Saskatoon Blades goalie Ethan McCallum deserved a better fate after stopping 36 of 38 shots in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
The 6-foot-4 netminder made key saves throughout the night to keep the Blades in the game until the very end. McCallum’s play earned him second star on the night as his record dropped to 1-3-0-2 this season. The Blades acquired the Brandon MB product from the Medicine Hat Tigers on October 28, turning in his best performance since coming to Bridge City.
Captain Ben Saunderson was the lone goal scorer for Saskatoon as he picked up his third of the season. The WHL senior has 18 points in 29 games this season, averaging his career's highest points-per-game (Pts/G) pace at 0.62.
The Blades have been winless in their last four games but have picked up a pair of points in games that have gone past regulation. Despite the recent skid, the Blades remain atop the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 17-8-2-2 record, good for 38 points.
Nashville Predators prospect Miquel Marques opened the scoring for the Hurricanes 4:36 into the second period. The 18-year-old forward’s 11th goal of the season was the first short-handed marker of his WHL career. In 25 games, Marques has 33 points with a +7 rating.
Hurricanes rookie forward Chase Peterson scored his first career WHL goal with 3:02 remaining in the second to make it 2-0. The 2008-born centre was drafted in the second round (33rd overall) by the Hurricanes in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft and has one point in 18 games this season.
Saunderson brought the Blades within one less than a minute later, breathing life into the Blue and Gold. Saunderson’s point shot pin-balled off traffic in front and finally into the net for his third of the season. 20-year-old sniper Brandon Lisowsky extended his point streak to seven games with the primary assist, giving him six goals and five assists in that span.
The Blades struggled to find offence in the third period, outshot 12-7 by the end of the frame. Neither side found the back of the net for the rest of the game, as the Hurricanes outshot the Blades 38-18 overall.
What’s Next?
The Blades finish their three-game road trip Friday at the Brandt Centre against the Regina Pats.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
