Former Blade heads to Manitoba
By Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The StarPhoenix
June 15, 2012
Former Saskatoon Blades winger Jesse Paradis will be playing hockey closer to home next season.
Manitoba Bisons head coach Mike Sirant said the Winnipeg native - who was an overager with the Blades in 2011-12 - has committed to play for the university team in the fall.
"We keep tabs of our Manitoba players that have left our province to play in the Western Hockey League," Sirant said, noting he first approached Blades head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken about Paradis in December.
"As Lorne agreed, we both thought he did a real good job with the Blades. Jesse's a solid player. He's a hardworking guy that is a good two-way forward."
Paradis was picked up off of waivers by the Blades last September after being released by the Moose Jaw Warriors just before the start of the season.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound leftwinger set career highs with 15 goals and 49 points while playing in all 72 games.
He was named the Blades' most sportsmanlike player after registering 32 penalty minutes.
Paradis was key member of the team's penalty kill and was counted on defensively.
Sirant believes Paradis's "versatility" will allow him to compete for third-and fourth-line minutes.
"All players coming from the Western league, it's an adjustment coming into Canada West," he said.
"We expect Jesse to make that transition and make a good contribution for us in his first year."
The university will welcome Paradis into the fold next week when its recruitment class is officially released.
dnugent-bowman @thestarphoenix.com
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