Evan Gardner (pictured) followed Austin Elliott’s lead from Wednesday in Edmonton, recording a shutout – stopping 32 shots – as the Saskatoon Blades blanked the visiting Calgary Hitmen.
The 17-year-old rookie had to be sharp as Calgary didn’t play tired as many would’ve believed, seeings how it was the fourth game in five nights for the Hitmen. Egor Sidorov gave Gardner all the offensive support it turned out he needed, with a first period power play goal. Vaughan Watterodt added insurance into an empty net in the final minute as the Bridge City Bunch won their fourth consecutive game and improved to 6-2-0 overall. Calgary dropped to 2-7-0 with a fourth straight loss in front of 3,780 fans at SaskTel Centre. Elliott had stopped 26 shots for a shutout as the Blue and Gold won 7-0 over the Oil Kings. The Blades will take a shutout streak of 139:40 into Prince Albert Sunday night. The Raiders are 6-3-0 and have, like Saskatoon, won four-in-a-row. CJWW’s broadcast starts at 5:45 p.m. with the play-by-play at 6 o’clock. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s Saturday broadcast, Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, new Bridge City Bunch defenceman Grayden Siepmann and Gardner – plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..
Calgary Hitmen 0 at Saskatoon Blades 2 – Status: Final
Saturday, October 14, 2023 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Calgary 0 0 0 – 0
Saskatoon 1 0 1 – 2
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Sidorov 5 (Lisowsky, Wong), 10:39 (PP). Penalties-Galloway Cgy (holding), 10:30; Moore Cgy (slashing), 11:32; Wetsch Cgy (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 16:08; Lisowsky Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 16:08; Parr Sas (hooking), 19:17.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Volotovskii Sas (hooking), 4:47; Moore Cgy (tripping), 12:20; Armstrong Sas (slashing), 17:08.
3rd Period-2, Saskatoon, Watterodt 3 (Hansen), 19:42 (EN). Penalties-Barcik Sas (boarding), 14:03.
Shots on Goal-Calgary 9-13-10-32. Saskatoon 11-12-4-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Calgary 0 / 4; Saskatoon 1 / 3.
Goalies-Calgary, Buenaventura 1-4-0-0 (26 shots-25 saves). Saskatoon, Gardner 2-2-0-0 (32 shots-32 saves).
A-3,780
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Tarrington Wyonzek (137).
Linesmen-Riley Carriere (72).
