Rookie forward Zach Olsen scored a pair of goals for the Saskatoon Blades in their 5-3 win Sunday at SaskTel Centre against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The Calgary, AB native was named the first star after burying a powerplay goal in the second period and the game-winning tally in the third. The 6-foot-2 winger snapped a ten-game goalless drought and managed his first career multi-point game in the process. Olsen has nine goals and nine assists in 53 games this season.
Fellow forwards Tanner Scott, Hayden Harsanyi, and Kazden Mathies supplied the remaining goals for Saskatoon. 16-year-old centre Cooper Williams registered two assists, while rookie blueliner Brayden Klimpke notched a helper in his first game back from an upper-body injury.
2006-netminder Ethan McCallum reached double-digit wins on the year with 20-save performance.
It was a big response for the Bridge City Bunch after a 6-2 loss the night prior against the Moose Jaw Warriors. With ten games left on the schedule, the Blades sit three points back of the East Division’s top Prince Albert Raiders with a game in-hand. The magic number for the Blades to secure a spot in the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien is five, either earned themselves or lost by the Red Deer Rebels.
Scott opened the scoring less than a minute into the game to make it 1-0 Saskatoon. The former Victoria Royal beamed a shot past Oil Kings netminder Alex Worthington on the glove side, giving him seven goals and 18 points in 23 games with the Blue and Gold this season. In 48 games overall, the pending WHL graduate has 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points.
Alternate captain Marshall Finnie tied the game for Edmonton just over three minutes later with his 15th goal of the season. The Blades had three powerplay opportunities to the Oil Kings, one in the first period, but neither took advantage, leaving the game locked at one.
Oil Kings defenceman Josh Mori made it 2-1 for the visitors 2:22 into the second. The Richmond, BC native has three goals on the season.
Harsanyi tied the game 2-2 less than six minutes later with his 11th goal of the year. The Calgary, AB product beamed a shot past Worthington to snap a three-game goalless drought. The former Medicine Hat Tiger has ten goals and 16 points in 20 games with the Blue and Gold.
Olsen snapped his ten-game goalless drought with a powerplay goal just over halfway through the game. Fellow rookies David Lewandowski and Cooper Williams assisted on the goal, giving the Blades a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play.
Olsen notched his second of the night 9:59 into the final frame.
Oil Kings winger Lukas Sawchyn brought Edmonton within one with 3:53 to go in the game. Mathies put any comeback hopes to bed with an empty-net goal in the final minute of the night.
What’s Next?
The Blades welcome the Swift Current Broncos to SaskTel Centre for Wednesday Night in the Dub on March 5.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
