Blades Uncut

The long-overdue Blades Uncut debut for one of the greatest of all time, Paul Buczkowski, is finally here. The hometown boy of Saskatoon has his name inked into the franchise record books on multiple occasions, playing nearly 400 career games from the early-to-mid 1990s. Mitch and Les chat with Buczkowski for nearly an hour, reflecting on his playing days wearing the Pacman jersey, his favourite stories from traveling on the road, and where his career took him following junior hockey. Currently the head coach for the Saskatoon Outlaws AA U16 squad, the 45-year-old also dives into his transition from playing into coaching, and how the game has changed over the last few decades. Buczkowski has four kids; Tyson, who's eligible to be chosen in the upcoming WHL Bantam Draft, Madison, who most recently suited up for the Saskatoon Stars, and two twins who are also showing signs of living in their father's footsteps. Before welcoming Buczkowski on, Mitch and Les also discuss the recent approval for WHL hockey to drop the puck at the end of February, and whether a season is in sight for Saskatchewan-based teams. The guys also recap last week's trivia question before Les tries selling Mitch on a new show worth watching.

In this week's episode, Mitch and Les get the best of both worlds on the mic, welcoming Blades general manager Colin Priestner and newly acquired defenceman Wyatt McLeod. Priestner shook (digital) hands on a deal with the Edmonton Oil Kings on Monday, sending a conditional draft pick to Alberta's capital and receiving overage blue-liner McLeod. Priester gives a candid take on how the trade unfolded, and the role McLeod would fill in a COVID-shortened season. The seven-year GM also gives a candid take on some of his favourite trades, and a few that never panned out. Plus, Priestner gives his insight into the potential of playing a 24-game season, and shares a few funny stories from his experiences in other WHL buildings. Following their chat with the head honcho, Mitch and Les get McLeod's take on becoming a Blade, and how his off-season has treated him so far. McLeod, who's already being compared to former assistant captain Scott Walford, opens up about his road to the WHL, growing up in the small, northern-BC town of Dawson Creek, and playing his first game in Rogers Place.

Mitch and Les are back with two esteemed guests in one suped-up episode of Blades Uncut. Cam Moon, who's making his second appearance on the podcast, is the newest member of the 630 CHED broadcast team in Edmonton, calling play-by-play for the Oilers. It's been a whirlwind 10 days for Moon, to say the least, who says the Oilers reached out to him initially and offered the position just three days later. The former Blades goaltender goes into detail with how the hiring process unfolded, his emotional transition to Edmonton, and the challenges which come with saying goodbye to the Red Deer Rebels after 22 years. Moon also discusses the slow start to the Oilers season, and shares his excitement over calling his first NHL game. Following their chat with Moon, the guys welcome Blades starting goaltender Nolan Maier onto the podcast for the first time. Maier, who's entering his fourth season between the pipes, chats about the challenges in dealing with a COVID-lengthened off-season, the emotions that came with the season suspension last March, his early days with the Blades, and winning gold at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Outside their interviews, Mitch and Les discuss the early start to the NHL season, hammer out the details of their Flames vs. Jets wager, and dive into the latest in the world of golf.

A proud graduate of the Western Hockey League, and now entering his third season manning the bench for the Saskatoon Blades, Mitch Love is one of the most well respected, decorated coaches in the WHL. He's fresh off capturing a silver medal with Team Canada as an assistant coach at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, following up his gold medal from the previous year. He's since returned to Saskatoon, working daily with the rest of his coaching staff to prepare for the upcoming WHL season. Mitch and Les welcome Love onto the podcast for the first time, and discuss what day-to-day operations look like, and his excitement in adding a few familiar faces to his coaching staff over the off-season. Love also digs into the finer details of the World Juniors before sharing a few memorable stories from his days with the Everett Silvertips. Finishing his WHL playing career with 901 penalty minutes, Love also reflects on his rugged play style, and what competing as an enforcer was like in the mid-2000's. Prior to their chat with Love, Mitch and Les open the floodgates on the NHL season, and place a bet on who will win the season series between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets. 

New year, new episode! Mitch and Les are kicking off 2021 with a jam-packed episode featuring a newly minted professional for the San Jose Sharks, and a legendary NHL broadcaster. Tristen Robins inked a three-year, entry-level deal on New Years Day, and joins Mitch and Les over the phone from Chandler, AZ. The Clear Lake, MB native is in the desert training in his first NHL training camp with other Sharks prospects, including Prince Albert Raiders forward Ozzy Wiesblatt. He discusses the finer details which went into putting pen to paper, the work-ethic which is required to compete at the professional level, and the COVID restrictions which are in place in Arizona. Following their chat with Robins, the guys welcome TSN play-by-play commentator Dennis Beyak onto the pod. Beyak is currently readjusting to life outside the bubble, most recently calling games at the World Juniors. He's also eying up Winnipeg Jets training camp, seeing he's the lead broadcaster for all regionally televised games, but it's his history with the Blades which makes his story special and unique. Beyak was one of the first broadcasters for the Saskatoon Blades, and also spent nine years as the team's assistant general manager through the 1980's. He played an instrumental role in bringing the Memorial Cup Championship to Saskatoon in 1989, and was on the front-lines of a 'golden era' of Blades hockey which included the likes of Wendel Clark, Kelly Chase, and Kevin "Killer" Kaminski. Beyak relives some of his fondest memories with the organization and shares stories involving many of his former players. Plus, he dives into the outcome of this year's World Juniors, and shares his thoughts on the development of some current and former Blades.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, so to help you get into the Christmas spirit, we're unveiling the most wonderful moments from Blades Uncut in 2020. Mitch and Les are excited to unveil "Blades Uncut: Christmas Special" highlighting some of their favourite memories from the first 22 episodes of the podcast. They'll relive stories told by Kevin "Killer" Kaminski, Wendel Clark, Anton Khudobin, Riley McKay, Cam Moon, and many, many more. So light up the fireplace, brew up a hot cup of hot chocolate, hit play, and enjoy!

