Spencer Shugrue (pictured) – how do you do! Maybe just call the 19-year-old defenceman/centre “Mr. Game 7” after the Vancouver product broke a 2-2 tie at 4:29 of the third period Tuesday night with his second goal of the night, propelling the Saskatoon Blades to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Red Deer Rebels.
The crowd of 9,489 at SaskTel Centre may grow to be 10 times more than that as people claim to have been on hand to see the Bridge City Bunch complete a rally from 3-0 down in the best-of-seven W-H-L Eastern Conference semi-final to win four straight games and advance past the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1994. The Blue and Gold become the third team to accomplish the feat, joining the 1996 Spokane Chiefs and 2013 Kelowna Rockets. It was also the second straight series in which the Blades came back after losing the first two games at home, only to win a Game 7. Back on April 10, Shugrue opened the Saskatoon scoring in a 4-1 triumph over the Regina Pats. Conner Roulette tallied twice and added an assist in support of Shugrue’s efforts and Vaughn Watterodt insured the result by scoring into an empty net. However, the Bridge City Bunch only get two days to revel in the accomplishment before they open the best-of-seven W-H-L Eastern Conference final on Friday in Winnipeg against the ICE. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L along with the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast plus Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Roulette and Shugrue…..
Red Deer Rebels 2 at Saskatoon Blades 5 – Status: Final
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Red Deer 1 1 0 – 2
Saskatoon 1 1 3 – 5
1st Period-1, Red Deer, Mayo 2 (Lind, Grubbe), 12:10. 2, Saskatoon, Roulette 2 14:45. Penalties-Ollie Josephson Rd (high sticking), 4:58.
2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Shugrue 2 (Roulette), 5:41. 4, Red Deer, Singer 1 (Uchacz, Weir), 7:35. Penalties-De La Gorgendiere Sas (hooking), 9:47.
3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, Shugrue 3 (Wiens), 4:29. 6, Saskatoon, Roulette 3 (Sidorov), 5:09. 7, Saskatoon, Watterodt 4 (De La Gorgendiere), 19:32 (EN). Penalties-served by Sidorov Sas (too many men), 8:10; Isley Rd (hooking), 13:42; Armstrong Rd (cross checking), 19:43; De La Gorgendiere Sas (10-minute misconduct), 19:43.
Shots on Goal-Red Deer 11-8-6-25. Saskatoon 11-5-12-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Red Deer 0 / 2; Saskatoon 0 / 3.
Goalies-Red Deer, Kelsey (27 shots-23 saves). Saskatoon, Elliott (25 shots-23 saves).
A-9,489
Referees-Chris Crich (20), Adam Bloski (16).
Linesmen-Tarrington Wyonzek (137), Tanner McGregor (55).
