For the first time, Saskatoon Blades’ President and G-M Colin Priestner (pictured at left) has been named an Eastern Conference finalist for the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as W-H-L Executive-of-the-Year while first year head coach Dan Da Silva (pictured at right) is an Eastern Conference finalist for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as W-H-L Coach-of-the-Year.

The Bridge City Bunch qualified for the playoffs this past season when a drop-off outside the post-season was expected for the Blue and Gold following back-to-back appearances in the Eastern Conference final. The Blades recorded a fourth consecutive season of 35-plus victories, despite overhauling about a quarter of their roster between the end of the Christmas break and the trade deadline, getting significantly younger. Other finalists for Executive-of-the-Year are Medicine Hat G-M and head coach Willie Desjardins plus General Managers Garry Davidson of Calgary, Mike Fraser of Everett, Jake Heisinger of Victoria and Matt Bardsley of Spokane. Other Coach-of-the-Year finalists are Desjardins, Bill Peters of Lethbridge, James Patrick of Victoria, Brad Lauer of Spokane and Matt O’Dette of Seattle. The winners will be announced between April 22 and May 7. Following are news releases from the Blades and the W-H-L…..