Played on Feb 25, 2026
Game Played in SaskTel Centre
General Game Notes: The pressure and offensive zone possession time that the Blades were able to apply early on in the game made it too hard for the Vees to make up. Timely power play goals combined with a perfect penalty kill, were major reasons why Saskatoon was able to get the win. All the while being on shot three to two.
Louis Wehmann (C, L, 6’1″, 209, Penticton Vees, 04/12/2006, Cornell)
Game Rating
B
Louis Wehmann is a physically gifted player who showcases impressive skating ability and puck-handling skills. He excels at generating momentum through dynamic crossover patterns, often catching defenders off guard by attacking them at an angle. To unlock his full potential as a power forward, Wehmann must strike a balance between aggression and discipline to avoid costly penalties. In the absence of scoring chances, he consistently demonstrated smart playmaking and ability to create offense through breakout plays. When initiating passes, Wehmann’s agility allows him to seamlessly re-enter the play, making him a valuable asset on his team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Wehmann has the tools to attack defenders head on, using his skating and puck control to challenge players directly. He was solid off the rush, creating offense through pace and creativity. At times, though, he had a tendency to drift to the perimeter, settling for outside routes instead of consistently driving into more chaotic areas. He has a deceptive release that can catch goaltenders off guard, especially when he gets it off in stride. Through traffic, he shows strong puck protection, fighting through checks and absorbing contact without losing speed. Like to see him use his size more and dictate getting to the net, rather than relying on a lane being there for him.
Chase Valliant (C, L, 6’1″, 187, Penticton Vees, 05/18/2006)
Game Rating
B
Chase Valliant displayed a strong work ethic in tonight’s game, consistently outmuscling opponents for pucks and scoring the winning goal late in the third period. His size and physicality allowed him to easily box out opponents at the net front, showcasing his potential as a reliable presence in front of the net. However, Valliant also showed some vulnerabilities in his possession skills. He struggled to maintain control under pressure, and sometimes prioritized playing on the perimeter rather than using his feet to create space. This tendency made him more susceptible to defensive schemes that exploited his hesitation.
1 Viewing
Comments: When Valliant is at his best, he drives pucks through traffic, leans into defenders to create space, and shows his work ethic along the walls to extend possessions. While there are legitimate questions about his offensive ceiling, he creates opportunities through making his game simple and determination. His game is not flashy by any means, but it is effective. When he is able to get inside positioning, and a willingness to consistently get to hard areas, he is a force hard to stop.
Samuel Drancak (C, L, 6’0″, 197, Penticton Vees, 02/04/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Drancak displays solid skills in various aspects of his game. He is effective at securing pucks in the face-off circle through his extra effort and reach, often winning crucial draws and creating scoring chances for his teammates. His ability to hold onto pucks longer than expected allows him to distribute them to wingers under pressure. However, there are instances where he overplays it when entering the offensive zone, resulting in turnovers. When given space or time on offense, Drancak becomes a threat, generating numerous scoring opportunities. Defensively, he has room for improvement, but his size and agility allow him to block opponents from reaching the net. Additionally, his ability to cut off opponents and use his stick to reach for the puck is a valuable asset.
1 Viewing
Comments: Drancak read the play well on his goal, after the puck failed to clear the offensive zone. He stayed put at the net front and redirected a point shot into the back of the net. His game comes with a heavy four check, and he showed this on his goal, where applying pressure led to turnovers, and he was rewarded for this. He has some stability in this game, especially in the face off circle where he does not have to get low, but when he does, he makes it very hard for his opponent to snap a puck back.
Matteo Danis (C, L, 6’1″, 187, Penticton Vees, 03/27/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Matteo Danis showcased his impressive skating ability, moving swiftly and smoothly on the ice. His soft hands and feet allow for precise stick handling, enabling him to quickly evade defenders. Notably, he demonstrated agility in tight spaces, making it difficult for opponents to gain traction. While maintaining a substantial frame, Danis’s compact size belies his impressive mobility.
1 Viewing
Comments: Danis won a puck battle in front of the net and was able to actually bat the puck out of midair to get his team on the board. It was a nice goal that showcased how he can use his size and how well his stability plays a factor into being effective in the offensive zone. He moves well for a player over six feet and has a reach to go along with his size that he uses defensively to play against opponents wanting to use the perimeter. Couple too many stick handles on the breakouts where he forgoes his first option, looking for a prettier pass.
Evan Gardner (G, L, 6’0″, 174, Saskatoon Blades, 01/25/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Gardner saw thirty shots on net tonight, and a lot of them were quality, grade A chances from goal scoring spots. Even though the score was what it was, Gardner played a huge role in timely saves for his team. His ability to get cross crease and make a glove save, or stand on his head on a breakaway that we had to see multiple times. He was one of the better players on the ice that night. He recovers quickly, which is a reason for second chance opportunities, tonight, they were just as hard to come by as first chance opportunities.
