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Returns of Molendyk and Lisowsky Just Part of Busy Monday With Blades Roster

By Les Lazaruk Oct 7, 2024 | 2:31 PM

Tanner Molendyk (pictured) and Brandon Lisowsky are back with the Saskatoon Blades after spending the last month in the camps of pro teams.

Molendyk, the 24th overall pick in the 2023 N-H-L Draft by Nashville, was returned to the Bridge City Bunch by the Predators while Lisowsky comes back to the Blue and Gold from the camp of the American League’s Toronto Marlies.

Lisowsky’s return meant the Blades had to make a move by Thursday to get their number of 20-year-old players down to the W-H-L-mandated limit of three. They did so by announcing the release of goaltender Austin Elliott. Besides Lisowsky, the other 20s on the Saskatoon roster are blueliners Ben Saunderson and Grayden Siepmann. Evan Gardner and Logan Cunningham remain as the Bridge City Bunch goalies on their roster, now at 23 players – including eight defencemen and 13 forwards.

The Blue and Gold re-assigned 16-year-old left winger Kohen Lodge to his Under-18 AAA team in Red Deer. In addition, Blades forward Cooper Williams is the latest W-H-L Rookie-of-the-Week after the 16-year-old Calgary product posted three goals amongst four points in three games. Saskatoon is off until a Friday home game against Spokane, 7 o’clock at SaskTel Centre. Following are news releases from the Blades and another from the W-H-L, plus a media scrum with Molendyk and Les Lazaruk’s interview with Saskatoon Associate General Manager Steve (Hilty) Hildebrand…..

 

Sunday, Oct. 6

Blades receive boost with return of Lisowsky and Molendyk

 

Saskatoon, SK – The cavalry is on the way for the Saskatoon Blades.

Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk and 20-year-old sniper Brandon Lisowsky are returning to the Bridge City this week following stints at NHL Training Camps and preseason.

 

The Predators announced they reassigned Molendyk to junior Sunday morning. The silky-skater was part of the final round of cuts in Music City after dressing in several preseason games for Nashville. Molendyk was drafted in the first round (24 overall) at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by Nashville and provides a huge boost to a Blades team that’s started 4-1-1-0. The McBride, BC product set a career-high in goals (10), assists (46), and points (56) in 50 games last season, 17 less than the previous season. Molendyk was named to Team Canada for the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in December alongside Minten, but an upper-body injury kept him from playing in the tournament. Molendyk was a workhorse for the Blue and Gold in the playoffs, scoring three goals, seven assists, and ten points in 16 games.

 

Lisowsky is back after he was invited to Toronto Maple Leafs training camp and spending time with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies last week. The 20-year-old sniper is coming off a career-high season in which he scored 42 goals, 38 assists, and 80 points in 68 games. Lisowsky finished second on the team in goals, powerplay goals (13), and game-winning goals (8) behind only Anaheim Ducks prospect Egor Sidorov. The Port Coquitlam, BC native came through when it mattered most, scoring three overtime goals during the regular season, the most by any Blade. Lisowsky was a key factor in the club’s deep playoff run, scoring seven goals, ten assists, and 17 points in 16 games. Even with his lethal offensive ability, the 5-foot-9 hoss was an effective defensive forward with relentless back-checking and stick-checking ability. The career-Blade’s work ethic was recognized by the club as he was awarded the Blades’ Unsung Hero award. Lisowsky returns to a Blades team with 29 goals, the most in the WHL this season.

 

Both men have a chance to catch up to speed before the Blades’ next game Friday, Oct. 11 against the Spokane Chiefs at SaskTel Centre.
 
Monday, Oct. 7

Blades release 20-year-old goalie Elliott, cut overage list to three
Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades announced the release of 20-year-old netminder Austin Elliott on Monday. The Strathmore, AB product has been placed on 20-year-old waivers, cutting the Blades’ overage player list to three. Captain Ben Saunderson, fellow defenceman Grayden Siepmann, and forward Brandon Lisowsky are the remaining 20-year-old players on the roster.

 

Elliott was drafted by the Blades in the 12th round (261st overall) of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. The 6-foot-1 goalie appeared in 85 career WHL games, going 58-14-5-1 with a .906 save percentage (SV%) and 2.37 goals-against average (GAA). Named to the 2022-23 CHL All-Rookie Team, Elliott is in sole possession of eighth in Blades franchise history for wins, and has the fourth most shutouts in franchise history with six. The third-year netminder went 3-0-0-0 to start the 2024-25 season.

 

The Blades want to thank Austin for his contributions to the organization and community of Saskatoon, and wish him well on the next step in his hockey career!

 

The Blades also announced 2008-born forward Kohen Lodge has been reassigned to the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s (AEHL) Red Deer Chiefs U18 AAA squad.

CHIEFS FORWARD VAN OLM NAMED TEMPO WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2024

Calgary, Alta. – Spokane Chiefs forward Shea Van Olm has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 6, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

The former WHL Champion helped power the Chiefs to a pair of weekend wins with four goals and three assists for a league-leading seven points.

