They are the “first place Saskatoon Blades” again!
After faltering in the first week of April by going winless in three games, the Bridge City Bunch made it three straight wins by slipping past the Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2 Sunday night at the W-H-L’s East Division “Dubble” in Regina. Nolan Maier (pictured) was stellar-to-spectacular in making 42 saves in a first-star effort that propelled the Blue and Gold to a 12-2-2 record for 26 points, two ahead of the 11-3-2 Wheaties. Kyle Crnkovic scored a power play goal and set up captain Chase Wouters for another while rookie Brandon Lisowsky scored, what turned out to be, the winning goal late in the third period. Brandon stormed the Saskatoon net throughout the game, but if Maier wasn’t being brilliant in goal, his team-mates in front of him were doing all they could to rebuff the Wheat Kings’ skilled and relentless attack.
A week after the Wheaties caught the Blades atop the standings with a 3-1 triumph, the Bridge City Bunch got their redemption. The Blue and Gold are idle from game action until Wednesday when they take on the Swift Current Broncos at 4 o’clock. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…..
Saskatoon Blades 3 at Brandon Wheat Kings 2 – Status: Final
Sunday, April 11, 2021 – Brandt Centre – Regina, SK
Saskatoon 1 1 1 – 3
Brandon 0 1 1 – 2
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Wouters 6 (Crnkovic, Robins), 18:56 (PP). Penalties-De La Gorgendiere Sas (interference), 11:50; Salame Bdn (hooking), 14:20; McCartney Bdn (tripping), 18:06.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 7 (Wyatt McLeod), 4:50 (PP). 3, Brandon, McCartney 8 (Greig, Chiasson), 10:16 (PP). Penalties-Ginnell Bdn (tripping), 3:01; Wouters Sas (interference), 7:28; Greig Bdn (interference), 7:49; De La Gorgendiere Sas (hooking), 9:00; Dach Sas (cross checking), 14:20; Morozoff Sas (tripping), 19:31.
3rd Period-4, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 6 (Stevenson, Rhinehart), 16:44. 5, Brandon, Greig 6 (Nychuk, Iorio), 19:54. Penalties-Salame Bdn (kneeing), 7:16; Wright Sas (delay of game), 13:20.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 10-7-5-22. Brandon 15-20-9-44.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 2 / 5; Brandon 1 / 6.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Maier 9-1-1-0 (44 shots-42 saves). Brandon, Kruger 8-2-1-0 (22 shots-19 saves).
A-1
Referees-Aydon Brown, Bryce Sebastian (64).
Linesmen-Ryan Lundquist (106), Lucas Nagel (170).
