Hebig’s return sparks Blades to initial victory

By Les Lazaruk

 

The argument can be made that one athlete shouldn’t be the difference between a team having success or failure.

The Saskatoon Blades would be on the opposite side of that debate on Saturday night!

After losing the first two games of the regular-season, scoring only four goals in total, the Bridge City Bunch welcomed back centre Cam Hebig to the line-up and he proved to be a catalyst in a 5-4 Blue and Gold victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen…the first win in three games in the new season for Saskatoon.

The 20-year-old had to sit out the first two Blades contests because of a two-game, WHL-imposed suspension for a checking from behind major penalty and game misconduct in Saskatoon’s final pre-season game in Edmonton. After watching the first two games…as well as all 72 from last season because of injury, Hebig made an impact in his return…scoring a goal, posting a +1 rating, snapping five shots on goal and winning 19 of 31 faceoffs.

It was Hebig’s first regular-season action…and goal…since the final game of the 2015-16 season on March 19, 2016 against the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.

To say the Saskatoon product’s return was noticed and appreciated by his team-mates is a massive understatement.

“Obviously (Hebig’s) skill level is through the roof,” explained Bridge City Bunch assistant coach Ryan Keller after the victory. “Other guys feed off that, too. The confidence throughout the group just grows when you see a guy like that on your side flying around and making plays.

“And, it just pushes the pace of the game. I think it puts a lot of stress on the opposition’s defence and then, at the same time…because they’re so worried about him and the match-up against him…it gives other guys the opportunity to maybe play against, maybe, second and third lines and get some time in the other end, also.”

Hebig was flanked by Braylon Shmyr and Michael Farren for most of the night. Shmyr benefitted from Hebig’s return…scoring twice, including the game-winner with 4:00 remaining in the third period…and assisting on Hebig’s goal for a three-point outing.

“We always want to have a guy like (Hebig) in our line-up,” said Shmyr. “I thought (he) and I gained a lot of chemistry (from playing together) during the pre-season. It showed tonight that we played a really good game.”

Pacman Points – Rookie Kirby Dach scored his first goal of the season for the Blue and Gold and Caleb Fantillo added his second. Matteo Gennaro, while the Hitmen were short-handed, Mark Kastelic, Jakob Stukel and Luke Coleman, the latter on a power play, replied for Calgary in front of 2,738 fans at SaskTel Centre.

The Blades were 0-for-5 on the power play and have been unable to score on the man advantage in the first three games over 10 chances. The Hitmen were 1-for-3 on the power play…the goal was their first on the man advantage in four games this season.

In order for Hebig to return to the lineup, Saskatoon sat out Arjun Atwal. In addition, Jantzen Leslie made his season debut on defence for the Bridge City Bunch at the expense of Jackson Caller. Otherwise, the Blue and Gold scratches were the same as Friday…defenceman Payton McIsaac, forwards Dryden Michaud and Logan Doust plus injured wingers Tyler Lees and Matt Mosher.

Thanks to having four, 20-year-olds still on their roster, Calgary sat out goaltender Nick Schneider, allowing defenceman Brady Reagan to make his season debut. Schneider had played the previous three games in net for the Hitmen. That meant Matthew Armitage made his WHL debut in goal for Calgary…stopping 24 of 29 shots…with fellow 18-year-old Connor Dochuk as the backup.

The Hitmen were also minus defenceman Jake Bean (still with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes) and right winger Matt Dorsey (Upper Body injury) while forwards Lucas Cullen and Cael Zimmerman, plus defencemen Ryely Mc Kinstry and Andrew Viggars were scratches for freshman Calgary head coach Dallas Ferguson.

Shmyr and Hebig each had five shots on goal to lead the way in that statistical category for the Blades. Saskatoon won 36 faceoffs and lost 34 with Hebig’s 19-of-31 log in the circle showing the way. Mark Kastelic was the top faceoff man for the Hitmen, winning 14 of 23 draws. He also led Calgary with five shots on goal.

The Blades finish a four-game, season-opening homestand on Friday against the Swift Current Broncos. Saskatoon plays their first road game the next night, October 7, in Regina.