It was a good opening weekend for W-H-L players with ties to Saskatoon.
Blades’ defenceman Brayden Klimpke (pictured) is the initial player-of-the-week, Lethbridge forward Dayne Beuker – son of former U of S Huskies’ captain Dean Beuker – is the rookie player of the week while Saskatoon product Grayson Malinoski of Seattle is the top goaltender from the week. Klimpke had five points as the Bridge City Bunch went 0-1-1, scoring three times and adding a pair of assists. The Montreal draft pick and Calgary product is the league’s leading scorer amongst blueliners and tied for second overall behind Blue and Gold team-mate, right winger Hunter Laing, who had three goals amongst six points. Following are the news releases from the Blades and the W-H-L…..
Klimpke named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
The Montreal Canadiens draft pick recorded five points across two games during opening weekend
Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League (WHL) announced Saskatoon Blades defenceman Brayden Klimpke as the Tempo WHL Player of the Week fuelled by Co-op for the week ending Sunday, September 20. The league made the announcement on Monday afternoon.
The Montreal Canadiens draft pick recorded five points (3G,2A) on opening weekend of the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season.
The 6-foot, 176-pound left-shot defender started his season with a three-point (1G,2A) effort Friday, Sept. 18, as Saskatoon dropped a 5-4 road decision to the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Calgary, AB native registered Saskatoon’s first goal of the campaign 10:11 into the first period, drawing the contest even at 1-1. After the Wheat Kings built a 4-1 advantage, Klimpke set up veteran forward Hunter Laing on the powerplay to pull Saskatoon within two goals 1:34 into the final frame. Klimpke added another powerplay helper seven minutes later, contributing to Ben Bowtell’s first goal of the campaign. Klimpke was named third star of the game for his performance.
Klimpke kept his momentum going Saturday, Sept. 19, in Moose Jaw during a 7-6 overtime loss to the Warriors. Klimpke was a catalyst on the man-advantage, scoring his second goal of the season 2:56 into the first period, giving Saskatoon a 2-0 advantage. Trailing 6-5 in the third, Klimpke found the back of the net at even strength, tying the game 6-6 to force overtime.
After the first weekend of the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season, Klimpke leads all WHL defencemen in scoring with five points (3G, 2A). Klimpke is tied for second league scoring, trailing teammate Hunter Laing, who leads the WHL with six points (3G, 3A) in two games.
Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Klimpke led all Blades defencemen in scoring during the 2025-26 season, tallying a career best 47 points (4G, 43A) in 68 games.
A fourth-round pick (70th overall) of the Saskatoon Blades in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Klimpke is in his third WHL season, having registered 81 points (11G, 70A) in 142 career regular season games.
The Blades begin a weekend home-and-home series against the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Art Hauser Centre. Saskatoon’s Go Merlin Ford Lincoln Home Opener is the following night at SaskTel Centre in a Highway 11 rivalry rematch. Puck drop for both games is at 7:00 p.m. MT.
MONTREAL CANADIENS PROSPECT KLIMPKE NAMED TEMPO WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK FUELLED BY CO-OP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2026
Klimpke, an 18-year-old defenceman from Calgary, Alta., recorded five points (3G-2A) on the first weekend of the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season to help pace the Blades.
The 6-foot, 176-pound left-shot defender started his season with a three-point (1G-2A) effort Friday, September 18, as Saskatoon dropped a 5-4 road decision to the Brandon Wheat Kings. The third-year rearguard registered Saskatoon’s first goal of the campaign 10:11 into the first period, drawing the contest even at 1-1. After the Wheat Kings had built a 4-1 advantage, Klimpke set up veteran forward Hunter Laing on the power play to pull Saskatoon back within two goals 1:34 into the third period. Klimpke added another power-play helper seven minutes later, contributing to Ben Bowtell’s first goal of the campaign. Though Saskatoon ultimately fell short in their comeback, Klimpke was named third star of the game for his performance.
Klimpke kept his momentum going Saturday, September 19, in Moose Jaw as the Blades fell 7-6 to the Warriors in overtime. Once again, Klimpke was a catalyst on the power play, scoring his second goal of the season 2:56 into the first period, giving Saskatoon a 2-0 advantage. With the Blades trailing 6-5 in the third period, Klimpke found the back of the net – this time at even strength – tying the game 6-6 and forcing overtime.
Coming out of the first weekend of the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season, Klimpke leads all WHL defencemen in scoring with five points (3G-2A). He is tied for second in scoring among all WHL players, trailing teammate Hunter Laing, who leads the WHL with six points (3G-3A) in two games.
Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft, Klimpke led all Blades defencemen in scoring during the 2025-26 season, tallying a career best 47 points (4G-43A) in 68 games.
A fourth-round pick (70th overall) of the Saskatoon Blades in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Klimpke is embarking on his third WHL season, having registered 81 points (11G-70A) in 142 career regular season outings.
WHL Opening Week presented by RE/MAX continues Friday, September 25, when Klimpke and the Blades visit the Prince Albert Raiders at the Art Hauser Centre. Stream the action FREE on YouTube.
HURRICANES FORWARD BEUKER NAMED RICKY’S WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Beuker, an 18-year-old centre from Humboldt, Sask., recorded three points (1G-2A) in two games as he made his WHL debut this past weekend.
Friday, September 18, Beuker scored the first goal of the season for the Hurricanes, cashing in on a power-play opportunity 2:41 into the third period of a 5-2 loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers. Before the night was over, the 5-foot-11, 172-pound forward added a primary assist on a goal from captain Owen Berge.
Saturday, September 19, down the highway in Medicine Hat, Beuker put his name on the scoresheet once again, setting up Washington Capitals prospect Logan Stuart on a power play as the Hurricanes dropped a 5-1 decision to the Tigers.
Selected by the Hurricanes in the first round (14th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Beuker is competing in his first WHL season after signing a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Hurricanes on June 4, 2026.
He spent the two previous seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP), including competing at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge in Calgary and Lethbridge, where he recorded one goal.
Beuker’s father, Dean, spent four seasons in the WHL, including time with the Tri-City Americans, Portland Winterhawks, and Regina Pats. Over 272 career WHL regular season games, Dean tallied 183 points (79G-104A).
WHL Opening Week presented by RE/MAX continues Friday, September 25, when Beuker and the Hurricanes host the Red Deer Rebels at VisitLethbridge.com Arena. Stream the action FREE on YouTube.
THUNDERBIRDS NETMINDER MALINOSKI NAMED MARY BROWN’S CHICKEN WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Malinoski, a 19-year-old product of Saskatoon, Sask., was perfect this weekend, going 1-0-0-0 with a 0.00 goals-against average, 1.000 save percentage, and 31 saves.
Saturday, September 19, Malinoski was the star of the show as the Thunderbirds eked past the Wenatchee Wild in a 1-0 overtime victory. The 6-foot, 170-pound puckstopper was lights out, including a busy second period that featured 16 shots on goal. In ‘no return’ three-on-three overtime, Malinoski steered aside another three opportunities from the Wild, to secure his first career WHL shutout, backstopping the Thunderbirds to their first win of the new campaign.
Undrafted into the WHL, Malinoski signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Thunderbirds on November 27, 2023. He made his WHL debut during the 2023-24 season, appearing in three contests with Seattle.
Malinoski is entering his third full season in the WHL. Over 59 career appearances, he is 19-30-2-3.
WHL Opening Week presented by RE/MAX continues Saturday, September 26, when Malinoski and the Thunderbirds host the Prince George Cougars at accesso ShoWare Center. Stream the action FREE on YouTube.
