Veteran Puck-Stopper Cleaver Joins Blades From Canes in Monday W-H-L Trade

The Saskatoon Blades added a veteran goaltender to their group Monday morning.

The Bridge City Bunch acquired 19-year-old Koen Cleaver (pictured) from Lethbridge for a ninth round choice in the 2029 W-H-L Prospects Draft. A Port Alberni, B-C, product, Cleaver has a 2-3-0 record in six games with the Hurricanes and has played in 76 games in his W-H-L career with the Canes. He has already joined the Blue and Gold in Red Deer where the Blades will face the Rebels Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, head coach Dan Da Silva and 16-year-old left winger Kain Martiniuk traveled from Calgary Monday morning to join their respective Canadian teams for the upcoming World Uncer-17 Challenge in Oakville, Ontario. Da Silva is head coach of Team Canada Red while Martiniuk will suit up for Team Canada White. The tournament starts Sunday.

Tuesday’s Saskatoon at Red Deer contest starts at 7 o’clock with CJWW’s broadcast beginning at 6:45. Following is the news release from the Blue and Gold, plus Les Lazaruk’s conversations with Cleaver and Blades’ goaltender coach Jeff Harvey…..

Blades acquire veteran goaltender Cleaver in deal with Hurricanes

Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades are happy to announce the acquisition of 2007-born goaltender Koen Cleaver from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for a ninth-round pick in the 2029 Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft.

Cleaver, a Port Alberni, BC product, came in relief for goalie Leif Oaten during both Hurricanes games this weekend. Cleaver stopped all ten shots in relief on Friday against the Swift Current Broncos in 30:36 of action. The 19-year-old netminder denied all 17 shots in relief the following night against the Red Deer Rebels, earning first-star honours in a 4-3 overtime win on the road.

“Koen is somebody we’ve had our eyes on since the summer,” said Blades Goaltending Coach Jeff Harvey, “He was the first goalie selected in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. He is incredibly talented with a strong technical foundation. We feel a fresh start for him in the Blades environment will allow him the opportunity to take his game to the next level. We believe this trade now gives us a strong tandem in the net.”

The 6-foot-2 netminder made two appearances during the Hurricanes’ run to the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 WHL Playoffs. Cleaver made 23 saves on 23 shots in those appearances.

We’re excited to welcome the Cleaver family to Blade City and look forward to watching Koen’s development under the guidance of Harvey and the rest of the coaching staff.