Blades to face Hitmen in first round of WHL playoffs

After failing to clinch the Western Hockey League (WHL)’s East Division this past weekend, the Saskatoon Blades will begin their playoff journey on the road against the Calgary Hitmen on Friday.

The Blades finished sixth in the Eastern Conference with 82 points, while the Hitmen had 96 points during the season and are the third seed heading into the playoffs.

Read More:

• Blades trade Molendyk to Medicine Hat for pair of players, five draft picks
• Huskies men’s hockey team claims 12th Canada West title
• Stolen hockey sticks worth $15,000 found after Saskatoon trafficking arrests

Games one and two of the series will takes place on March. 28 and 30 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary before shifting back to the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon for games three and four on April 1 and 2. Dates for games five, six and seven are yet to be confirmed.

The Blades and Hitmen split the regular-season series.

Raiders to face off against Oil Kings, Broncos take on Tigers

The Prince Albert Raiders enter the WHL playoffs as the highest-seeded Saskatchewan team. The Raiders finished second in the eastern conference with 84 points and won the east division championship.

The Raiders will take on the Edmonton Oil Kings in a best-of-seven starting on Friday night in Prince Albert at the Art Hauser Centre. Game two of that series will take place on Saturday night before shifting back to Rogers Place in Edmonton for games three and four on April 1 and 2.

During the regular season, the Raiders won the season series 3-2.

The Swift Current Broncos will face the top-seeded Medicine Hat Tigers in round 1 of the WHL playoffs. The Broncos ended the season as the number-eight seed in the eastern conference, and will start their playoff journey Friday night in Medicine Hat. The Tigers will also host game two of that series on Saturday night.

The Broncos will host games three and four on April 1 and 2.

The Broncos and Tigers split their regular-season series.