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Nov 21, 2024
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It has been more than 30 years since the WHL last saw an all-Saskatchewan Eastern Conference final, but that drought is to end Friday.
The Saskatoon Blades will host the Moose Jaw Warriors in Game 1 of their third-round playoff series at 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre.
The playoff series has hockey fans in Saskatoon and the province pumped up, as well as Blades alumni.
Bernie Federko is a Hockey Hall of Famer who played on the Blades from 1973 to ’76. He helped lead the team to Western Canada Hockey League championship appearances in 1975 and 1976.
On the CKOM Morning Show with Shack on Thursday, Federko called the whole playoff run fantastic for the city.
“It’s a dream for everybody and alumni,” he said. “The Blades have never been to the Memorial Cup other than the (two) in Saskatoon when they were hosting (in 1989 and 2013), so they’ve never won the WHL championship and it would be nice to see that happen.
“It would be nice to see the Blades get an opportunity to not only win the West but to win the Memorial Cup,” he added. “It would be wonderful.”
The last time two Saskatchewan-based teams were in the WHL’s Eastern Conference final was 1993, when the Swift Current Broncos swept the Regina Pats in the best-of-seven series.
Federko thinks having two teams from the province in the Eastern final is huge for Saskatchewan hockey. There are eight players from Saskatchewan playing in the conference final.
The series against Moose Jaw will without a doubt be the toughest series the Blades have so far faced in this post-season. Saskatoon beat the Prince Albert Raiders in five games in the first round before sweeping the Red Deer Rebels in a semifinal.
Moose Jaw beat the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round and then took out Swift Current in the other semifinal.
Federko suggested if the Blades want to be successful and advance to the WHL final, they have to play the same game they’ve played all season.
“I don’t think there’s a lot to be said. Just play and do your jobs,” he said. “Everybody understands when you get to this level that if you do your same job, you expect to be the better team.
“They’ve proven it all year long. I don’t think they need to really have to change anything. Just have fun, relax and do your jobs.
“They’re picked to win. It’s always easier for the underdogs, (but) I don’t think the Blades should put any pressure on themselves. They just need to continue to play the way that they’ve played in the past.”
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is to be played Saturday, 7 p.m., at SaskTel Centre.