NHL News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Newsletter

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Saskatoon Blades Getting Big Playoff Push From Rowan Calvert

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Dayton Reimer | Last updated Mar 17, 2026 6:26 PM ET

The Saskatoon Blades have been consistently inconsistent this season, but with the season coming to an end, the team is starting to show its teeth ahead of the playoffs. Leading that charge is 20-year-old Rowan Calvert, who extended his point streak to five games against the Swift Current Broncos. A week earlier, he notched his 27th, 28th, and 30th goals of the season against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Like the rest of his team, the Blades’ goal leader has had an up-and-down season, but with just three games remaining in the regular season, Calvert is playing some of the best hockey of his career. That’s great news for Saskatoon, which will need all the firepower it can get for its first-round playoff matchup.

Calvert’s Career in Saskatoon

It’s been a long road for Calvert. Drafted in the 2020 Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft in the 9th round, expectations were low. But by 2021-22, he was one of the best U18 goal-scorers not in the WHL, earning a spot on the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) 2nd All-Star Team.

Calvery made his Blades debut on Dec. 4, 2021, against the Winnipeg Ice, and scored his first goal the next game against the Prince Albert Raiders. Although he only appeared 13 times with Saskatoon in 2021-22, he made a strong impression as a hard-working forward. In 2022-23, he finished his rookie season with four goals and 10 points in 57 games, making him one of the top 50 highest-scoring rookies in the league. Then, in 2023-24, he played his first full season, appearing in all 68 games for the Blades and putting up 10 goals and 25 points, plus his first, second, and third playoff goals.

In 2024-25, Calvert was named an alternate captain as a 19-year-old, which took some getting used to. “You go through the years together and grow up with guys who are close to you, it’s weird to think we’re all old and on the leadership group now,” said Calvert after the Blades announced their 2024-25 leadership group. But he adjusted quickly, and by the end of the season, he had set career highs with 24 goals, 53 points, and 68 games played. It was a team that was expected to do well after losing several key pieces, but the older players proved they had the skill and experience to carry the torch.

“I still remember our first camp together,” said fellow 20-year-old Tyler Parr, who was also drafted in 2020 and named team captain this season. “We were those guys who didn’t really know what to expect. We were 16 years old, now we’re 20 years old, and to see him hit 30 goals is pretty special. 2016-17, [he was] a healthy scratch in and out of the lineup, fourth line at 18, and now he’s a 30-goal guy who just got a hat-trick.”

This season is similar to 2024-25 in that the roster is shifting younger and looking to the future; not many teams carry fewer than three 20-year-olds, yet the Blades have just two in Calvert and Parr. There’s been some growing pains, but Calvert has been a model leader and a driving force on offence. He’s already set a new career high with 32 goals, and with 53 points, he’s in a good place to set a new career high there, too. Next season, he’s set to join the University of Maine, where he’ll continue his journey.

Blades Need Their Veterans in the Playoffs

Although hopes were high earlier this season, Saskatoon will start on the road in the playoffs, and given their young roster, that places a lot of pressure on the two 20-year-olds. But Calvert and Parr have the experience needed to get the Blades into the second round.

“It’s kind of cliche, but we’ve seen everything in this league,” said Parr, looking back on his time with Calvert. “We’ve been put in every situation, we’ve been on first-place teams, teams that are not as good, but it’s been a great ride with (Calvert). We’ve been through a lot, we’re super tight, and we show up and give each other a nod every morning. It’s just another day for us…hopefully we can do some damage in the playoffs together.”

Although they have the eighth-youngest roster, the Blades are the 10th most experienced team in the WHL with 2902 total games played. 267 of those belong to Calvert, the 21st most games played by any Blades in franchise history, and he’ll almost certainly surpass NHL alumni Mike Green and Pat Price to claim sole possession of 19th by the end of the season.

That experience has made Calvert a hard worker, even when the team is down. He’s the best player Saskatoon has at putting pucks on net, leading the Blades with 171 shots this season. He’s also not afraid of mixing it up with the other team, sitting at 30 penalty minutes this season. With speed, determination, and skill, Calvert attacks the puck, forechecks hard, and always tries to push the Blades forward. Even if the Blades find themselves against a dangerous opponent in the playoffs, he’s the type of player who gives his team a chance to win every night.

Looking Ahead to The First Round

When the playoffs start, the Blades are likely looking at facing either the Edmonton Oil Kings or Calgary Hitmen in the first round. Those aren’t ideal matchups; the Oil Kings beat the Blades three out of their four games this season, while the Hitmen blew out Saskatoon 7-1 and 4-1 on two separate occasions. The Blades know they’re in for a tough series either way, but Calvert has remained calm and confident.

“I think we proved it this year, when we’re at our best, we’ve beaten those teams,” said Calvert. “We’ve gone into their rinks and beaten them there, and we’ve beaten them here. I think we know we have it in us, no matter who the opponent is, and just try to play our best game.”

That game revolves around doing “the little things right,” according to Calvert. “Every game’s important, just trying to go out there and do the little things and wear teams down and eventually you’re going to get your goals if you play the right way.”

A lot of those little things won’t show up on the scoresheet, but that’s what makes Calvert’s game so mature. He knows that putting in the effort on defence, back-checking, finishing your hits, and outworking your opponent will have a much bigger effect than just trying to shoot the puck as much as possible, which Calvert also does well. No matter what he does, he’s giving the Blades a better shot at winning every night, no matter who they are up against.