Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Blades trade Leslie to Edmonton for draft pick

- DARREN ZARY dzary@postmedia.com Twitter.com/@DZfromtheS­P

The Saskatoon Blades completed a trade on Monday before they hit the highway this week for a threegame Alberta road swing.

The Blades, who have won two straight games for the first time this season, dealt 1999-born defenceman Jantzen Leslie to the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for a conditiona­l eighth-round 2018 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft pick.

“Jantzen wanted to play more and we just couldn’t give him that time,” Blades head coach Dean Brockman explained.

“I don’t blame him. He’s a real good kid and I wish him the best of luck.”

Leslie, who was originally acquired by Saskatoon from the WHL’s Everett Silvertips in November of 2015, played 72 games for the Blades and posted two assists.

In 82 WHL career games, the Lloydminst­er product has five assists and 32 penalty minutes.

Leslie’s departure leaves the Blades with only six defencemen on their active roster, but not without a few options.

“We’ve got some guys we can bring up,” said Brockman. “Right now, we’re going to assess that.”

The potential call-ups, on an emergency basis, include Payton McIsaac, Zach Ashton and recently signed Randen Schmidt of Regina.

“Those three are possible,” noted Brockman. “We’d like to get one of them here as quick as possible because we know Libor (Hajek) will be gone to the world juniors. It’s just one of those things. We’ll probably go on the road trip (with only six D) and we’re in Alberta, so some of those guys are right there, and take it throughout the week and see what we can do.”

The 2000-born McIsaac is currently playing for the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Sherwood Park Crusaders. The 2001-born Ashton is skating with the Calgary Midget AAA Buffaloes.

Schmidt, who was born in 2000, is a member of the Regina Pat Canadians of the Saskatchew­an Midget AAA Hockey League.

The Blades would like to build on their first winning streak of the season, but Brockman said they had an average to below-average practice Monday.

“Hopefully (Tuesday) will be better,” he said. “It’s kind of one of those things where we can’t think we’re really good because we’re not — we need a lot of work put in. Guys were told that after practice (Monday). We better be good (Tuesday).”

The Blades play the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday, Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday and Edmonton on Saturday.

Their next game at home is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10 when they face the Swift Current Broncos.

 ?? KAYLE NEIS ?? Defencemen Jantzen Leslie’s tenure with the Saskatoon Blades ended Monday when he was traded to the Edmonton Oil Kings for a conditiona­l eighth-round 2018 WHL Bantam Draft pick.
KAYLE NEIS Defencemen Jantzen Leslie’s tenure with the Saskatoon Blades ended Monday when he was traded to the Edmonton Oil Kings for a conditiona­l eighth-round 2018 WHL Bantam Draft pick.

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