Saskatoon Blades take Fort St. John goaltender in WHL prospects draft

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — For the second time in as many years, the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Saskatoon Blades took a goaltender from Fort St. John in the league draft.

Prospect Dysen Loewen will head to the Saskatchewan city after being picked 7th in the 11th round, and 243rd overall at the draft on May 9th.

Loewen put up solid numbers in the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s (AEHL) U-15 division in 2023-24, going 11-5-2 with a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.27 and one shutout.  He also had a save percentage of .916.

Loewen’s Grande Prairie Storm team finished third overall in the league and lost in the AEHL’s playoff quarterfinals to Edmonton’s Knights of Columbus Squires.

According to Elite Prospects, Loewen went 27-5-5 in his AAA career, splitting time between the Northern Alberta Hockey League and the AEHL.

In last season’s draft, the Blades took Fort St. John’s Evan Gardner.  Gardner went 21-5-0 with a 1.91 GAA and .927 save percentage, being nominated for league rookie of the year.

Blades director of scouting Dan Tencer says Loewen has a lot of potential and feels that Loewen can follow in Gardner’s footsteps. 

“Dysen still has growing to do, but is a player that the coaches liked both with his club team and at the provincial championships this year,” said Tencer. “[Goaltending coach] Jeff Harvey watched him on film and likes the way he moves and the poise he carries himself with.”

“We had Dysen reasonably high on our goalie list and felt if you end up with another quality goalie to follow up the likes of Gardner and [Rylee] Budd, there’s no problem with that.”

The Blades had a deep playoff run in 2023-24, getting to the WHL’s eastern conference finals before losing to the Moose Jaw Warriors in seven games.