Out of the 72 originally at the Saskatoon Blades training camp, only 36 remain on its preseason roster, following the team’s annual Kirkness Cup.
Per a press release from the team, of the 36 remaining players, six remain unsigned by the club, including Saskatoon Contacts invitee Jaeden Mercier. Also among those half-dozen are listed Foxx Doell, 2018 draftee Alex Bernauer, and 2019 draftees Ben Saunderson, Cale Ashcroft, and Austin Elliot.
The remaining roster, which can be viewed below along with last season’s stats, features 19 forwards, 13 defenseman, and four goaltenders, 12 of whom are returning Blades. Saskatoon has until opening night of the Western Hockey League season (September 20th) to trim its roster down to 23 skaters and until October 10th to relinquish itself of one of either Riley McKay, Ryan Hughes, Scott Walford, or Nolan Kneen, as teams are only eligible to have three 20-year-old players. Walford is attending the Winnipeg Jets rookie camp while Kneen will be with the Colorado Avalanche, so there is a chance one or both of them can impress enough to get a professional contract.
The Blades’ preseason action begins Friday, August 30, versus the Regina Pats. The Moose Jaw Warriors will then welcome Saskatoon on Saturday, August 31, in Regina.
Fans will get their first chance to see remaining players battle for roster spots at home on September 6th when the Blades welcome the Prince Albert Raiders in Warman. Saskatoon will then host a back-to-back with the newly-relocated Winnipeg ICE on September 13 and 14 at the SaskTel Centre.
The regular season for the bridge city bunch begins with a home-and-home series against the Raiders on Friday, September 20, in P.A. and Saturday, September 21, in Saskatoon.
