Da Silva and Kibblewhite plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L website…..
Saskatoon Blades 5 at Calgary Hitmen 3 – Status: Final
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 – Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, AB
Saskatoon 0 3 2 – 5
Calgary 2 1 0 – 3
1st Period-1, Calgary, Tulk 2 (Fawcett, Hvidston), 7:11. 2, Calgary, Ng 1 (Gorzynski, Kindel), 15:03. Penalties-Olsen Sas (boarding), 2:35; Kohen Lodge Sas (kneeing), 16:36; Hamilton Cgy (holding), 18:46.
2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Williams 2 (Kibblewhite, Olsen), 5:53. 4, Saskatoon, Siepmann 1 (Riche, Parr), 7:20. 5, Calgary, Fawcett 1 (Hvidston), 10:39. 6, Saskatoon, Kibblewhite 1 (Williams, Saunderson), 18:07 (PP). Penalties-James Sas (misconduct – mouthguard), 4:52; Moore Cgy (kneeing), 17:12.
3rd Period-7, Saskatoon, Calvert 4 (Tastad), 13:15. 8, Saskatoon, James 2 (Volotovskii, Calvert), 19:19. Penalties-James Sas (holding), 3:03; Wetsch Cgy (high sticking), 3:08; Worthington Sas (slashing), 8:02; Valliant Cgy (slashing), 10:50.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 7-11-9-27. Calgary 8-3-10-21.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 1 / 4; Calgary 0 / 4.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Elliott 3-0-0-0 (21 shots-18 saves). Calgary, Buenaventura 1-2-0-0 (27 shots-22 saves).
A-2,103
Referees-Kevin Webinger (6).
Linesmen-Jason Nedinis (33), brandon peterson (111).
