It was back to the practice rink this week for the Saskatoon Blades after they completed their second round sweep of the Red Deer Rebels last Wednesday. Their upcoming third round opponents in the Moose Jaw Warriors have had just as much time to recuperate, after winning their second round series in just five games over the Swift Current Broncos.

Rosetown's Vaughn Watterodt and the Blades won two close games at home against Red Deer, and then blew the series open with an 8-5 win in Game 3 and 7-0 win in Game 4 on the road. Watterodt has a goal and an assist this posteason, playing up and down the Blades lineup like he has all season long. 

The series isn't short on NHL prospects, as the Blades and Warriors combine for a total of twelve draft picks entering the series.

Saskatoon has defenseman and Nashville first rounder Tanner Molendyk, joined by four forwards including two Toronto picks in Brandon Lisowsky and Fraser Minten, and two international skaters in Anaheim draft pick Yegor Sidorov and Washington's Alexander Suzdalev.

Moose Jaw's prospect list includes three defenseman, team captain and Columbus draft pick Denton Mateychuk, Minnesota pick Kalem Parker, and another international Anaheim pick in Vojtech Port. The forward group is stacked with Canadian talent in Seattle's Jagger Firkus, and first round picks in Buffalo's Matthew Savoie and Pittsburgh's Brayden Yager. 

The all-Saskatchewan matchup means that the province will have a representative in the upcoming WHL Finals. The series winner will face either Prince George or Portland, for the chance to advance to the Memorial Cup, beginning May 23 in Saginaw.