By Les Lazaruk
The Saskatoon Blades came out of the gates hot Saturday evening.
Despite opening the scoring in their previous three games, Bridge City Bunch coaches weren’t happy with the team’s performance to open those contests despite managing to win all three.
The Blue and Gold scored three times in the first period and then coasted to a 4-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice. It was the Blades’ seventh consecutive win and 10th triumph in their last 11 games, and allowed Saskatoon to move into sole possession of fourth place in the East Division and seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 21-17-3 record for 45 points, two ahead of Regina after the Pats fell 4-2 in Swift Current.
“The first period was one of our better periods of the season,” said Assistant Coach Ryan Keller. “Really, we distributed the puck and supported the puck and played with speed.”
Left winger Gage Ramsay doubled his season goal output, scoring the first two of the game. He added an assist on a third period Cam Hebig breakaway tally while Josh Paterson notched his 20th of the season. His centering pass from the corner glancing in off Ice goaltender Bailey Brkin, who was replaced by Duncan McGovern to start the second stanza.
“It was nice to finally have a game where [our line] was clicking,” said Ramsay, a 19-year-old Saskatoon product, about ending a 13-game goalless streak. “[Hebig and Brad Goethals] made some good plays to me and, thankfully, I was just open.”
Nolan Maier appeared to be cruising to his second shutout of the season until Keenan Taphorn redirected a goalmouth pass into the net with 4:12 left in the third period. Brett Davis added another tally with 1:16 remaining.
Kootenay finished off a gruelling five games-in-six nights start to the New Year with only one extra time setback, losing the other four outings in regulation time. Still, the Ice’s 18-21-3 record with 39 points has them in second place in the Central Division.
The Bridge City Bunch outshot Kootenay 32-29 as Maier made 27 saves for his 10th consecutive victory.
The Blades finish a three games in less than 48 hours weekend with a Sunday visit to Brandon.
Pacman Points – It was the first of four meetings of the season between Saskatoon and the Ice. The same teams will collide Jan. 14 in Cranbrook, B.C.
Libor Hajek suited up for the Bridge City Bunch, despite only arriving in Saskatoon during the noon hour from playing for Team Czech Republic at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
As a result of Hajek’s return to the Blue and Gold lineup, 17-year-old rookie blue liner Randen Schmidt was a healthy scratch. The Blades are still without right wingers Kirby Dach (upper body) and Caleb Fantillo (lower body).
Kootenay was without Slovak defenceman Martin Bodak. He will rejoin the team next week in Cranbrook after playing for Slovakia at the World Juniors. Swiss forward Gilian Kohler was sidelined by an upper-body injury while defenceman Bobby Russell and right winger Holden Kodak were coaches decisions for the ICE.
As was the case in Friday’s 3-2 Saskatoon victory over Red Deer, there were only three minor penalties called Saturday. The Bridge City Bunch were 0-for-2 on the power play while Kootenay was 0-for-1 with the man advantage.
The busiest individual shooters were Logan Christensen for the Blue and Gold with five shots on goal. Former Blade Cameron Hausinger topped the ICE with four shots on goal.
Kootenay won 35 of 56 faceoffs with Colton Kroeker winning nine of 13 trips to the faceoff dot. Christensen topped Saskatoon by capturing possession on eight of 11 draws.
