Tyler Parr named Saskatoon Blades’ 64th captain

As the Saskatoon Blades prepare for another season, 20-year-old forward Tyler Parr will be the team’s 64th captain.

The Blades made the announcement on Thursday, after the team held a player-only vote.

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Parr said being voted in as captain by his teammates is a huge honour.

“I can’t even put it into words,” he said. “The captains I’ve been with in the past, Aidan De La Gorgendiere, Trevor Wong (and) Ben Saunderson, guys that have taught me a lot over the years, and to try to be one of those guys to some of the younger guys on this team is a huge honour.”

Parr is entering his fifth year and has seen a lot including two Eastern Division finals and a sell off, and he thinks that has helped him prepare for the position.

“There’s nothing crazy that’s going to get thrown at me that I don’t really know how to handle,” he said. “A lot of stuff that some of these new guys or younger guys are going through, I’ve gone through and I can relate to them.”

Parr said his leadership style is a mix.

“I like to be vocal when it’s needed,” he said. “I definitely don’t talk when there’s nothing to be said, some things go without saying … I’m not afraid to pipe up at all, but I also try to lead by example.”

17 year-old defenceman Brayden Klimpke was named as one of the three assistant captains, joining 19 year-old forward Rowan Calvert, and 19 year-old forward and Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Laing.

Klimpke said his leadership style will be simple.

“I think leading by example, playing the right way,” he said. “Showing the new guys how we do things around here, off the ice and on the ice.”

When word got out that Klimpke was voted to be an assistant captain he said he couldn’t believe it.

“Honoured, this is a first class organization, so really (I’m) really pumped up,” he said.

This is the second straight season that Rowan Calvert has worn the ‘A’ for the Saskatoon Blades.

“I’ve learned a lot, I wore the letter last year,” he said. “So building on that, just being yourself, everyone was voted to be a leader for a reason, (it’s) because the guys like you for who you are and think that who you are is a leader.”

Calvert said Parr is the right guy to be the captain.

“He’s a leader, I know it’s cliche but he is a Blade five-year guy,” he said. “He’s been here, he does all the ups, all the downs, he’s buddies with everyone in that room.”

As for the expectations within the Blades locker room this year, Calvert said it was simple.

“Win,” he said. “We’re going to win as much as we can, as often as we can and we’re going to be the best team we can be.”

The 68-game marathon begins with a rivalry match in Prince Albert against the Raiders, and to top it off, the Raiders get to hang an East Division champions banner in front of the Blades.

That rivalry motivates the Blades.

“At the end of the day it’s still a game,” said Calvert. “We love beating PA, especially in PA.”

Dan Dasilva, Saskatoon Blades Head Coach said he’s thrilled that the team voted for Parr to be the captain.

“I think the captain is very fitting. It’s who I would have picked,” he said. “A five-year guy that’s been here as long as I have, we both arrived on the same day… so it’s very special for me to have Tyler lead this group into battle every night.”

DaSilva said this year’s leadership group is something special, and having both Parr and Rowan Calvert, is like having two captains at once.

“(Calvert) could be a captain, he’s right there,” he said. “He was the only other player to receive Captain votes, so he and Tyler I’m sure will work closely.”

Dasilva also said after last year’s season which saw the Blades exceed expectations, the expectations this year have grown.

“The expectations are higher, there’s more excitement, there’s more potential,” he said. “We need to work and compete the way we did last year… fighting at the end of the year for a division banner, I would expect that… anything less would be disappointing for me.”

Blades drop the puck on the 2025-26 regular season Friday in Prince Albert, with the homeopener set for Saturday.