The Saskatoon Blades waited until after the first practice that Tristen Robins (pictured far right) was able to take part in Thursday in Regina before announcing their leadership group for the upcoming 2021 W-H-L East Division “Dubble.”
Not surprisingly, overage centre Chase Wouters (pictured second from left) is the captain…the first three-season man with the “C” on his jersey in franchise history. Robins will be one of the alternates…along with fellow forward Caiden Daley (pictured second from right) and defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere (pictured far left). Because he didn’t arrive in Canada from playing in the American League with San Jose’s American League affiliate, the 19-year-old Robins had to go through two weeks of government-imposed isolation, then another week of quarantining in Regina before being allowed to join his team-mates on the ice. The “Dubble” starts Friday with Moose Jaw playing Brandon at 4 o’clock…followed by the Prince Albert Raiders against the Regina Pats at 8 p.m. The Blades’ first game in 368 days will be Saturday at 4 o’clock against Swift Current. The broadcast on 98-COOL begins at 3:30. Following is the news release from the Blades…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SASKATOON, SK — The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce the four
members of their leadership group for the 2021 regular season ahead of Saturday’s
season opener against the Swift Current Broncos.
Pending WHL graduate Chase Wouters will wear the ‘C’ for the third straight year
as captain, joined by fellow overage forward Caiden Daley, 2002-born defenceman
Aidan De La Gorgendiere, and 2001-born forward Tristen Robins.
Chase Wouters — Captain
21-year-old Wouters becomes the first three-year captain in the Blades 57-year
franchise history. Originally from Lloydminster, Alta., Wouters is entering his fifth
and final campaign with the blue and gold. In the two previous seasons as captain,
the 6-foot-0, 180-pound centreman has combined for 107 points (41G-66A) over
131 games. To date, the career-Blade has piled up 159 points (65G-94A) in 259
games over the four previous campaigns. Wouters was drafted by Saskatoon in the
1st round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Entry Draft, 19th overall, and has also
represented Canada on the international stage several times, competing in the
2016-17 World Under-17 Hockey Canada for Team Canada Black, and the HlinkaGretzky Under-18 Championship in 2018.
Wouters also represented Team WHL in the coveted CIBC Canada/Russia Series
in November of 2019, and has captured numerous team accolades over the years,
including Hardest Worker and Community Minded awards for last season. Leaguewide, Wouters was also named the WHL’s Eastern Conference Scholastic Player
of the Year following the 2017-18 campaign.
Away from the rink, Wouters has also exemplified many of the qualities which
make up a great leader, spearheading several fundraisers within the community.
Most notably, he partnered with Nutrien for the ‘Face-Off for Hunger’ campaign,
helping raise more than $10,000 for the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning
Centre.Caiden Daley — Alternate Captain
Like his two fellow alternate captains, Caiden Daley has been given a letter for the
first time in his WHL career. The Winnipeg, MB product took a unique path to
wind up in Saskatoon, playing his first three seasons with the Brandon Wheat
Kings. The speedy centreman was traded to the Regina Pats in the early part of the
2019-20 season, and then acquired by the Blades at the trade deadline in January of
2020. Daley brings immense experience to the leadership ranks, having played 259
career games, and collecting 78 points (25G-53A) over that time. Following his
trade from Regina last season, the 6-foot-1, 181-pound forward notched 5 goals
and 7 assists for 12 points over 22 games with the Blades.
Aidan De La Gorgendiere — Alternate Captain
The lone defenceman making up the four-member Leadership Group, 2002-born
Aidan De La Gorgendiere will be a critical factor on the Blades back-end this
season. Originally selected in the 1st round (5th overall) in the 2017 WHL Bantam
Draft, the 6-foot-0, 188-pound rearguard has dressed in 111 career games, with 4
goals, 29 assists, and 33 points to his name. The pride of Abbotsford, BC took a
massive step last season, increasing his offensive output from 5 assists the previous
year, to 4 goals and 24 assists in 2019-20. With the departure of last year’s
graduating defencemen, Nolan Kneen and Scott Walford, De La Gorgendiere will
help lead a cavalry of young defenceman this season.
Tristen Robins — Alternate Captain
Drafted in the 2nd round (56th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL
Entry Draft, Tristen Robins is back with the team after spending several weeks
with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. The Clear Lake, MB native made his
professional debut on February 7th as a member of the Barracuda, and dressed in
his second pro contest the following night.
