The Steele County Blades will enter the final week of the regular season in sole possession of third place. With an 11 point lead in front of the Chicago Cougars the Blades will have a three game weekend. The first game two games of the weekend are against the River Falls Renegades. This marks a first round playoff preview as the Blades are in line to take on the Renegades. To this point on the season the Blades have gotten the better of the Renegades and in four games have doubled up the Renegades outscoring them 22 to 11. A couple of Blades players to keep an eye out for are Soren Colstrup, Colton Sprenger and Chase Wedding. Colstrup has tallied seven assists in four games while Sprenger has posted six respectively. Wedding, who leads all Blades defensemen in scoring has 36 points in 36 games, posting a point a game against River Falls.

Sunday afternoon will mark the regular season finale for the Blades. Although Chicago trails the Blades in the standings, they have had the Blades number this season. The Cougars have lead the season series with four wins and only losing to the Blades in their first matchup of the year. Most recently the Cougars swept the Blades at home by the score of 4-1 and 6-4. The last leg of the regular season will provide the Blades with a chance to polish their game before the playoffs begin.

Blades defensemen Koy Payne views this weekend as a chance to carry momentum into playoffs and also send a message. Payne said “we want to show River Falls what they will be up against next week in playoffs. We have done a pretty good job in our games against them so far this season. Chicago on the other hand has gotten the better of us this year, it will be our last chance to redeem ourselves unless we meet in the post season. That being said, what is most important is trying to string together three wins this weekend and head into the playoffs on a bit of a win streak.”

Saturday and Sunday will also be events sponsored by local companies as well as a youth hockey organization. Saturday night is “Jostens  2nd Annual Hearts & Hockey Night with the Blades”, and Sunday is “Waseca Youth Hockey Day”. Come on down to the Four Seasons and catch the Blades before the first round of playoffs.