It’s a historic series 55 years in the making - the Saskatoon Blades are taking on the Edmonton Oil Kings, a matchup the WHL hasn’t seen since 1971.
The Oil Kings, third in the conference, are the favorites, but Blades defenceman Brayden Klimpke remains confident. “People might see us as the underdog, but we have a lot of confidence in our group,” he said.
Head coach Dan DaSilva emphasizes the need for consistency and teamwork. “We need to be an extremely hard-working team, with everyone pulling the rope,” he stated.
Goaltender Evan Gardener acknowledges the challenge. “They’re a really good team, with strong defense and offense. It’s going to be a real fun series and a real test for us,” he added.
The Blades, one of the youngest teams in the league, rely on veterans like team captain Tyler Parr to guide the rookies. “I take huge pride in making sure the young guys are comfortable and know how we do things here,” Parr said.
The series starts in Edmonton on March 27 and 28, with the first home game in Saskatoon on March 31.