SASKATOON – The Saskatoon Blades are looking to keep their winning ways alive this weekend but it won’t be easy. The WHL team knows its upcoming road series will be taxing but the Blades are up to the challenge.
Saskatoon is 6-1-1 away from SaskTel Centre this year, the best road record in the WHL.
“Going on the road is definitely a tough task but we’ve been able to keep us in games and win a lot of games, so hopefully we can do that in these next three here,” said Blades forward Connor Gay, who has 17 points in 17 games.
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The Blades sterling road record will be put to the test this weekend. Playing three games in three nights against a trio of strong teams isn’t exactly a recipe for success.
The road trip starts in Red Deer on Friday against the central division leading Rebels. Then Saskatoon will clash with the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday and wrap up in Calgary against the Hitmen Sunday.
“They are all tough places to go and they’re against good teams and we’re going to have to be at our best to have success,” said Bob Woods, Blades head coach and general manager.
On the road, the players are around each other 24/7. The team’s captain, Nick Zajac, believes that’s why the team is so in sync on the ice.
“When we are together on the road, we’re eating together, we’re sleeping together, and we’re just getting ready for games and talking about them together … just being together on the road has been good for us this year,” said Zajac.
But being constantly surrounded by your teammates does have its downside.
“It’s a grueling road trip and by the end of it, you’re ready to kill your teammates,” joked Zajac.
“But yeah it’s a battle and we’re just hoping to go into the weekend and get some points out of it.”
Watch below: Jack Haskins goes 1 on 1 with Nick Zajac
Playing three games in three nights is challenging for any team. The Blades believe if they’re going to pick up some points this weekend, all four lines have to contribute.
“I think that’s the way you have to play especially when you have the demand of the schedule that you have,” said Woods.
“We’ve been rolling four lines pretty well here and it’s been paying off. We’ve been playing well, our young guys, a couple games, have been our best players and that’s what you need on a hockey team,” said Gay.
Saskatoon is off to a much better start compared to last season. At this time in 2014, the boys in blue had six wins and 16 loses. This year, the squad has secured nine more points in three fewer games.
The goal at the start of the season was to make the playoffs and the Blades are currently occupying a post-season spot.
Jack Haskins contributed to this story
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