The Saskatoon Blades’ goal crease is Nolan Maier’s to tend for as long as Koen MacInnes is sidelined with an Upper Body injury.

Maier and the Bridge City Bunch host Winnipeg Friday night at 7 at SaskTel Centre. Maier’s back-up will be 15-year-old Austin Elliott, who signed a W-H-L Standard Education Contract Thursday. The Strathmore, Alberta, product was a 12th round pick in the 2019 Bantam Draft by the Blue and Gold and was playing this season for Notre Dame in the C-S-S-H-L’s Elite 15 League.

Friday’s game is the third straight meeting between the Blades and Winnipeg. The ICE swept a home doubleheader from the Blue and Gold last weekend. As a result, the ICE are on a three-game winning streak at 6-4-1 while Saskatoon is on a three-game losing skid and is at 7-6-1. Included in the six setbacks is three, in as many outings, against Winnipeg. The Bridge City Bunch have allowed 18 goals in the three losses…and only 22 goals against in the other 11 games.

Game time Friday is 7 at SaskTel Centre. The broadcast starts at 6 with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show on 98-COOL.