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Blades Reduce 20-Year-Old Content by Sending Wiens to Brandon For Pair of Draft Picks

By Les Lazaruk Sep 20, 2023 | 3:38 PM

The Saskatoon Blades trimmed their 20-year-old content from five players to four – and still have to get that down to three by October 10.

In a deal that not many fans expected, the Bridge City Bunch sent Carrot River product and centre Jayden Wiens (pictured) to Brandon for two draft picks…a third round selection in the 2025 Prospects Draft and a fourth round choice in 2027. The Blue and Gold have captain and centre Trevor Wong plus defencemen Charlie Wright and Spencer Shugrue on their opening weekend roster as 20-year-olds while forward Jake Chiasson is at Edmonton Oilers’ main N-H-L camp. Saskatoon opens their regular-season schedule Saturday in Regina, then host Prince Albert Sunday at 4 at SaskTel Centre. Following is Les Lazaruk’s interview about the trade with Blades’ President and General Manager Colin Priestner, plus the news release from the team…..


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Sept. 20th: Blades trade overager Wiens to Wheat Kings for two draft picks

 

Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades traded overage forward Jayden Wiens to the Brandon Wheat Kings in exchange for two WHL Prospect Draft picks Wednesday. The selections headed Saskatoon’s way are Brandon’s 2025 third-round pick and their 2027 fourth-round pick.

 

Wiens was drafted 155th-overall in the eighth-round by the Blue and Gold in 2018. The 5-foot-9 center’s spent the last three seasons in Saskatoon, scoring 43 goals and 82 points across 166 regular season games. The Carrot River, SK native finished second on the team in goals last postseason with eight, trailing only Anaheim Ducks draft pick Egor Sidorov with ten. Wiens appeared in all 18 playoff games on the Blades historic run to the Eastern Conference Championship, finishing with ten points.

 

“These are the toughest decisions we have to make in junior hockey when it comes to our 20-year-olds,” said General Manager Colin Priestner, “Jayden was instrumental in our playoff run last season and has been a tenacious and dedicated Blade for three seasons and we know he will be an excellent addition to Brandon.”

 

The Blades still have four 20-year-olds on their roster, and three currently with the team including captain Trevor Wong, defenceman Charlie Wright, and defenceman Spencer Shugrue, who are all expected to play this weekend. The fourth 20-year-old is Edmonton Oilers prospect Jake Chiasson who is in Edmonton for Oilers main training camp this weekend.

 

The Blades have until Oct. 10th to reduce the number of 20-year-old players on their roster to three.

 

The Saskatoon Blades want to thank Jayden for all his contributions to the city and people of Saskatoon and the organization. We wish Jayden the best of luck in Brandon!