The Saskatoon Blades reduced their pre-season roster to 34 players, including the number of 20-year-olds to four.
The Bridge City Bunch released veteran left winger Rhett Melnyk (pictured) and re-assigned 16-year-old forward Matthew Dowdall to the Yale Academy. Melnyk was acquired early last season from Edmonton, posting five goals amongst 14 points. His departure leaves the Blue and Gold with left winger Brandon Lisowsky, defencemen Ben Saunderson and Grayden Siepmann plus goaltender Austin Elliott on the roster as 20s. Overall, the Blades have 18 forwards, 12 defencemen and four goalies on the roster going into a home-and-home exhibition series in Brandon tomorrow, then hosting the Wheat Kings Sunday at 4 o’clock at SaskTel Centre. Following is the news release, including the updated roster…..
Blades reduce preseason roster to 34 players
Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades have reduced their preseason roster to 34 players.
The Blades named 36 players to their roster after last weekend’s training camp. Following Tuesday night’s preseason opener against the Prince Albert Raiders, the Blades have trimmed that number by two.
2008-born forward Matthew Dowdall has been re-assigned to Yale Hockey Academy of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
Next up for the Blue and Gold is a preseason home-and-home this weekend against the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Bridge City Bunch embark to Westoba Place on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6:00pm, followed by the rematch Sunday, Sept. 8 at SaskTel Centre at 4:00pm.
Forwards
| 8 | Lisowsky, Brandon | L | 14-Apr-04 | 5’9″ | 180 | Port Coquitlam, BC | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2019 (RD 1) |
| 11 | Kibblewhite, Hudson * | R | 07-Apr-07 | 6’1″ | 161 | Vernon, BC | RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 AAA | CSSHL U18 | DRAFT – 2022 (RD 2) |
| 14 | Worthington, Colten* | L | 27-Aug-07 | 6’0″ | 182 | Brandon, MB | Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA | MU18HL | DRAFT – 2022 (RD 11) |
| 16 | John, Jaggar* | L | 17-Jul-09 | 5’8″ | 132 | Fort McMurray, AB | Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep | CSSHL U15 | DRAFT – 2024 (RD 3) |
| 17 | Volotovskii, Misha | L | 23-Jun-05 | 6’2″ | 184 | Calgary, AB | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2020 (RD 4) |
| 18 | Lodge, Kohen* | L | 05-Oct-08 | 5’10” | 186 | Red Deer, AB | Red Deer Chiefs U18 AAA | AEHL U18 | DRAFT – 2023 (RD 9) |
| 19 | Riche, Ben | L | 15-Mar-05 | 5’11” | 180 | Bethune, SK | Victoria Royals | WHL | TRADE – Victoria |
| 20 | Parr, Tyler | R | 30-Jan-05 | 5’11” | 192 | La Salle, MB | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2020 (RD 3) |
| 23 | Calvert, Rowan | L | 01-Sep-05 | 5’11” | 189 | Moose Jaw, SK | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2020 (RD 9) |
| 25 | Williams, Cooper* | L | 18-Feb-08 | 6’2″ | 150 | Calgary, AB | Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA | AEHL U18 | DRAFT – 2023 (RD 2) |
| 27 | Mitchell-McElhone, Triston* | L | 15-Sep-08 | 6’2″ | 190 | Flaxcombe, SK | Swift Current Legionnaires U18 | SMAAAHL | DRAFT – 2023 (RD 11) |
