The Saskatoon Blades officially pared their pre-season roster to 31 players, including Kirby Dach, by re-assigning six prospects after their opening two pre-season games.

The current breakdown is 17 forwards, 11 defencemen and three goaltenders.

The roster total goes down to 25 for the rest of this week, and possibly into next week, as six more Bridge City Bunch veterans head off to N-H-L rookie camps. Overage left winger Riley McKay joins Chicago first round draft pick Kirby Dach with the Blackhawks’ freshmen while defenceman Nolan Kneen joins Colorado, fellow 20-year-old blueliner Scott Walford is off to Winnipeg, centre Eric Florchuk joins up with the Washington team that drafted him in the seventh round last year plus Blue and Gold captain Chase Wouters travels to Anaheim. Of the 25 players remaining to play against Prince Albert on Friday at Legends Centre in Warman, three of them are 2004-born underagers who cannot be full-time W-H-L regulars this season. Following is the news release from the Blades…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saskatoon, SK – As we approach the mid-way point of the 2019 Pre-Season, six Blades will join National Hockey League teams this week to participate in Rookie Camps and Tournaments over the weekend.

Headlining the Blades’ NHL camp attendees is none other than Kirby Dach, who was selected 3rd Overall by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2019 NHL Draft. He signed a three-year contract with the Blackhawks on July 8th and has been with Chicago since, familiarizing himself with the city and the Blackhawks’ facilities. Dach also attended Chicago’s Development Camp in the summer.

Eric Florchuk, drafted by the Washington Capitals after he was traded to the Blades from the Victoria Royals in 2018, will be attending his second NHL Rookie Camp. Last year Florchuk also participated in the Capitals’ Main Camp at the conclusion of their Rookie Camp. Like Dach in Chicago, Florchuk participated in Washington’s Summer Development Camp.

Additionally, Captain Chase Wouters (Anaheim Ducks), Nolan Kneen (Colorado Avalanche), Riley McKay (Chicago Blackhawks) and the recently acquired Scott Walford (Winnipeg Jets) have all been invited to attend NHL Rookie Camps & Tournaments. Kneen and Walford each attended Summer Development Camps with the Avalanche & Jets respectively, as well.

Wouters will have company in Anaheim as 2018-19 Graduate Blueliner Dawson Davidson will also be in attendance at Ducks Camp.

Attending NHL Rookie Camps/Tournament from the Saskatoon Blades are:

• Kirby Dach – Chicago Blackhawks (2019, round 1, #3 overall)
• Eric Florchuk – Washington Capitals (2018, round 7, #217 overall)
• Chase Wouters – Anaheim Ducks (free agent invite)
• Nolan Kneen – Colorado Avalanche (free agent invite)
• Riley McKay – Chicago Blackhawks (free agent invite)
• Scott Walford – Winnipeg Jets (free agent invite)

Meanwhile, the Blades continue practice this week in preparation for their encounter with the Prince Albert Raiders in Warman on Friday Night at the Legends Centre.