Blades dreaming of extended playoff run
Four of Saskatoon's star players outline what they think they bring to the team
A core group of stars for the Saskatoon Blades have high hopes for an extended playoff run this season.
The Blades finished the Western Hockey League season with the league's top record at 50-13-2-3 for 105 points, the club's most wins in a single season since 2011.
With that team success came some individual recognition. In advance of the Blades' best-ofseven first-round series versus the Prince Albert Raiders, the Saskatoon Starphoenix asked the Blades' three WHL East Division first-team all-stars, along with goalie Austin Elliott: What personality trait do they bring to the team that will help the Blades this post-season?
TREVOR WONG, NO. 38
POSITION: Centre, team captain KEY STATS: 15 goals, 86 assists, 101 points in 68 games; WHL East Division first-team all-star
THEY SAID IT: “I hope my leadership and experience can help boost this team in a long playoff run.”
EGOR SIDOROV, NO. 19
POSITION: Left wing
KEY STATS: 50 goals, 38 assists, 88 points in 66 games; WHL East Division first-team all-star
THEY SAID IT: “Just trying to help my team win and help score a goal.”
TANNER MOLENDYK, NO. 24 POSITION: Defence
KEY STATS: 10 goals, 46 assists, 56 points in 50 games; plus-40; WHL East Division first-team all-star THEY SAID IT: “My easy-goingness and my experience in the playoff run we had last year is going to benefit this team.”
AUSTIN ELLIOT, NO. 31 POSITION: Goaltender
KEY STATS: 29-8-2 record; 2.39 goals against average; .904 save percentage; four shutouts
THEY SAID IT: “Being a calm cool and collected person helps bring a calming effect to our team, knowing they can trust me in there. After what I was able to accomplish with them last year, that will help with our team's confidence this year.” (Following Games 1 and 2 in Saskatoon, the Blades and Raiders resume the series with Games 3 and 4 in Prince Albert on April 2 and April 3.)