| 28 | Hansen, Lukas | L | 22-Feb-05 | 5’11” | 179 | Winnipeg, MB | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2020 (RD 2) |
| 36 | Tetarenko, Lochlan* | R | 09-Aug-07 | 5’10” | 152 | Bragg Creek, AB | Edge School U18 Prep | CSSHL U18 | DRAFT – 2022 (RD 3) |
| 37 | Ivanusec, Justin | R | 26-Jan-06 | 6’0″ | 179 | Delta, BC | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | LISTED |
| 45 | Olsen, Zach* | R | 16-Mar-08 | 6’1″ | 188 | Calgary, AB | Edge School U18 Prep | CSSHL U18 | DRAFT – 2023 (RD 2) |
| 72 | James, William * | R | 28-Sep-06 | 5’11” | 153 | Calgary, AB | Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA | AEHL U18 | SIGNED (2023) |
| 83 | Lewko, Cohen* | R | 16-Apr-09 | 6’0″ | 181 | Sanford, MB | RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U15 | CSSHL U15 | DRAFT – 2024 (RD 4) |
| 88 | Blazek, Vlastimil* | R | 30-Sep-07 | 5’10” | 150 | Czechia | HC Energie Karlovy Vary U17 | Czechia U17 | IMPORT – 2024 (RD 1) |
Defence
| 2 | Saunderson, Ben | L | 26-Sep-04 | 6’1″ | 181 | Carberry, MB | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2019 (RD 5) |
| 3 | Martin, Jordan* | R | 08-Jan-07 | 6’2″ | 191 | Abbotsford, BC | Delta Hockey Academy U18 Prep | CSSHL U18 | DRAFT – 2022 (RD 2) |
| 4 | Klimpke, Brayden* | L | 08-Oct-07 | 5’11” | 156 | Calgary, AB | Calgary IHA U18 Prep | CSSHL U18 | DRAFT – 2022 (RD 4) |
| 6 | Kuntz, Spencer* | R | 10-Nov-09 | 6’0″ | 167 | Winnipeg, MB | RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U15 | CSSHL U15 | DRAFT – 2024 (RD 6) |
| 13 | Poll, Isaac* | R | 03-May-07 | 6’3″ | 185 | White City, SK | Regina Pats Canadians U18 AAA | SMAAAHL | DRAFT – 2022 (RD 1) |
| 21 | Siepmann, Grayden | R | 26-May-04 | 5’11” | 181 | Abbotsford, BC | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | TRADE – Calgary |
| 24 | Molendyk, Tanner | L | 03-Feb-05 | 6’0″ | 181 | McBride, BC | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2020 (RD 1) |
| 29 | Eisnor, Liam* | L | 23-Apr-08 | 6’0″ | 184 | Edmonton, AB | Northern Alberta Xtreme U17 | CSSHL U17 | DRAFT – 2023 (RD 4) |
| 34 | Revel, Julian* | L | 29-Apr-09 | 5’10” | 150 | Burnaby, BC | Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep | CSSHL U15 | DRAFT – 2024 (RD 3) |
| 41 | Lavallee, Jack* | R | 27-Jan-08 | 6’2″ | 166 | Saskatoon, SK | Warman Wildcats U18 AAA | SMAAAHL | DRAFT – 2023 (RD 5) |
| 52 | Tastad, Morgan * | L | 10-Jan-06 | 6’4″ | 188 | Loreburn, SK | Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA | SMAAAHL | DRAFT – 2021 (RD 9) |
| 55 | Guenther, Nathan* | L | 04-Sep-08 | 6’2″ | 170 | Edmonton, AB | Northern Alberta Xtreme U17 | CSSHL U17 | DRAFT – 2023 (RD 4) |
Goalies
| 30 | Budd, Ryley* | L | 09-May-08 | 6’0″ | 164 | Calgary, AB | Edge School U18 Prep | CSSHL U18 | DRAFT – 2023 (RD 2) |
| 31 | Elliott, Austin | L | 14-May-04 | 6’1″ | 175 | Strathmore, AB | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2019 (RD 12) |
| 32 | Cunningham, Logan | L | 11-Feb-05 | 6’3″ | 190 | Sherwood Park, AB | Battlefords North Stars | SJHL | LISTED |
| 35 | Gardner, Evan | L | 25-Jan-06 | 6’1″ | 177 | Fort St. John, BC | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | DRAFT – 2021 (RD 3 |
The Saskatoon Blades home opener is on Saturday, Sept. 21st at 7:00pm vs the Swift Current Broncos.