Robins is entering his third season with the Blades, and is looking to improve on
his team-leading marks in goals (33) and points (73) from last year. Going
unselected in his Bantam Draft year, the 19-year-old has catapulted himself into
the realm of elite-level scorers in the WHL. He finished 5th in the Eastern
Conference scoring race last season, and earned four individual team awards
including Most Valuable Player. Robins was acquired by the Blades via trade with
the Regina Pats at the trade deadline in January of 2018.The four members of the leadership group along with the rest of the team will open
the 2021 regular season on Saturday, March 14th, battling the Swift Current
Broncos from the Brandt Centre in Regina.
SASKATOON, SK — The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce the four
members of their leadership group for the 2021 regular season ahead of Saturday’s
season opener against the Swift Current Broncos.
Pending WHL graduate Chase Wouters will wear the ‘C’ for the third straight year
as captain, joined by fellow overage forward Caiden Daley, 2002-born defenceman
Aidan De La Gorgendiere, and 2001-born forward Tristen Robins.
Chase Wouters — Captain
21-year-old Wouters becomes the first three-year captain in the Blades 57-year
franchise history. Originally from Lloydminster, Alta., Wouters is entering his fifth
and final campaign with the blue and gold. In the two previous seasons as captain,
the 6-foot-0, 180-pound centreman has combined for 107 points (41G-66A) over
131 games. To date, the career-Blade has piled up 159 points (65G-94A) in 259
games over the four previous campaigns. Wouters was drafted by Saskatoon in the
1st round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Entry Draft, 19th overall, and has also
represented Canada on the international stage several times, competing in the
2016-17 World Under-17 Hockey Canada for Team Canada Black, and the HlinkaGretzky Under-18 Championship in 2018.
Wouters also represented Team WHL in the coveted CIBC Canada/Russia Series
in November of 2019, and has captured numerous team accolades over the years,
including Hardest Worker and Community Minded awards for last season. Leaguewide, Wouters was also named the WHL’s Eastern Conference Scholastic Player
of the Year following the 2017-18 campaign.
Away from the rink, Wouters has also exemplified many of the qualities which
make up a great leader, spearheading several fundraisers within the community.
Most notably, he partnered with Nutrien for the ‘Face-Off for Hunger’ campaign,
helping raise more than $10,000 for the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning
Centre.Caiden Daley — Alternate Captain
Like his two fellow alternate captains, Caiden Daley has been given a letter for the
first time in his WHL career. The Winnipeg, MB product took a unique path to
wind up in Saskatoon, playing his first three seasons with the Brandon Wheat
Kings. The speedy centreman was traded to the Regina Pats in the early part of the
2019-20 season, and then acquired by the Blades at the trade deadline in January of
2020. Daley brings immense experience to the leadership ranks, having played 259
career games, and collecting 78 points (25G-53A) over that time. Following his
trade from Regina last season, the 6-foot-1, 181-pound forward notched 5 goals
and 7 assists for 12 points over 22 games with the Blades.
Aidan De La Gorgendiere — Alternate Captain
The lone defenceman making up the four-member Leadership Group, 2002-born
Aidan De La Gorgendiere will be a critical factor on the Blades back-end this
season. Originally selected in the 1st round (5th overall) in the 2017 WHL Bantam
Draft, the 6-foot-0, 188-pound rearguard has dressed in 111 career games, with 4
goals, 29 assists, and 33 points to his name. The pride of Abbotsford, BC took a
massive step last season, increasing his offensive output from 5 assists the previous
year, to 4 goals and 24 assists in 2019-20. With the departure of last year’s
graduating defencemen, Nolan Kneen and Scott Walford, De La Gorgendiere will
help lead a cavalry of young defenceman this season.
Tristen Robins — Alternate Captain
Drafted in the 2nd round (56th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL
Entry Draft, Tristen Robins is back with the team after spending several weeks
with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. The Clear Lake, MB native made his
professional debut on February 7th as a member of the Barracuda, and dressed in
his second pro contest the following night.
Robins is entering his third season with the Blades, and is looking to improve on
his team-leading marks in goals (33) and points (73) from last year. Going
unselected in his Bantam Draft year, the 19-year-old has catapulted himself into
the realm of elite-level scorers in the WHL. He finished 5th in the Eastern
Conference scoring race last season, and earned four individual team awards
including Most Valuable Player. Robins was acquired by the Blades via trade with
the Regina Pats at the trade deadline in January of 2018.The four members of the leadership group along with the rest of the team will open
the 2021 regular season on Saturday, March 14th, battling the Swift Current
Broncos from the Brandt Centre in Regina.
