It took 32 games into the season for the Saskatoon Blades to have a couple of perfect records broken, thanks to a 2-1 overtime loss to the ICE in Winnipeg Saturday.

Ben Zloty tallied 44 seconds into the extra period as the East Division-leading ICE swept the back-to-back series of games with the Bridge City Bunch. It was the first time in six situations that the Blue and Gold failed to win when the game was tied going into the third period and the first time the Blades lost in overtime in five contests beyond regulation time. The game was scoreless through two periods as, for a second straight game, the goaltenders were the stars of the contest – this time Austin Elliott (pictured) for Saskatoon and Mason Beaupit for Winnipeg. Ty Nash opened the scoring 90 seconds into the third period, only to have Vaughn Watterodt knot the score again almost five minutes later. The Bridge City Bunch are now 25-6-1 for the season for 51 points, five back of the 28-5-0 ICE. The Blue and Gold return home for their first game of the 2023 calendar year on Tuesday when they host the Calgary Hitmen. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L and Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interview with head coach Brennan Sonne and the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast…..

Saskatoon Blades 1 at Winnipeg ICE 2 (OT) – Status: Final OT
Saturday, December 31, 2022 – Wayne Fleming Arena – Winnipeg, MB

Saskatoon 0 0 1 0 – 1
Winnipeg 0 0 1 1 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-De La Gorgendiere Sas (high sticking), 0:34; Sidorov Sas (inter. on goaltender), 11:28; Geekie Wpg (tripping), 13:39; Watterodt Sas (charging), 14:53.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Watterodt Sas (tripping), 2:52; Wright Sas (slashing), 9:59; Woo Wpg (slashing), 16:38.

3rd Period-1, Winnipeg, Nash 14 (Benson, Savoie), 1:30. 2, Saskatoon, Watterodt 14 (Volotovskii, Wright), 6:21. Penalties-Friesen Wpg (high sticking, high sticking), 1:50; Geekie Wpg (slashing), 8:30; Lies Sas (roughing, roughing), 12:43; Shilo Wpg (roughing), 12:43.

OT Period-3, Winnipeg, Zloty 8 (Savoie, Benson), 0:44. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 4-9-10-0-23. Winnipeg 9-14-4-1-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 0 / 5; Winnipeg 0 / 6.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Elliott 13-2-1-0 (28 shots-26 saves). Winnipeg, Beaupit 4-10-0-0 (23 shots-22 saves).
A-1,621
Referees-Nolan Powell (117).
Linesmen-Ryan Cooke (150), Lane Gramiak (157).