Blades’ forward Ben Riche in midst of career season after trade brings him home

Saskatoon Blades forward Ben Riche couldn’t have asked for a better homecoming to Saskatchewan.

The 19-year-old from Bethune, Sask. was traded to the Blades from the Victoria Royals in June for Vaughn Watterodt.

Since he arrived in the Bridge City, Riche has done everything asked of him and more.

So far in 2024-25, Riche has registered 37 points in 25 games.

To put that in perspective, he had 34 points in 62 games with the Royals last season and only 18 points in 63 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2022-23.

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Riche credits head coach Dan Da Silva for putting him in the right places to succeed for why he’s been able to pop off this season.

“A big part of it has been opportunity. I got to come here to a team that has some room for me and that’s been a big part of it,” Riche said.

“Dan has given me a lot of trust and a lot of ice time that I’ve kind of just taken advantage of and I’ve had a lot of fun with it. I’m really excited to kind of take office here.

“It’s something I knew I always had. It just was waiting for the right time to be able to show it. The team success just adds to it and makes it that much more fun to come to the rink every day and know that we’re going to have a good chance to win every night.”

With the help of Riche’s services, the Blades hold a record of 17-6-1-2 – the best record in the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) eastern conference.

“He’s been a great addition to our team and had a great start to the season,” Da Silva said. “He’s been fairly consistent as far as providing offence for us – an area where going into the season we felt like it might be a bit of a concern. He’s been a massive reason why we’ve had success and a driver offensively for us.”

While he is having the best season of his career, Da Silva said he isn’t surprised to see a big jump in numbers for Riche this season.

“He’s really fast, he’s got a great shot and he can make plays. I think it was just him being put in a role where he could play that certain style that he wants to play,” Da Silva explained. “I think he’s comfortable here and he’s done a great job so far.”

The speed of Riche has been a big factor as to reason why the Blades have been able to produce offensively.

Riche said Kim Casavant, his skating coach in Bethune has been a big reason why speed is a major factor of his game.

“Since I was 10 we’ve been doing one on ones,” he explained. “I would leave school at lunch and go to the Bethune community rink and she would come meet me for one on one sessions. I can’t thank her enough for the things that she’s done for me and how much I’ve improved over the last almost nine years.”

Since returning home to Saskatchewan, Riche has loved having the opportunity to play close to family and friends.

“It’s been awesome. Family to me is everything – they’re the ones that have got me here – so to be able to play in front of them and show them my journey and how much I’ve improved over the last couple years, I’m really happy and thankful for that,” he explained.

While the scenery of mountains and an ocean in his backyard have changed to flat farm land, Riche said he’d take living in Saskatchewan over Victoria.

“I’m a Saskatchewan boy, so I like the flat,” he added. “Taking two hours to get off the island was not ideal. I didn’t love that every time. It’s nice, you’re playing Swift Current, then you’re sleeping in your own bed that night.”

With the season close to the Christmas break, Riche is proud of what the Blades have been able to accomplish so far.

“I think everyone was kind of expecting us to have a little bit of a lay low year and be at the bottom of the barrel, but we weren’t good with that,” Riche said.

“We wanted to come in and make some noise. We’re just focusing on winning that game, get that job done, get the two points, and then move on to the next and I think that’s been the key to our resilience and our consistency.”

The Blades next face the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday at SaskTel Centre.