Contacts set take on cross-town rival Blazers

Old friends meet again.

The undefeated Saskatoon Contacts (5-0-0) will play host to the Saskatoon Blazers (2-1-0) on Friday night at SaskTel Centre, the first of two meetings between the pair of Bridge City organizations this weekend, with the teams set to square off for round two Sunday afternoon at Rod Hamm Memorial Arena.

The meeting is the first of six this season between the rivals, who last met back more than 10 months ago on Jan. 12, 2020, when the Contacts defeated the Blazers 5-4.

Contacts captain Alex Bernauer, who has three goals and three assists this season, will hope to kick right where he left off last season versus the Blazers, as the Saskatoon Blades prospect had four points in that 5-4 victory last January.

The win was the loan victory against the Blazers in 2019-20, with the Contacts holding a 1-2-1 record in the season series.

However, this year is a different team with ten new players on the squad, and one that has thrived thus far under first-year head coach Dale Lambert. 

The Contacts, who have yet to trail this season, kept rolling along last weekend, taking care of a home-and-home against the Battleford Stars with 4-1 and 5-1 victories.

The Blazers meanwhile got back in action after having their pair of contests postponed the weekend prior due to a Saskatchewan snow storm, as they took on the Prince Albert Mintos. After the Blazers took game one in Saskatoon, the Mintos got the best of the Blazers on Sunday afternoon with a 6-3 victory, handing them their first loss of the season at Art Hauser Centre.

The contest will feature five of the top seven players in points-per-game in the SMAAAHL, including Kalan Lind, Brayden Yager and Riley Heidt of the Contacts who have combined for 31 points in five games this season.

Meanwhile on the other side of the ice, Spencer Bell, who is in his first year with the Blazers after recording 41 points in 41 games with the Swift Current Legionnaires last season, leads the Blazers in scoring with five goals and three assists in three games this season.

However, Bell will be in tough against whomever the Contacts start between the pipes this weekend, as both Max Hildebrand and Ethan Chadwick have been tremendous thus far. The pair sit second and third in save-percentage in the SMAAAHL, with .982 and .958 clips.

While Friday night’s game at SaskTel Centre is sold out, those interested in watching can take advantage of the stream on YouTube, which for the first time this season will feature Les Lazaruk, the longtime voice of the Saskatoon Blades, on the call.

Lazaruk, who mentions he has never called a game before at the U18 level and hasn’t called a non-Blades game since the CIS University Cup in Saskatoon, is excited to be back in the booth.

“It’s been quite awhile so I’m looking forward to knocking the rust off and getting going,” said Lazaruk. “From the Contacts perspective, they’re 5-0. I just hope they don’t lose their first game when I’m on the call! I’ll be looked at as sort of a jinx.” 

As for the game itself, Lazaruk has high hopes for the affair.

“The Blazers always get up for the Contacts, and vice versa,” said Lazaruk. “I’m looking forward to it. There’s obviously the rivalry, which makes it very interesting right away.” 

While Lazaruk has been busy getting to know the Contacts roster, there are already a number of players he is already familiar with. 

Ethan Chadwick and Alex Bernauer are both Blades prospects whom Les has grown accustomed to hearing about, as well as Prince Albert Raiders prospect Max Hildebrand, whose dad Steve is the assistant general manager of the Blades. 

“I’ve known Max, since he was born pretty much,” said Lazaruk. “You can go up and down the list. There are a lot of interesting names and they’re a good looking team that’s forsure. They’re off to a great start.”

Whether that great start can continue will be the question Friday night, with game time between the Contacts and Blazers set for 7:30 at SaskTel Centre.