Saskatoon Blades welcome Czech goalie Martin Psohlavec

For the better part of two years, Saskatoon Blades president and general manager Colin Priestner has worked towards bringing a towering Czech goaltender over to North America.

Now, with just days to go until the start of their 2026-27 Western Hockey League season, the Blades have their man in Martin Psohlavec.

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A netminder whose height is only equalled by his personality, Priestner believes Psohlavec will make an immediate fan favourite.

“We’ve found a special kid in Martin,” Priestner said. “He’s already endeared himself to the entire organization, it’s taken him all of five minutes.”

The 6-foot-6 goaltender from Ostrov, Czechia, wrapped up his first training camp with the Blades over the weekend and is preparing for his first slate of WHL pre-season games.

Selected with the 42nd overall pick in the 2026 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft by Saskatoon, he said the city has felt like home during his first few weeks.

“I love Saskatoon,” Psohlavec said. “I love this place, seen the downtown too a little and I’m excited.”

Playing in Czechia’s national U20 league last season with HC Energie Karlovy Vary, Psohlavec became one of the most talked-about prospects in the country, with a 31-11-0 record in 42 games, a 1.92 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage with eight shutouts.

He capped off his 2025-26 season at the World U18 Hockey Championships, where he backstopped Czechia to a bronze medal with a dazzling 1.68 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in four games.

Despite the success in his home country, Psohlavec knew a move to North America and major junior hockey would be a part of his future.

“I needed something different,” Psohlavec said.

“I needed to learn a little of the North American hockey. We talked about it before last season in the summer. We knew before we said yes to Karlovy Vary last season, we knew that I was going to be out in two years.”

After Psohlavec inked his WHL standard player agreement in July, Priestner said it didn’t take long for the goaltender’s wide smile and happy-go-lucky nature to show itself during his trip overseas.

“He had charmed the customs agent when he didn’t have his proper forms on him,” Priestner said.

“She somehow was on FaceTime with him, FaceTiming me at 11 at night. I was like, ‘This kid’s got something special to him.’ Usually the customs agents aren’t the (warmest) and fuzziest people in the world when it comes to that stuff.”

Psohlavec is expected to take over the net from Evan Gardner, who has graduated to the American Hockey League after three standout seasons in Saskatoon.

A second-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024, Gardner finished his WHL career last spring with the seventh-most games played by a goalie in franchise history (126), the fourth-best goals-against average (2.66), fifth-best save percentage (.911), fifth-most wins (69) and the second-most shutouts (10).

Head coach Dan DaSilva said it will be difficult to replicate Gardner’s impact this season in the Blades net, but he is optimistic Psohlavec can carry that torch.

“We’re obviously very fortunate to have a goalie like that coming in to fill Evan’s shoes, which is not going to be easy,” DaSilva said. “Martin is proven and I’m sure the Blades fans will be happy to have him replacing (Gardner).”

When asked how his game will translate to the WHL level, Psohlavec said he likes to get involved in the defensive zone and fans can expect a decent amount of play outside the crease.

“I think I’m a pretty fun goalie to watch,” Psohlavec said.

“They can expect a lot of puck play from me. It might give someone a little heart attack in the crowd, maybe the coaches too. I like to have fun, that’s pretty much it. That’s why I do it.”

Third-year forward Cooper Williams reached out to the incoming netminder just after Psohlavec was drafted by Saskatoon and said there’s already a close-knit feeling between Psohlavec and the Blades dressing room.

“He’s awesome,” Williams said. “He’s already close with a bunch of us already. He’s a really easy guy to talk to and he’s pretty funny.”

In the span of just a few weeks, that fun-loving energy has been featured on Blades social media, which included a ‘getting to know you’ question-and-answer interview between Psohlavec and Williams.

Psohlavec has also made community appearances at the Blades’ annual hockey school camp and meet-and-greets with fans throughout the city.

“I don’t mind it,” Psohlavec said. “The support that the fans give you, you need to give it back a little like we did at the kids camp.”

While Psohlavec will be with the Blades during the pre-season, he will depart to take part in his first NHL training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers after being selected 62nd overall in June’s NHL Draft.

With one trip to Philadelphia already under his belt for Flyers summer rookie camp, he said the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ feeling has translated to his time in Saskatoon as well.

“I’m so excited about (Philadelphia), love it,” Psohlavec said. “I would compare it to this place too, because there’s so (many) great people in the staff and team. I pretty much love both of these places.”

Citing fellow Czech product and potential future Flyers teammate Dan Vladar and Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars as his favourite goaltenders to watch, Psohlavec is hungry to eat minutes this season for Saskatoon.

Even after some cautioning about the workload by Priestner.

“He wants to play every game, he’s kind of that guy,” Priestner said. “I said, ‘You know in our league we have some three-in-threes and a lot of back-to-backs.’ He was like, ‘I want to play all three.’”

Whether or not he achieves a number of starts this season reminiscent of former Blades workhorses like Nolan Maier and Braden Holtby, Psohlavec added he’s ready to go whatever is asked of him for a Saskatoon team looking to make a big leap in the standings.

“I’m ready for anything,” Psohlavec said.

“I’m ready to be in goal for every game, (whatever) the coaches would need. It is rare to see a goalie play the whole time, it probably won’t happen but I’m ready for everything.”

Blades make first round of cuts

The focus for the Blades organization now shifts to the WHL pre-season after winding up three days of training camp at SaskTel Centre over the weekend.

While DaSilva said it was nice to get a look at 77 players split across four teams during camp, he’s excited to see the next step in the process.

“It’s good to get the training camp out of the way,” DaSilva said Sunday afternoon.

“Now we get to focus on some practices, obviously we have the rookie game coming up here on Tuesday. It will be good to get down to a more manageable number and get to know these players more.”

On Monday, the Blades cut down their training camp roster to 43 players, including 23 forwards, 16 defencemen and four goaltenders who they’ll carry into the pre-season.

Notable cuts made by Saskatoon on Monday included forward Steven Steranka, who played 72 WHL games with the Red Deer Rebels and Moose Jaw Warriors, as well as Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standout Daniel Morozov.

Just four undrafted, unsigned players remain with the team after the first roster cut: defender Drayden Champagne, dual-citizen Konstantin Hutzinger, and Minnesota high school stars Landon Medin and Wesley Truax.

DaSilva said the pre-season will be an eye-opening experience for players who haven’t competed at the WHL level before.

“There will be definitely a jump,” DaSilva said.

“It’s just going to get faster, more competitive, more physical, all that stuff. Now we won’t be playing against ourselves anymore. We’re going to get to play against some real opponents, which is I think a good thing.”

The Blades and Prince Albert Raiders will send rookie-heavy rosters onto the ice at SaskTel Centre on Tuesday, with a 2 p.m. puck drop for their pre-season opener.