BY Jonathan Huntington
SASKATOON – Nobody is getting excited after just three games to start the regular season, but you can’t help but notice the difference in the Saskatoon Contacts’ camp.
After starting last year with a 2-11 record in their first 13 games, the Contacts have begun the 2026-27 campaign with three consecutive victories.
“I think what we like most through the first three games is that our team game has improved each time out. We have a competitive group that enjoys coming to the rink, putting in the work, and pushing each other to get better,” said head coach Ryan Keller.
“That being said, we’re only three games into a long season. We haven’t accomplished anything yet, and there’s still a lot of work ahead of us. We like the direction we’re heading, but we know we have to continue earning it every day.”
After defeating the Estevan Innovex Bears twice to open the season, the Contacts turned heads by posting a 4-0 shut-out over the highly-regarded Regina Pat Canadians on Saturday.
Keller couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year – and has taken some learning lessons from last season, which was his first behind the bench for the Contacts.
“I think what I’ve learned most is patience,” Keller admitted. “It can be hard for young players to see the big picture and understand that improvement doesn’t always lead to immediate results.
“I give our group from last year a ton of credit for helping establish a culture of resilience, trusting the process, and sticking together. We started the year 3-11-1, and a lot of teams could have let that start define their season. Our group didn’t. They embraced the uphill climb, stayed together, and remained determined to find a way into the playoffs.
“That experience reinforced for me that development isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes you have to keep doing the right things before you start seeing the results, and I think that’s an important lesson for our players to understand.”
FINISH LINES: Some impressive early stat lines – but two that stand-out the most: Braden Nowoselski has eight assists and nine points in four games for the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors; Blaise Baier – the new Saskatoon Blazers’ captain – has four goals in two games, including a hat-trick on Sunday… A mid-week match-up in Notre Dame this coming week brings some extra interest. Yorkton and ND have both started the season winless in five games. One team will be able to take a much-needed positive step forward after Wednesday night.
