The Saskatoon Blades have signed 2010-born goalie Max Hartel to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Drafted 221st overall in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, Hartel had an outstanding U18 AAA season in Calgary, showcasing elite goaltending skills. Blades director of scouting, Dan Tencer, praised Hartel鈥檚 exceptional stats and potential, marking him as a player to watch for future success.

By the Numbers
  • Hartel posted a .939 save percentage, the highest by a 15-year-old in the U18 AEHL since the 1990s.
  • His 1.94 goals against average is the best in AEHL U18 history, behind only Garin Bjorklund's record from 2017-18.
State of Play
  • Hartel recorded two shutouts, tying for second among AEHL U18 goaltenders.
  • He accumulated a .919 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average in four postseason games.
What's Next

Hartel will continue his development in the Blades organization, expecting to improve under the mentorship of head coach Dan DaSilva and goaltending coach Jeff Harvey. His performance in upcoming seasons will be closely monitored as he aims to transition successfully to the WHL level.

Bottom Line

Max Hartel represents a promising future for the Saskatoon Blades. His impressive performance in the U18 league positions him as a key player as the team looks to build a competitive pipeline of talent in goal.