Van Olm took charge in a Friday showdown against a hungry Kelowna squad, shoveling a backhand shot past Jarki Kykkanen 15 minutes into the opening frame to break the ice. The 6-foot-1, 199-pound winger closed the period with a slick dish to freshly minted Captain Berkly Catton, who buried to extend the Chiefs’ lead to 3-0. Catton returned the favour in the final frame as he found Van Olm for a short side wrister. Van Olm’s second tally of the night would stand as the game-winner in a 5-3 decision for Spokane, though Kelowna tried to stage a late comeback. The 20-year-old earned first star of the night for his two-goal, one-assist effort.

Van Olm, who hails from Calgary, Alta., proved that a veteran player can still experience a lot of firsts the following night against Seattle. Van Olm opened the scoring for Spokane for the third time in four games by batting a puck out of midair and into the back of the Thunderbirds net less than a minute into the opening period. He added the primary assist on the eventual-game-winning goal by whipping a centering pass to Smyth Rebman in the slot on a powerplay. With Spokane cushioned by a 5-1 lead in the second period, Van Olm snagged another helper with a feed to Owen Martin, who tipped the puck past Grayson Malinoski to take the game into blowout territory. Van Olm laid the final strike with a powerful one-timer from the slot on the man-advantage. The 7-2 win marks Spokane’s fourth straight victory and Van Olm’s first career four-point night in the WHL.

With seven goals and six assists for 13 points in six matches, Van Olm leads the Chiefs- and the entire WHL- in points and sits second in goals- just one tally behind top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Roger McQueen of Brandon.

He’s on pace for a career-best year in his first full season with Spokane after being acquired in a trade in 2023-24. Originally drafted by Edmonton in the sixth round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Van Olm helped the Oil Kings lift the Ed Chynoweth Cup as a rookie in 2022. He also registered an assist in four appearances with the Kamloops Blazers at the 2023 Memorial Cup before finding a new home in Spokane.

The Chiefs (5-1-0-0) sit atop the league standings and look like the team to beat as they prepare for an East Division trip.

Spokane will take on Prince Albert (1-2-2-0) on Wednesday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m. ST.

2024-25 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
September 23, 2024: Roger McQueen, Brandon Wheat Kings
September 30, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers

ROYALS NETMINDER MICHNIK NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Calgary, Alta. – Victoria Royals netminder Spencer Michnik has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 6, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

The 18-year-old posted his first WHL shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Wenatchee Wild on October 5.

Michnik steered aside 22 shots and held the Wild scoreless on two powerplay opportunities in his second start of the WHL season. Wenatchee had averaged nearly four goals per game this season heading into the match against the B.C. Division Leaders.

The Sylvan Lake, Alta. product is 2-0-0-0 in his first season with the Royals with a .50 goals-against average and a blistering .980 save percentage. He currently leads all WHL netminders in both categories and has the only shutout of the young season.

Clocking in at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, Michnik was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the offseason.

Victoria (4-1-1-0) opens a three-game homestand with a pair of rematches against Wenatchee starting on Friday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m. PST.

2024-25 WHL Goaltender of the Week
September 23, 2024: Koen Cleaver, Lethbridge Hurricanes
September 30, 2024: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings

BLADES FORWARD WILLIAMS NAMED WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Calgary, Alta. – Saskatoon Blades forward Cooper Williams has been named WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending October 6, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

The 16-year-old continued his impressive early-season run with three goals, an assist and a +3 rating through three matches to lead all eligible rookies last week.

With the Calgary Hitmen holding a 2-0 lead in the second period of their October 2 match, Williams kickstarted the Blades comeback with a powerful one-timer from the slot to get the Bridge City bunch on the board. At the end of the frame, Williams fed Hudson Kibblewhite for a fantastic between-the-legs goal to tie things up at three heading into the final 20 minutes. Williams was named second star of the night with a goal and an assist in an eventual 5-3 Blades victory.

The 6-foot, 150-pound centre extended his point streak to a fifth game as the Blades visited the Swift Current Broncos two days later. With Swift Current up 1-0 in the first period, Williams would level the match by snapping up a rebound and firing it into the yawning corner of the Broncos’ net. Despite his early-game heroics, Saskatoon would drop its first game of the season in a 6-3 loss.

Williams lit the lamp once again the following night to open the scoring against the Everett Silvertips with a deft redirection of a Zach Olsen pass. The youngster hasn’t been held off the scoresheet yet in his first WHL season.  Williams would end the night with a goal and a +2 rating, though the Blades would fall 5-4 in overtime.

Williams has now amassed four goals and five assists for nine points in six career WHL games, including two multi-point performances. He leads all WHL rookies in points, sits second in goals and is tied for third in assists.

Saskatoon chose the 2026 NHL Draft-eligible forward 41st overall in the second round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

The Blades (4-1-1-0) go head-to-head against Tempo WHL Player of the Week Shea Van Olm and the U.S. Division-leading Spokane Chiefs at SaskTel Centre on Friday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m. ST.

2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Week
September 23, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
September 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips