Despite battling as if their lives depended on it, the Saskatoon Blades’ postseason has come to a heartbreaking end. In Game 7 of the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Blades took the Moose Jaw Warriors to overtime before losing to an Atley Calvert goal thirty-six seconds in.
Overagers
The Blades’ three overagers were all key players in both the regular and post-season, showcasing admirable leadership on and off the ice. With a combined 47 points (15G-32A) in 14 playoff games, Trevor Wong, Easton Armstrong, and Charlie Wright will leave a lasting legacy.
Trevor Wong
Vancouver native Trevor Wong was drafted eighteenth overall in the 2018 WHL Draft and debuted with the Kelowna Rockets on October 27, 2018. A few months later, on February 2 in a game against the Kamloops Blazers, Wong scored his first WHL goal.
Described as “quick and dexterous,” Wong quickly made himself known as a player with incredible skating ability, weaving in and out of defenders with practiced ease. His quick decision-making, swift skates, and grittiness on the ice were only a few parts of what made him so appealing to the Blades. Upon obtaining him in a trade with the Rockets in December of 2021, General Manager Colin Priestner said, “He’s someone you normally would never be able to acquire in a trade because he’s so talented and so well-regarded around the league. […] He is going to add a lot of speed and skill to our centre ice position.” And that he did.
In September of 2023, Wong was named the 62nd captain in Blades history, donning the C for the season. “Trevor has the heart of a lion,” said Blades Head Coach Brendan Sonne on Wong’s captaincy. “He works constantly, tirelessly, but is a phenomenal leader of the pride. His empathy, his humanity, his aspiration, his care for his teammates are all qualities that we want and want to live by. That’s what he is, he lives that culture and that humanity every day.”
Wong tallied 229 points during his tenure with the Blades and amassed a total of 260 points (72G-188A) in 265 WHL games played. In the 2024 Playoffs, Wong led the team in scoring, trailing only teammate Egor Sidorov.
A good leader, player, and person, Trevor Wong has a bright future ahead of him, no matter where he ends up.
Easton Armstrong
Although he only had one season with the Blades, Easton Armstrong was quick to acclimate to the team. Known for his eccentric, joyous personality, it was no surprise Saskatoon welcomed him with open arms, providing a great place he could call home for his final season in the WHL.
Drafted by the Regina Pats in the 2018 WHL Draft, Armstrong made his league debut in a game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes in January 2020. His first goal came the next season, on March 29, 2021, against the Swift Current Broncos.
Armstrong was quickly a fan favorite in Regina. He even became a staple of the Pats’ social media, hosting many TikToks and featuring in several videos. “[The Pats] started making the TikToks and I ended up taking the phone one day, and it was just history after that,” he said. “Every TikTok, I would always carry the phone around and ask the questions. I don’t know, I think it just kind of happened.”
In January of 2023, however, Armstrong was traded to the Winnipeg ICE, where he helped lead the team to number one in the regular season, as well as the WHL Championships in the postseason.
After the ICE fell just short of winning the 2023 WHL Championships, the inevitable move to Wenatchee brought Armstrong and the ICE’s roster to Wenatchee, Washington. After playing just four games in the US Division, Armstrong made his final move to Saskatoon.
Armstrong recorded a total of 99 points (60G-39A) in 210 WHL games played and made even more of a name for himself in the 2024 WHL Playoffs with the Blades. With his bright personality and talent on the ice, he will no doubt continue to impress wherever he ends up.
Charlie Wright
The only overager on the team to spend his whole career in Saskatoon, Charlie Wright wraps up his time in the WHL on a high note. The talented defenseman, often underrated and “overshadowed on his own Saskatoon Blades team over the years,” as Darren Zary from Saskatoon StarPhoenix puts it, was drafted in 2018 by the Blades. After a few preseason appearances, he made his league debut in 2019, notching his first point a few months later in November. His long-awaited first goal came in April of 2021.
Named Alternate Captain of the Blades in 2022, Wright has always been a leader on and off the ice. “He’s a foundational pillar for us,” Sonne said. “He’s done everything right. He’s one of the most underrated players in the league, honestly. He’s a pro, through and through. He’s meant the world to the team, as being so steady that whole time. His growth as a player, I just think it’s incredible the way he’s been able to produce offensively while still bringing what he’s great at, which is skating and his ability to shut players down.”
Smart with the puck and quick on his skates, Wright has constantly proved why he shouldn’t be looked over. The defenseman garnered 104 points (15G-89A) in 256 career games played and averaged nearly a point per game during the 2024 Playoffs. Although his WHL career has come to a close, Wright has a bright future ahead of him, and Blades fans are sure to pay attention to it even after he’s left Saskatoon.
What’s Next for the Blades
Now that the Saskatoon Blades’ postseason has officially concluded, it’s time for the team to gear up for next season. While the players have a relaxing offseason ahead, the organization will be putting in the work in preparation for a rebuild, after putting so much into this year’s roster and playoff run.
Although fans have a roller coaster ahead in terms of trades and various roster moves, there’s one thing they can hold onto during the off-season: the Blades had a phenomenal season, with three talented and amazing overagers leading the team to a stellar Eastern Conference Final performance. Despite not getting the desired outcome, this season will go down in history as one of the Blades’ best.
