The Saskatoon Blades salvaged a point Wednesday at SaskTel Centre in a 5-4 shootout loss against the Red Deer Rebels.
It was a special night for career Blade Brandon Lisowsky, who notched WHL points 250 and 251 with a goal and an assist. The 20-year-old sniper scored the contest's opening goal 16 seconds into the first period, moving him past hockey hall-of-fame forward Bernie Federko on the franchise’s all-time goal-scoring list. Lisowsky’s tied with Rebels head coach Dave Struch for seventh all-time with 134 career tallies. A 247-game WHL veteran, Lisowsky has 13 goals, 13 assists, and 26 points in 20 games during his graduating season.
6-foot-4 goalie Ethan McCallum saw his record fall to 1-2-0-2 this season after a 23-save performance. The 19-year-old goaltender is 0-1-0-2 since the Blades acquired him from the Medicine Hat Tigers on October 28.
The Blades still hold a five-point lead on first place in the Eastern Conference over the Medicine Hat Tigers, sporting a 17-6-1-2 record for 38 points. Despite the loss, the Blades have managed seven of a possible eight points in their last four games and remain undefeated in regulation on home ice this season.
Lisowsky waited 16 seconds into the game to make history with his 13th goal of the year. The 20-year-old sniper finished a rush that developed in the Blades’ end to give him points in four straight games (3G, 3A). Both assists on the goal went to long-time teammates captain Ben Saunderson and alternate captain Tyler Parr.
2005-born forward Ben Riche made it 2-0 Blades just over 12 minutes later with his 16th goal of the year. The Bethune, SK product received a gorgeous pass in the slot from Lisowsky to extend his point streak to four games (2G, 5A). Riche leads the Blades in points with 37 (16G, 21A) in 25 games, besting his career highs set last year in 67 games.
The Rebels cut their deficit in half with less than five minutes to play in the first thanks to forward Beckett Hamilton’s seventh of the year. The Blue and Gold headed into intermission with a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
The Blades regained their two-goal lead as forward Lukas Hansen scored his third of the year with 7:02 remaining in the second period. The Winnipeg MB product has two goals in his last three games, giving him three total in 13 games this season. Holding a two-goal lead heading into the final 20 minutes, adversity was heading for the Blue and Gold.
The Rebels scored three unanswered goals through 14:12 of the third, taking a 4-3 lead. Kickstarting the comeback was Nashville Predators prospect Kalan Lind with his first of the season, followed by Saskatoon product Hunter Mayo’s tenth of the year, and capped off by 6-foot-1 defenceman Derek Thurston’s third 2024-25.
Parr again found the ice in his veins as the La Salle, MB product tied the game with 79 seconds remaining in regulation. The 19-year-old winger scored the shootout winner Saturday at SaskTel Centre against the Swift Current Broncos and has five points (2G, 3A) in his last four games. For the third time in four games, more than 60 minutes were needed to decide the outcome for Saskatoon.
The Blades couldn’t get one by Rebels goalie Chase Wutzke on the powerplay in overtime, resulting in a second consecutive shootout for the Bridge City Bunch. Rebels forward Matthew Gard scored the winning goal in the fifth round of the shootout after Riche hit the post on the Blades’ final attempt.
What’s Next?
The Blades conclude their four-game home stand Saturday at 7:00 p.m. when they welcome the Calgary Hitmen.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
