The Saskatoon Blades acquired some help for their blueline Wednesday by bringing in free agent Matthew Sanders.

The 18-year-old former Moose Jaw defenceman was playing in the Alberta Junior League with Okotoks. Following is the news release from the Blades…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades have listed ’01 born free agent defenceman Matthew Sanders, bringing the team’s rostered defencemen to seven and the total roster to 21 players.

The 6’2″, 199-pound Calgary, AB, native was drafted into the Western Hockey League by the Moose Jaw Warriors with the 100th selection in the 5th round of the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

Sanders has 58 games of experience at the WHL level between the 2017-18 & 2019-20 seasons, with the bulk of his games played coming last season – all with the Warriors. During his time in the WHL, Sanders has recorded two assists and 15 penalty minutes.

Most recently Sanders was with the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, who acquired him from the Okotoks Oilers on December 1st. As he never had a chance to play for the Wolverines before being listed by the Blades, he last dressed for the Okotok Oilers with whom he had 10 points (1G-9A) in 20 games played.

Sanders, who is expected to arrive in Saskatoon today, will wear #24 for the Blades.