By Jeff D'Andrea

Sayers says goodbye to Icehawks to rejoin Blades: Blades confirm

Nov 25, 2015 | 10:14 PM

Bryton Sayers’ hiatus from the Western Hockey League looks like it isn’t going to last any longer.

The 19-year-old Prince Albert product told paNOW.com late on Wednesday that he will return to the Saskatoon Blades this season and make his way to the Bridge City on Monday morning. He previously retired from hockey after the Blades’ fall camp Aug. 30.

After not wishing to comment on the matter Wednesday night, the Blades confirmed Sayers’ return on their Twitter account Thursday morning.

“The Blades are happy to announce that ’96 born defenceman Bryton Sayers will be rejoining the Blades. He will join the team Monday morning,” the Blades tweeted.

The 19-year-old Sayers said he retired from hockey because he lost the passion for the game, but he found it again while playing for his hometown Junior B team, the Prince Albert Icehawks of the Prairie Junior Hockey League from Oct. 7 to Nov. 20.

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Before the Icehawks beat the Tri-Town Thunder 8-7 on Wednesday at the Kinsmen, Sayers addressed the team beforehand and said his goodbyes.

“The boys are all excited for me. They’re nothing but supportive and that’s really nice,” said Sayers. “They basically got me to love [hockey] again. I couldn’t thank them more for that.

“I think it was just being a part of the team. There were a few games I missed and it was hard to miss them because you always want to be there with the boys. That was a big part of it. I started talking to [Blades captain] Nick Zajac again and after I started talking to him, it was just right there.”

After talking with Zajac, Sayers said he was also in talks with Blades owner and governor Mike Priestner on Sunday, as well as general manager and head coach Bob Woods on Tuesday.

“It’s a very spontaneous decision for me, but I’m nothing but excited for it,” said Sayers.

Icehawks head coach Kim Dryka was sad to see Sayers go, but is happy to see him develop and return to major junior hockey. He’s always happy with how the Icehawks played in his absence.

“Sayersy is a big loss, but the boys dug deep without him,” added Dryka. “We did pretty good without him. Best of luck to Sayersy up there with the Blades.”

Sayers was originally a third round pick of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.  Sayers has 23 points in 104 games in his WHL career as a defenceman across two seasons with the Hurricanes and the Victoria Royals.

Before his WHL career, Sayers played two seasons with the Prince Albert Mintos, with whom he won the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League Defenceman of the Year Award in the 2012-2013 season.

Icehawks 8 Thunder 7

The top line had a field day for the Icehawks. Zach Hurd got a hat trick in the victory, Brendon Boyer had two-goal, five-point night and Jack Green had four assists.

Boyer and Green are now the outright 1-2 ranked scorers on the Prairie Junior Hockey League scoring race. Boyer remains the top point-getter with 47 points in 19 games. Green’s four assists break him from the four-way tie for second, as he now has 43 points in 19 games.

Rylan Couture and Shane Regier each had a goal and an assist as well for the Icehawks. Tyler Gordon made 44 saves for his seventh win of the season to put the Icehawks at a 9-9-1 record on the season.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea