The Saskatoon Blades are hoping that their newest Egor will be as prolific as the last Egor was.

The Bridge City Bunch announced the signing Tuesday of 19-year-old winger Yegor Gusev to a W-H-L Scholarship and Development Agreement. The Russian was drafted by the Blue and Gold in the first round, 54th overall, of the 2026 C-H-L Import Draft. The right-handed shot registered 27 goals amongst 51 points in 49 games with the Novosibirsk, Siberia, entry in Russia’s top junior league, the M-H-L. Of course, the last Egor was 50-goal scorer Sidorov, who played three seasons in Saskatoon from 2021 through 24.

In addition, Blades’ prospect forward Kain Martiniuk is one of 80 players set to attend Hockey Canada’s Under-17 Development Camp later this week in Oakville, Ontario. The Peachland, B-C product suited up for the Shattuck-St. Mary’s School Uncer-16 team last season after being the Bridge City Bunch’s first round pick, 15th overall, in the 2025 W-H-L Prospects Draft. The Under-17 Development Camp serves as an evaluation ground for the Under-17 World Challenge, set to take place November 1-7 in Oakville. Blue and Gold bench boss Dan Da Silva will be head coach of Team Canada Red for that tournament. Following are news releases from the W-H-L, the Saskatoon Blades and the C-H-L…..

Blades ink Russian sniper Gusev to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades are excited to announce the signing of 2007-born winger Yegor Gusev to a Western Hockey League (WHL) Scholarship and Development Agreement. The Novosibirsk, RUS native was drafted by the Blades in the first round (54th overall) of the 2026 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft.

“Yegor is a dynamic left winger, who has already proven the ability to score goals at an elite level in the top Russian junior league,” said Blades general manager and president, Colin Priesnter, “He led his team in goals and plus/minus. Yegor comes from a great program in Siberia where they regularly play in front of 10,000 fans a night, so we’re hopeful he can make an impact an impact with us right away with his competitive nature.”

The right-handed shot potted 27 goals and 24 assists for 51 points in 49 games with the MHL’s Siberskie Snaipery Novosibirsk. Gusev added three goals and two assists with a +6 rating in seven playoff games.

“We’re extremely excited Yegor has made his commitment to our program today to help achieve his goal of one day playing in the NHL,” said Priestner.

We want to extend a big welcome to the Gusev family to the organization and look forward to watching Yegor continue his development under the guidance of head coach Dan DaSilva and his staff.

Blades prospect Martiniuk invited to Canada’s U17 Development Camp

Calgary, AB – Saskatoon Blades prospect Kain Martinuik is one of 80 players invited to Hockey Canada’s Under-17 Development Camp later this week. Hockey Canada announced the full camp roster on Tuesday.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to try out for Hockey Canada’s U17 Team,” said Martinuik, “I’m excited to get started.”

The camp is set for Jul. 17 – July. 21 at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, ON. The U17 World Hockey Challenge is held in November, featuring Team Canada White and Team Canada Red. If selected, this year’s tournament would be the first time in Martinuik’s young career representing his country.

The Peachland, BC native was drafted by the Blades in the first round (15th overall) during the 2025 Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft. The 6-foot forward was sensational in his second year at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota. In 50 games with the U16 AAA team, Martinuik finished fourth in team scoring with 29 goals and 32 assists for 61 points, tacking on 68 penalty minutes as well. The dominant season built off an impressive U14 AAA campaign with Shattuck St. Mary’s in 2024-25, in which Martinuik potted 44 goals and 36 assists for 80 points in 57 games, along with 110 penalty minutes. The left-handed shot finished with one assist in one game at US U16 Nationals as well.

80 CHL-Drafted Players to Attend
Hockey Canada U17 Development Camp

A total of 80 players drafted by 50 CHL clubs — including 31 players from the OHL, 29 players from the WHL and 20 players from the QMJHL — are represented at Canada’s national Under-17 Development Camp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026

TORONTO, ON — The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to recognize the 80 players drafted by clubs in the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League who have been invited by Hockey Canada to its 2026 U17 World Hockey Challenge Development Camp, taking place July 17–21 in Oakville, ON, at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.

The roster includes eight goaltenders, 24 defencemen, and 48 forwards, drawn from all three CHL member leagues: 29 players drafted by Western Hockey League teams, 31 selected by Ontario Hockey League clubs, and 20 drafted by Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League organizations.

Among these selections are the 2026 first-overall draft picks in the Ontario Hockey League (Kane Cloutier – Oshawa Generals), and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (Thomas Boisvert – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies), as well as the second overall pick from the 2025 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft (Holden Wouters – Edmonton Oil Kings).

Hockey Canada Program of Excellence General Manager Alan Millar spoke to the group’s talent ahead of camp: “This is a very talented and exciting group that will be surrounded by world-class coaching and support staffs, and we look forward to introducing them to our program, setting the expectations for the season and preparing for the U17 World Challenge later this year.”

For a full list of players at the camp, click HERE.

The U17 Development Camp gives players an opportunity to be introduced to Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and to compete against other top players from across the country. The camp also serves as an evaluation ground for the U17 World Challenge, set to take place November 1–7 in Oakville, ON.

At last year’s event in Truro, NS, 44 players from across the WHL, the OHL, and the QMJHL took home a medal, with 22 players from Canada Red winning gold and 22 players from Canada White winning silver.

This year’s two teams will be selected by an all-CHL staff, led by Canada Red and White Directors of Hockey Operations Dave Drinkill (Saginaw Spirit, OHL) and Dylan Seca (Sarnia Sting, OHL), along with Red and White Head Coaches Dan DaSilva (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) and Dylan Smoskowitz (Barrie Colts, OHL), as well as Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence staff.