Watch above: While the playoffs appear to be out of reach, Jack Haskins reports there is still plenty at stake for the Saskatoon Blades this season.
SASKATOON – Making the playoffs is still mathematically possible for the Saskatoon Blades, but it’s highly unlikely. In order to climb back to the .500 mark, the Boys in Blue will have to post a winning percentage of 83.3 through the final 30 games.
The playoffs may not be in the cards for the Blades, but the players still have plenty to play for.
Blades captain Brett Stovin has only worn one jersey in his five year WHL career. He scored is first goal as a Blade when he was 15. In just over two months, Stovin’s junior hockey career will come to an end.
“It’s been special, I’ve pretty much seen all you can see,” said Stovin after practice on Thursday. “I know it’s coming to an end, and it’s my turn to prepare these young guys for the future.”
The 20-year-old plans to pursue a pro hockey career, but if that doesn’t pan out, Stovin hopes to earn a spot on a CIS squad and further his education. Brett is currently halfway through his certificate in criminology and addictions.
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The remainder of the 2015 season is an unofficial try-out for 19-year-old Nick Zajac. The Blades left winger is fighting for one of three overage spots on Saskatoon’s roster for the 2015-16 season. The Saskatoon Blades are the only WHL team Zajac has ever known, and he would like to keep it that way.
“I truly do bleed blue,” said Zajac. “I would like nothing more than to continue out my career here as a Blade.”
This season also means a lot to Blades left winger Ryan Graham.
The 18-year-old was passed over in the 2014 NHL entry draft, but earned an invite to the Minnesota Wild’s training camp this past fall. Graham is out to prove that he can make the jump to the pro level, by becoming a leader in junior hockey.
“I got to teach the younger guys how to conduct themselves around the rink,” said Graham. “It’s definitely a long, grueling season so you got to be prepared for that, and you need leaders for that.”
The 2014-15 season has been the most important campaign to date for Cameron Hebig. This is the Saskatoon born centreman’s NHL draft year. Hebig admits that the draft pressure weighted heavily on him early in the season, but now, he’s more focused than ever.
“It was kind of a slow start for me. I don’t know if it (the draft) was kind of a distraction,” said Hebig. “The second half I want to focus on me, and focus on playing my game, and showing what I can do.”
So while the playoffs seem like an unattainable goal for the Blades, the players won’t stop fighting. They’ll battle for themselves, they’ll battle for each other, and they’ll battle because there’s always something at stake.
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