THURSDAY COMMENTARY – NOW’S THE TIME
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98, Rock 98.5 FM & LTD Radio)
It shouldn’t have to be just once in a generation, but for some teams it is.
The Saskatoon Blades are off to the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1994 after finishing off the Red Deer Rebels in Round 2, winning a dramatic Game 7 Tuesday night at SaskTel Centre.
The Blades became just the third team in WHL history to rally from being down 3-0 in a series and win it.
That’s “Team Of Destiny” type stuff right there.
Now they face the favoured Winnipeg ICE in the East Final beginning Friday in Manitoba.
As a Dub junkie, I’m loving all the history that’s coming with this and the crest of popularity that’s sweeping up the Blades in Saskatoon, and across the province.
It’s about time.
It’s also not dissimilar from when the Pats went to the WHL Final in 2017, snapping a 33-year drought, and appearing in the Memorial Cup Final the next year.
Cash in while you can. That built the Pats brand in Sask better than anything else ever could and luckily for them, all the games were on TV.
I was real lucky to be a part of all that.
Now it’s Saskatoon’s turn. And they’ll be selling those gorgeous PacMan jerseys as fast as they can print them.
Who here remembers the last time the Blades made it this far? I do. The 1994 league finalists were coached by Lorne Molleken and featured stars like Andy McIntyre, Rhett Warrener, Clarke Wilm and a goalie named Norm Maracle. (Yes, that was his name). The great Randy Atkinson called the games on Hits 600 Radio in the Bridge City.
I was living in P.A. at the time as Voice of the Raiders and we drove down to every game. Sask Place was packed to the rafters and should be again.
And what a great time to start talking about a new arena.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV, WQEE and Streaming)
No one outside of Saskatoon cares about the Blades. Actually they have found a way to dethrone the Pats and become the most hated team in the province. Had Moose Jaw found a way to knock off Winnipeg, I could see everyone going all in on the Warriors. The Blades are a rich kid’s plaything.
What a doufus thing to say there Robbo. Rod writes a nice article about the Blades, their history and what that means to the province. Then you crap all over it. Give your head a shake man and don’t be suck a DI##!!! Let’s just take a look at the stupid things you said: firstly, others outside of Saskatoon do care about the Blades. Did you read Rod’s article, he is one of them that seems to like the Blades and what they have accomplished!!! The Blades are representing the province now and the fact that you have a drunken… Read more »
@olaf, you didn’t read Robbo’s comments very well. In response to your point 2: he was saying the pats are the most hated team in the province and that Saskatoon might now be the most hated team. To respond to point 3: you clearly didn’t watch the series between MJ and WPG. MJ is the only team that has been even close to competitive with WPG all season long and were very close to putting the ice down 3 games to 1. The series was much closer than the score of the final game would suggest.
The score is all that matters. MJ got owned in game 6. In their own barn too.
I don’t like the Blades. They’re on social media bragging about their Bedard attendance like it was because of them they sold 14,000 tickets. They are hard to like.
And their GM is a privileged rich kid.
Wow I don’t live in the province, and I find it an amazing story. Perhaps don’t comment if the only thing that can come out of your mouth is garbage.
Kudos Mark. The guy needs to go into detox to maybe sleep that one off 😁😜
You’re really rattled that no one outside of Saskatoon cares about the Blades.
The conference finals will be a great series. It’s too bad that the games aren’t on broadcast TV though, I’m sure if they were, more people here in Winnipeg would get into it. It’s amazing to me that someone can’t figure out how to make some money broadcasting playoff hockey on the prairies.
Hey PP, agree with you 100%. Junior hockey is good stuff. To not televise at least starting at this round upcoming is a shame. It would also give the WHL and junior hockey some advertising. But Ice win in 5 games, maybe 6….and Im from Saskatoon and a Blades fan. Ice are too strong and deep.
Good luck to your boys, Olaf. The Blades are tough customers, they’ve beaten the ICE twice during the regular season and I bet no one is taking them lightly after their performance so far. Should be a hell of a series.
A new runk in Regina is needed a lot more rhe Saskatoon rink should last another 15 or 20 years