Christensen a Blade to count on in otherwise bumpy WHL season
On an injury-riddled Saskatoon Blades team with all sorts of worries, Logan Christensen isn’t one of them.
He has been a steady performer through the Blades’ roller-coaster season, which has seen plenty of highs and lows and a seemingly endless line of injuries to key performers.
“Exactly,” says Blades head coach Dean Brockman, whose team returns to Western Hockey League action Wednesday at home (7:05 p.m., SaskTel Centre) versus the rival Regina Pats.
“He’s just one guy who we know is going to show up. He’s just reliable. You know the last few minutes of the game the other night? He takes a really high stick and gets cut and you’re just anxious to get him back because you know he can win a faceoff.
“You know he’s going to do the right things.”
Right now, Brockman said he considers Christensen to “probably be our best” younger guy.
“He’s just a guy who we never really worry about because he’s just going to go out and do his job,” adds Brockman. “You can play him in so many situations. I think he’s just really taken off with all the ice time that he’s been asked to take.
“When we’re short a forward, he’s played a double shift at times. He’s just one of those kids who goes and does his job and maybe nobody notices him (other) than the coaching staff.”
Christensen has 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 59 games thus far. His totals include five power-play goals, two game-winning goals and a short-handed marker.
“It’s been pretty good so far getting the ice time that I’m able to get here,” says Christensen, a fivefoot-10, 176-pound forward from Lundar, Man.
“Playing against the top guys in the league really helps yourself step up your game.”
Christensen says he’s still the same style of player he has always been, only more of a two-way player. He tries to work hard to maintain his consistency.
“I’ve become a little more defensive now, which isn’t a bad thing,” he says.
“I just try to keep habits on game days and before games. If you keep your habits, it makes everything a lot easier coming into each game.”
Last season, Christensen had four goals and 12 assists for 16 points in 61 games.
He was selected in the second round, 30th overall, in the 2014 WHL bantam draft.
“He’s fairly intelligent,” Brockman says of Christensen, a 1999born player who turned 18 in January.
“He can handle the puck. We can rely on him defensively. He plays on the power play.”
The Blades’ lineup has become a turnstile due to an unprecedented number of injuries. Christensen is among the few left unscathed.
“It’s surprising how many guys have been out and are still out, but we’ve been doing well,” he says. “It sucks to see those guys go out, but we’ve got to keep kicking here.”
The Blades are still chasing an Eastern Conference wild-card playoff spot. After dropping three straight on a weekend road trip, Saskatoon (23-28-6-2, 54 points) is tied with the Calgary Hitmen (22-26-8-2, 54 points) for that last playoff berth.
No matter what happens this season, Christensen believes the future is bright for the Blades.
“Really good,” he stresses. “We’re in a playoff spot right now, battling for that last wild card. Down the road, I think we’re going to just keep getting better and keep building — we won’t have to fight for those spots in years to come.” BLADE BITS: Tyler Lees, a 2000born forward, has been sent back to the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. Lees played four games with the Blades, scoring his first WHL goal on Saturday ... 2000-born D Payton McIsaac has been called up to the Blades and will temporarily serve as the seventh D-man. McIsaac was drafted by the Blades 39th overall in 2015 ... 1998 F Cole Johnson is eligible to return to Blades lineup after serving a onegame suspension. 1997 F Braylon Shmyr and 1998 F Caleb Fantillo are inching closer to a return.
He’s just one guy who we know is going to show up. He’s just reliable . ... You know he’s going to do the right things.