Jordan Martin (D, R, 6’1″, 190, Saskatoon Blades, 01/08/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Martin brings a strong, consistent compete level and leverages his size effectively to win battles and disrupt plays in his own end. Physically imposing, he does not shy away from contact and routinely uses his frame to separate opponents from the puck. Offensively, there are flashes of skill where he possess the puck, couple plays off the rush, where he will drive wide, lower his shoulder and funnel his way to the crease. For a bigger defender, his mobility stands out. While he is not the fastest, he moves efficiently and covers ice well, especially when closing gaps. His transitioning from backwards to forwards allows him to be a threat as a late wave.
Brayden Klimpke (D, L, 5’11”, 166, Saskatoon Blades, 10/08/2007, North Dakota)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Klimpke is an offensive threat any time he is in the zone, with or without the puck. One of the better parts about his game is how well he sees the ice, able to distribute to players that do not even look open. Showed tonight that he is capable of handling the puck under pressure and snapping clean, controlled breakout passes to start transition. There is finesse in his game, he showed poise with the puck in motion and can facilitate from up high in the offensive zone when plays extend. Defensively, his effectiveness starts from anticipating routes and reacting. He takes good angles, reads developing plays quickly, and cuts off options before they have a chance to develop.
David Lewandowski (LW, L, 6’1″, 177, Saskatoon Blades, 02/20/2007)
Game Rating
A-
Lewandowski’s playing style often results in a slower pace than optimal, and he occasionally spends too much time on the perimeter. However, this forward boasts impressive technical passing skills, showcasing his ability to create opportunities for teammates. He possesses a strong physical presence, with a hard and accurate shot that can be a threat from anywhere on the ice. Lewandowski’s size and agility allow him to navigate the rink effectively, making him a shifty opponent to defend against. While he may not have been at his peak level tonight, Lewandowski still managed to make an impact, consistently finding himself in positions to create scoring chances. His ability to read the ice and position himself for offense is notable, making him a valuable asset to his team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Lewandowski was one of the better players on the ice tonight. He was able to show that he is a a power winger built to play a heavy two hundred foot game. Strong and assertive, he consistently attacks the middle of the ice and looks to impose himself physically. He welcomes contact, initiates it when needed, and has the strength to overpower defenders in puck battles and at the net front. At times, straight line speed is an area that can limit him at times, but when he does get going, he is a force off the rush. On the forecheck, he is disruptive and on time, forcing turnovers with pressure and physicality.
Cooper Williams (C, L, 6’1″, 166, Saskatoon Blades, 02/18/2008, North Dakota)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Williams buried the second goal tonight off of one of the luckier bounces, maybe of the year. But this does not take away from the fact that he was in a good position to create this type of bounce, crashing the net hard after a shot was put on goal. There is a reason why he has 20 goals on the year, and small details to his game like this are one of those reasons why. Williams has good size and uses that size to command space where he is able to bully smaller defensemen at the net front. He is really good along the wall, protecting the puck, able to extend as a possession and get to an area where he wants to shoot from.
Tyler Parr (RW, R, 5’10”, 187, Saskatoon Blades, 01/30/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: The captain scored a nice goal, creating chaos at the net front and literally getting his body on the puck that he deflected into the back of the net. For being one of the smaller guys on the ice, this goal is important for his game because it showed he is not afraid of the crease area and the contact that comes with it. Parr Carr created another chance moments later where he put himself on a breakaway, but was not able to convert on this, this chance showed the other side of his game, his agility and speed that he provides, and the pace that he can create through the neutral zone, making it really hard for defensemen to set their gaps.
Hunter Laing (RW, R, 6’5″, 207, Saskatoon Blades, 05/16/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Laing showcased a promising combination of skills on the ice, particularly in his attacking play. His height and efficient skating allowed him to create space and outmaneuver opponents. He demonstrated effective use of positioning, as seen in his goal-scoring opportunities, where he would wait for the goalie to commit before striking. However, Laing’s game is not without areas for improvement. He struggles with quick acceleration from a standstill, which makes it difficult for him to catch up to quicker opponents in tight spaces. Despite this, he has the size and strength to defend himself and maintain possession.
1 Viewing
Comments: Laing is consistently one of the better players on the ice offensively. What a nice goal tonight, being in the right spot at the right time on the power play at the back door, where his teammate made a nice pass for an empty net goal. He has one of the better unique combinations of being a great skater and having the size of a power forward. Is the skill of a smaller forward, and because of this, it creates scoring chances consistently. His patience with the puck, to outweigh players in lanes and goalies, is at an elite level.
Jack Kachkowski (D, R, 5’11”, 188, Saskatoon Blades, 01/14/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Kachkowski picked his corner from a bit of a distance on the opening goal of the night, showing really what a flank goal on the power play is supposed to look like. He was able to come downhill a little bit and, with a powerful and quick release, he beat the goalie low corner. Not usually his spot, given that he is a defenseman, but with time running out on the power play, the space was given to him, and he converted on a lapse in judgment from the defenders. He plays more of a two way game, pass first, offense second, but he does possess the ability to create chances, and this play was a good example of what he is capable of offensively.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images