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Saskatoon Blades double Wenatchee Wild to open parents' weekend

The Saskatoon Blades never trailed as they defeated the Wenatchee Wild 4-2 Friday at SaskTel Centre. Four different forwards scored for the Blue and Gold.
saskatoon-blades-vs-wenatchee-wild
Saskatoon Blades vs. Wenatchee Wild

The Saskatoon Blades never trailed as they defeated the Wenatchee Wild 4-2 Friday at SaskTel Centre.

Four different forwards scored for the Blue and Gold. Rookie centre Cooper Williams was named the first star on the night with a goal and an assist, giving him the most points amongst Blades rookies with 33 (14G, 19A) in 46 games. The Blades’ second pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft netted seven goals and three assists in 12 games throughout January.

Alternate captain Tyler Parr also collected a goal and an assist. The La Salle, MB product, has two goals and four assists in his last three games, adding to his team-leading 46 points (18G, 28A) in 44 games.

Blades goalie Ethan McCallum picked up his fourth win of the season, stopping 25 of 27 Wenatchee shots. The former Medicine Hat Tiger is 4-5-0-2 on the season and 3-4-0-2 with Saskatoon.

The Blades moved past the Edmonton Oil Kings for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 24-16-3-3 record. Saskatoon’s 54 points are two back of the East Division’s top Prince Albert Raiders, who have a game in hand over the Blue and Gold.

Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing opened the scoring for Saskatoon 4:52 into the first period with his 13th goal. The 6-foot-6 forward went bardown on Wenatchee netminder Brendan Gee to give him three goals and six points in eight games as a member of the Blades. In 44 games this season, Laing has 13 goals and 28 points.

Wild forward Tye Spencer tied the game less than three minutes later with his 12th goal of the season. The hometown product has 26 points in 42 games this season.

Williams regained Saskatoon’s one-goal lead with 2:01 remaining in the first. The 16-year-old centre assisted Laing’s opening goal of the game, playing a key role in the Blades being up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play.

Parr made it 3-1 Blades with 6:39 left in the middle frame with his 18th season goal.

Alternate captain Rowan Calvert scored his team-leading 19th goal of the season with 1:45 left to make it 4-1 Saskatoon. The 5-foot-11 winger cleaned up a loose puck in front to give him 39 points in 42 games this year and three goals in his last two contests.

The Wild cut their deficit to two thanks to forward Dawson Dietz's 12th goal of the year. The 2005-born winger’s goal came 3:28 into the third, giving him 22 points in 40 games this season. The Blades shut down the remainder of the game to snap a three-game losing skid.

What’s Next?

The Blades conclude their three-game home stand on Sunday, Feb. 2, for Seniors Night against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Puck drop is 4:00 pm.