SASKATOON — It did not take long for Blake Gustafson to demonstrate how he could help the Saskatoon Blades.
“Right from the first day in practice, you could see he was going to make an impact defensively on our team,” Blades assistant coach Dan DaSilva said.
The Saskatoon squad acquired the 20-year-old defenceman from its Western Hockey League foe the Red Deer Rebels in late September. The Blades sent a fourth-round pick in the 2023 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft to Red Deer in exchange for Gustafson. Last season the defensive defenceman led the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a plus/minus of plus 35.
“He’s obviously a big, strong kid,” DaSilva said. “Very mature. He knows what he is. He knows he’s a defender. He does a heck of a job at it.”
As of Wednesday, the 6-foot-4, 203-pound Gustafson had chipped in offensively with five assists in 15 games for Saskatoon. Due to Red Deer teammates battling injuries and COVID-19, he played forward a little last season. However, Gustafson really embraces his blue line defensive role.
“I think a lot of guys don’t take defence first,” Gustafson said. “It brings a lot of energy for everybody … not only myself, but when I see other guys laying big hits or blocking pucks it really builds the energy. That’s what I enjoy in hockey.”
He has enjoyed his time so far with the 14-4-0-0 Blades. Gustafson has appreciated the “happy and uplifting” attitude of the players and coaches. As well as defensive skills, the fourth-year player brings a lot of experience to the Blades. Including two contests this season before the trade, Gustafson played in 124 regular season games and 10 postseason contests for the Rebels. He posted three goals and 19 assists in the regular season and two goals and three points in the playoffs.
“I remember coming in as a rookie and being so nervous in Red Deer,” Gustafson said. “Just the grind of packing the bus and sitting at the front doubled up and sleeping with a guy underneath you and that stuff. It’s been really nice to move on and develop into a veteran who gets a couple more privileges.”
Growing up in Ardrossan, Alta., Gustafson competed against his younger brother Jordan, a third-round draft pick of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. The younger Gustafson is an 18-year-old forward who had seven goals and 15 points through 15 games with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds this season.
“He’s a skilled forward and I’m a defensive defenceman so there have been a lot of days where we’ve been out on the outdoor rink just going one-on-one against each other. Him and I are best friends and we push each other a lot so it’s been absolutely tremendous,” said the elder Gustafson brother.
The Gustafsons have a younger sister, Megan, who the Blades’ Gustafson said proudly is a volleyball player. Growing up, he competed in that sport as well as many others.
“I played every school sport I could when I was younger,” Gustafson said. “That was always the deal with my minor hockey coach is that I would be allowed to play basketball and volleyball and all of that other stuff.”
He is a two-time Alberta Schools Athletic Association provincial track and field champion in javelin. Gustafson earned his titles in Grade 10 and 11. To win one of those, he received permission to slip out of a Rebels camp and throw.
While Gustafson said he wants to take hockey as far as he can, his plan “B” is to go to university. Being part of a post-secondary school track and field team is something he would consider doing. Gustafson would like to pursue a career in physiotherapy.
“I’d like to end up being what our trainers are – so a sports therapist,” he said. “I think that would be the best thing for me.”
