We read this weekend, from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, a call to the hockey fans of ‘Toon town to come out and support their Saskatoon Blades, who led the East Division of the WHL going into last night’s action.  One of the five reasons why folks should buy a ticket?

4. The Stopper.

Braden Holtby is closing in on several franchise records, including games played by a goaltender. He leads the WHL with 10 wins and posted a 2.16 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in October. If his numbers are as strong in November, he has a legitimate shot at being invited to world junior tryouts in December.

Well, that could make following the WJC in Ottawa at the end of this year a whole lot more interesting for Washington Capitals fans.

Of course, after such high praise, the Caps’ goalie prospect takes a loss in a 6-2 decision to those dreaded intra-provincial rivals, the Regina Pats.

As for the Hershey Bears, we learn from John Walton over the weekend that Graham Mink has revived an old road-trip tradition from the 2005-06 Calder Cup season, and that Karl Alzner is a fastidious rookie bus cleaner.

Tonight, the Bears salvaged a point out of a home-and-home weekend series against the Philadelphia Phantoms.  Down 3-0, the rookie line of Caps prospects, Oskar Osala, Mathieu Perreault and Francois Bouchard, scored thrice in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Osala now has a whopping eight goals through 12 games.  Wow, if that doesn’t get you excited about the potential of the big winger, I don’t know what will. 

The Bears have struggled a bit lately, like the parent club, going 1-2-0-1 in its last four.  But the team still leads the division with a 8-3-0-1 record.