Blades Ready to Start 2023 Training Camp Next Weekend

The Saskatoon Blades will close out August by registering 68 players for training camp a week from Friday, then they’ll start September on the ice at SaskTel Centre.

The 68 players will be split into four teams for a practice session each, then a scrimmage game tournament with the Kirkness Cup on the line winding up on September 3. Bridge City Bunch alumni Nolan Maier, Rhett Warrener, Frank Banham and Chase Wouters will have their names affiliated with the four training camp teams. All practices and scrimmage games are open to the public with the team’s Locker Room Sale happening on the concourse in conjunction with training camp. The Blue and Gold will open the pre-season on September 6 against the arch-rival Prince Albert Raiders at the Jim Nielsen Sports Complex on the Big River First Nation. Following is the news release from the Blades…..

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 24 : 2023 Training Camp schedule presented by Motion Fitness!

Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades 2023 Training Camp, presented by Motion Fitness, will be open Friday, Sept. 1st and run until Sunday, Sept. 3rd.

68 players are attending camp and will be split into four different teams on Friday. Each team is named after a Blades alumnus throughout the clubs history (Nolan Maier, Rhett Warrener, Frank Banham, and Chase Wouters).

All four teams will play for the Kirkness Cup between Friday and Sunday, in memory of the late Bobby Kirkness. Games begin late Friday afternoon with the first scheduled for 3:15pm. The Kirkness Cup Championship is set to take place at 12:00pm Sunday, and serves as the official wrap-up for the weekend.

Training camp will also coincide with the Blades annual Locker Room Sale (previously known as the Sidewalk Sale). The Locker Room Sale will take place inside SaskTel Centre rather than outside the arena like in years past. New items will be featured along the concourse and in The Frozen Pond to gear you up for the upcoming season of Blades hockey. There will also be new and used Blades hockey equipment available.

All practices and games will take place at SaskTel Centre and are open to the public.

See the full schedule for training camp and our Locker Room Sale below:

Friday, September 1st

Locker Room Sale: 3:00pm – 6:00pm

· 9:15am – 10:00am | Team Maier Practice

· 10:15am – 11:00am | Team Warrener Practice

· 11:15am – 12:00pm | Team Banham Practice

· 12:15pm – 1:00pm | Team Wouters Practice

· Break

· 3:15pm – 4:30pm | Team Maier vs Team Warrener (Scrimmage)

· 4:45pm – 6:00pm | Team Banham vs Team Wouters (Scrimmage)

Saturday, September 2nd

Locker Sale: 9:00am – 1:00pm

· 10:00am – 11:15am | Team Banham vs Team Maier (Scrimmage)

· 11:30am – 12:45pm | Team Warrener vs Team Wouters (Scrimmage)

· Break

· 4:15pm – 5:30pm | Team Maier vs Team Wouters (Scrimmage)

· 5:45pm – 7:00pm | Team Warrener vs Team Banham (Scrimmage)

Sunday, September 3rd

· 9:00am – 10:15am | Kirkness Cup 3rd Place Game

· Meetings with players

· 12:00pm – 1:15pm | Kirkness Cup Championship Game

· Meetings with players

The Saskatoon Blades home opener is on Sunday, Sept. 24th at 4:00pm vs the Prince Albert Raiders. Single game tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 5th at 10:00am. Season ticket memberships are available now!