The Saskatoon Blades are getting ready for the 2025-26 regular season, making final preparations ahead of Friday night’s season opener in Prince Albert. “I expect a hostile environment, and we wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Dan DaSilva, head coach of the Saskatoon Blades. “Honestly, it’s exciting, it’s going to have like a playoff atmosphere here this first weekend with going to their rink on game one of the season, and then coming back here in front of 10,000 plus fans in our rink. So we’re very excited to get started here, and no better way than getting with the rivalry, right into it.” Final preparations include the selection of team captains. Through a team vote, the Blades have named Tyler Parr the 64th captain in Blades history. “I cant even put it into words, honestly,” said Parr, who has suited up with the Blades for all five seasons. “The captains I’ve been with in the past, Aidan De La Gorgendiere, Trevor Wong, Saundy [Saunderson], just some of my closest friends. Guys that have taught me a lot over the years, and I try to be one of those guys to some of the younger guys on this team. It’s a huge honour.” While last year’s edition of the Saskatoon Blades wasn’t expected to perform well, they outperformed expectations heading into the trade deadline. That made for some difficult decisions in moving players out in order to re-stock the shelves with draft picks and players. This year’s team has a sense of security among the veterans which goes a long way. “The familiarity is big,” said Rowan Calvert, forward, Saskatoon Blades. He was named an alternate captain again this season. “With that being said, we did lose some guys. Some guys who played big roles for us. Just having everyone here in September and August, a lot of our core was brought in at the deadline last year. So just having a full year, it means a lot.” The Blades head to Prince Albert Friday to face the Raiders. It’s a team that eventually won the East Division Championship, and that banner will be raised to the rafters at the Art Hauser Centre before the game. “Yeah, I think that’ll light a fire in our room for sure,” said alternate captain Brayden Klimpke, defense for the Saskatoon Blades. “I mean, we thought we should have been there, it was close, but we’re coming for it this year.” Veterans like Calvert, Klimpke and Parr will be relied upon to set an example for the younger players stepping into new roles. “We’re going to go in there and try to get the two points, no matter if it’s banner night, home opener night, Tuesday night, the goal remains the same.” The Blades return to SaskTel Centre Saturday for home opener against the Raiders at 7 p.m.
