The Saskatoon Blades became the first team in the WHL to reach double-digit wins this season after Friday’s 4-3 overtime victory at Westoba Place against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
19-year-old forward Ben Riche continued his incredible start for the Blue and Gold with two goals, one of which was the overtime winner and an assist. The former Victoria Royal’s point streak sits at six games, with five goals and six assists in that span. If there was ever a doubt about Riche’s offensive ability before being acquired by the Blades in May, the Bethune, SK product has put them to bed early. Riche’s nine goals and 12 assists put him in the top five in WHL scoring.
A second straight win for Saskatoon marked the first of their season-high six-game road trip. The Blades remain atop of the WHL standings with a 10-2-1-0 record.
Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Evan Gardner improved to 6-2-1-0 between the pipes for Saskatoon after a 34-save performance. The 18-year-old netminder went toe-to-toe with Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carson Bjarnason in Brandon in the first period to keep it scoreless after 20 minutes.
La Salle, MB’s own Tyler Parr put the Blades on the board first 1:49 into the second with his fourth goal of the year. The 5-foot-11 winger has goals in three of his last five games and owns 12 points (4G, 8A) in 11 games.
Rookie centre Jaxon Jacobson tied the game for Brandon just under ten minutes later to make it 1-1.
It wasn’t the first time the 2008-born forward tied the game at Westoba Place. Riche regained the Blades lead 1:04 later with his eighth goal of the year. Riche was acquired by the Blades via trade in May from the Royals in exchange for 20-year-old forward Vaughn Watterodt. On his current six-game point streak, four have been multi-point performances.
20-year-old sniper Brandon Lisowsky extended his point streak to six games with an assist on the goal. The former 40-goal scorer finished the night with a goal and two assists, giving him four goals and six helpers on his streak.
It took 59 seconds for the Wheat Kings to tie the game 2-2 thanks to rookie defender Dylan Ronald’s first career WHL goal.
Lisowsky netted a dagger late in the frame to make it 3-2 Saskatoon. Lisowsky’s fourth of the season came with 20 seconds left in the second with assists to Riche and Siepmann.
Jacobson potted his second of the night almost halfway through the third to tie the game 3-3 for Brandon. The Wheat Kings’ fifth overall pick in 2023 has three goals and eight assists in 12 games this season.
Sixty minutes didn’t settle the second meeting of the year between the East Division rivals, but Riche’s ninth of the season 1:37 into overtime put Saskatoon up 2-0 on the season series.
The Blades open their five-game B.C. Division road trip on Wednesday. Saskatoon’s first taste of action out west is Friday, Nov. 1, at the Langley Events Centre against the Vancouver Giants. Puck drop is 8:00 p.m. CST.