Natural, raw, goal-scoring talent was evident in Devin Setoguchi's early childhood, which made him a highly saude-after piece in the 2002 WHL Bantam Draft. He was taken by the Blades 5th overall  — the first step towards reaching the NHL and living out a childhood dream. After two seasons in the WHL, Setoguchi was selected 8th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks — a draft class that included Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan, and Carey Price. In fact, San Jose traded up four spots to ensure the Setoguchi pick, which came before Anze Kopitar and T.J. Oshie. Needless to say, Setoguchi was a superstar in the making. He made his NHL debut as a teenager and was quickly thrown onto a line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. His sophomore campaign saw him reach the 30-goal plateau and put up a career-high 65 points. What many people didn't see on the surface were early signs of alcoholism, which grew into a fierce addiction in the mid-2010's. On April 1st, 2015, Setoguchi made one of the most important phone calls of his life — reaching out to Dr. Brian Shaw, the co-founder of the NHL's substance abuse program, and entered rehab four days later. In this week's episode, Setoguchi relives the glory days of playing for the Blades, and shares details of the trade which sent him to BC's Peace Region. He also looks back on the 2005 NHL Draft, the excitement of playing in San Jose, and the turmoil which ultimately fuelled his addiction to alcohol. Today, Setoguchi, his wife, and two children reside in San Jose, CA and own/operate an F45 Training Centre. Outside of their chat with Setoguchi, Mitch and Les also discuss the local sports scene, the latest news in the World Juniors, and tease a special edition of Blades Uncut which will be released on Christmas Eve.

As the 5th overall selection in 1991, Warrener was one of the very first players to be chosen by the Blades — back when the Shaunavon, SK product (or the rest of bantam-aged players for that matter) didn't have a clue what it was exactly. He's the first to admit it wasn't a dream for him to play for his favourite junior hockey team growing up, or even reach the NHL, saying naiveness steered any self-influenced pressure away. This, in turn, helped develop one of the Blades' most well-known, talented defenceman from the early to mid-90's, piling up 197 games before venturing into a 13-year NHL career. Warrener made the move to Florida as a 19-year-old — a team bounded together with youth and grit — and helped the Panthers reach its first Stanley Cup Final in 1996. Several years later, Warrener was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, where he made his second Cup Finals appearance in 1999, eventually bowing down to the Dallas Stars. Warrener's third and final conference championship came in the wild west as a member of the Calgary Flames in 2004. Led by the likes of captain Jarome Iginla and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary's magical run ended in Game 7 of the Final to Vincent Lecavalier and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mitch and Les take a walk down memory lane with Rhett, reliving the glory days of his junior hockey career, his transition into the NHL, notable moments from his three trips to the Finals, and the numerous community initiatives he's been a part of. Mitch and Les also touch on the latest news regarding an NHL start date, whether or not we'll see Kirby Dach lace up for Team Canada at the World Juniors, and make mention of a furry community event driven by the Blades organization.

Living in Kazakhstan, and suiting up as one of the top defenders in the KHL, former Saskatoon Blades assistant captain Darren Dietz has seen all parts of the hockey world over the last decade. Undrafted in bantam, Dietz fought through tooth and nail to earn a spot on the Blades roster in 2009, back when Lorne Molleken was calling the shots as head coach. Drafted in the 5th round by the Montreal Canadiens in 2011, Dietz used his intense work ethic and leadership traits to open more doors in his hockey career following junior. He made a quick transition to the AHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs, and finally made his NHL debut in 2016, playing 13 games with the Habs. The bulk of Dietz success in hockey wouldn't come on North American soil, however. The Medicine Hat product made the difficult decision to commit to Barys Astana in the KHL to start the 2017-18 campaign. The risk paid off in an astounding way. Dietz put together an all-star worthy season, named the KHL's top defenceman after leading all blue-liners in goals, assists, and points. Calling in from 12 time-zones away, Dietz discusses the finer details of his hockey career, and how he went from one of junior hockey's most promising young stars, to an international star in Kazakhstan. Plus, Mitch and Les chat about life away from the rink overseas, and how the current COVID crisis is being handled in Europe. Mitch and Les also discuss the latest in the local hockey world, one Blade who's stepping up in the CHL Memorial eCup, and take a final look at whatever's growing on Mitch's upper lip.

Despite only spending 1.5 seasons with the Saskatoon Blades, former goaltender Cam Moon says his time in Blade City was sacred and memorable. He's a proud Blades alumni who wears his blue and gold colours wherever he goes, if even through his colourful personality. After graduating from the WHL in the early '90's, Moon enrolled in the Radio and Television program at NAIT in his hometown of Edmonton - the beginning of a 25-year career in broadcasting. He's most well-known as the play-by-play man for the Red Deer Rebels, which he's done since 1998. Recently, the 50-year-old has had a front-row seat for the World Junior Selection Camp, taking over play-by-play duties for Canada White vs. Canada Red scrimmages. Mitch and Les were thrilled to welcome Moon onto the podcast to hear more about his days as a Blade, the former teammates he's still close with today, and the strength Team Canada possesses heading into the World Juniors. The guys also discuss the latest news in the local sports world, details on the Hockey Harvest Lottery early bird deadline, and present a new trivia question for listeners!