Blades relish spoiler role against rivals
Saskatoon Blades over-age defenceman MacKenzie Johnston is looking to stick it to his old team again.
“You definitely want to show them they made a mistake by trading you,” said Johnston, who was dealt to Saskatoon by the Prince Albert Raiders before the WHL trade deadline. “I didn’t expect to be moved from there. It was nice to get the win last time.
“I’m sure if we get a win this weekend it’ll feel just as good or better.”
Johnston and the Blades beat the Raiders 3-1 in their only meeting since the trade deadline on Jan. 17.
The Blades (16-49-2-3) and Raiders (33-32-3-2) square off again in a home-and-home series, beginning Friday in Prince Albert.
The two games have massive playoff implications for the Raiders. They’re in ninth-place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Red Deer and Brandon for the final post-season berth.
“They’re in the position where they need probably both wins and we’re in the position where we can play spoiler,” said Blades alternate captain Dylan Busenius, another former Raider.
“We’re going to want that one pretty badly for sure.”
Busenius and Johnston were both acquired by the Blades in separate postChristmas deals.
Busenius came to Saskatoon on Dec. 28 along with two draft picks for Collin Valcourt and Ryan Coghlan.
Johnston was part of a package that included Tyler Dea and two draft picks arriving from Prince Albert for captain Graeme Craig and two picks.
Craig is expected to miss both games because he’s out of the Raiders lineup indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
Busenius joked that he’d almost feel bad knocking his former teammates out of playoff contention. Almost.
“It is hockey and on the ice there is supposed to be no friends. We’re out there to get the job done and get a win,” he said.
“Everybody in this room wants to beat those guys. It’s a rivalry that’s been going on for a long time.”
That’s the mindset Blades head coach Dave Struch has too.
“Not a chance,” he said when asked if it would be bittersweet to knock his former players out of contention.
“As much as we like those guys, we’d like to see them not make playoffs.”