WHL Roundup: Former Tiger Haden has career-high four-goal game with Blades

By Ryan McCracken on December 13, 2018.

Medicine Hat News

Former Medicine Hat Tigers centre Gary Haden netted a career high four goals and added an assist to lead the Saskatoon Blades to a 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings Tuesday.

Haden requested to be traded from the Tigers in October and has 21 points in 20 games since joining the Blades in exchange for centre Logan Christensen.

Richards dealt eight games

The Western Hockey League announced Tuesday that Everett Silvertips left-winger Sean Richards has been suspended eight games following a boarding major during a game against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Dec. 8.

WHL director of player safety Kevin Acheson pointed out Richards’ repeat offences led to the lengthy suspension, as well as an injury to the player involved in the incident.

“On this particular play, the opponent was injured as a result of the hit,” Acheson said in a release. “As well, and most importantly, this is the fifth suspension that Sean Richards has received in the last two seasons. The WHL policy of increasing suspensions for repeat offenders has been applied to this player.”

Richards will be eligible to return to Everett’s lineup on Jan. 6 against the Kamloops Blazers.

Leason’s season-long streak snapped

WHL leading point-getter Brett Leason had a season-long point streak snapped Sunday.

The Prince Albert Raiders forward had registered at least a point in all 30 games he had played leading into Sunday’s contest against the Saskatoon Blades, but a 1-0 shutout loss snapped his run in his final game before heading to World Junior Championship selection camp with Team Canada. Leason recorded 28 goals and 36 assists through his first 30 games.

The setback also stood as Prince Albert’s first regulation loss in 22 games, though the Raiders still managed to retain the Canadian Hockey League’s No. 1 spot in the weekly rankings with a 28-2-0-1 record. The Silvertips climbed to No. 5 at 25-7-1-0 and the Vancouver Giants jumped to No. 6 at 21-6-2-0.

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