BLADES SET TO HIT THE ICE

Training camp will see new faces, goalie wars

The Saskatoon Blades hit the ice Saturday for the first time since coming up a little short of making the Western Hockey League playoffs last season.

Camp will begin Saturday with registration, physical measurements and fitness testing, followed by some small-sided mini games late this afternoon.

Training camp will be divided into four teams: Team Clark (former NHL star Wendel Clark), Team Gulutzan (Calgary Flames coach Glen Gulutzan), Team McLellan (Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan) and Team Holtby (Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby), all named after former Blades.

1.

KIRKNESS CUP

The four training camp teams will once again be vying for the Kirkness Cup, named after longtime Blades staff member and dressing room attendant Bobby Kirkness. Last year, Team Clark claimed the Kirkness Cup thanks to a pair of goals by Braylon Shmyr in a 4-1 win over Team Mike Green. Games Sunday are scheduled for 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 3 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday’s games will be played at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., with the third-place final at

2 p.m. and Kirkness Cup final at 3:45 p.m. Monday.

2.

NEW FACES

Among the many new faces at camp are the team’s top 2002born prospects Aidan De La Gorgendiere, Kyle Crnkovic, and Braden Plaschewsky, who were all taken in this year’s WHL Bantam Draft. Overall, there are 72 players expected to attend camp. That includes eight goalies, 28 defencemen and 36 forwards.

3.

THE ROARING 20s

The Blades head into training camp with four 20-year-olds vying for three “overage” spots allotted to each WHL team.

The four include goalie Logan Flodell, defenceman Evan Fiala and forwards Shmyr and Cameron Hebig, who missed all of last season due to injury.

4.

GOALIE WARS

With Flodell as the undisputed No. 1 goalie, Joel Grzybowski and rookie Nolan Maier are among those fighting for the backup spot. Grzybowski is coming off a solid season with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champion Battlefords North Stars. Maier, pegged as the team’s goalie of the future, played midget AAA last season in Yorkton and attended a Hockey Canada showcase camp for goalies back in the spring.

5.

VETERAN CORE

Gone are graduating 20-yearolds Jesse Shynkaruk, Bryton Sayers and Markson Bechtold, along with forward Mason McCarty, who was dealt to the Red Deer Rebels during the WHL Bantam Draft. Among the returnees are goalie Flodell, D-men Fiala, Libor Hajak, Mark Rubinchik, Jake Kustra, Jantzen Leslie and Jackson Caller, plus forwards Shmyr, Hebig, Josh Paterson, Logan Christensen, Michael Farren, Chase Wouters, Kirby Dach, Gage Ramsay, Lukus Mackenzie, Cole Johnson, Caleb Fantillo, Arjun Atwal and Dryden Michaud.