Raiders/Blades rivalry will hit new heights with playoff clash

Kirby Dach, left, of the Blades and Noah Gregor of the Raiders face off.

    PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – It is a playoff series the late Doug McConachie would have been giddy with glee to cover.

    When McConachie was the sports editor of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, he often said his media outlet had two WHL home teams to cover in the Saskatoon Blades and the Prince Albert Raiders. 

    With Saskatoon and Prince Albert separated by about 140 kilometres on Highway 11, the Blades and Raiders were close geographical rivals, and they have had an intense rivalry since the Prince Albert club left the junior A ranks in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for the major junior ranks in the WHL in 1982.

    McConachie felt covering both clubs as home teams would create more interest in the stories produced by either side. If someone cheers for one side, they become more invested in following that team if they are highly aware of the story of that club’s biggest rival.

Brett Leason topped the Raiders in scoring.

    The Raiders and Blades begin a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series tonight at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert.

    The two sides complement each other as much as they clash with each other on the ice.

    That notion played out to be very true this season as both vaulted up to be a couple of the best teams in the WHL.

    The Raiders topped the league standings with a 54-10-2-2 record and were rated second in the final CHL Top 10 rankings. The Blades finished fourth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings posting a 45-15-8 record and were an honourable mention in the final CHL Top 10 rankings.

    The Raiders posted their best record since posting a mark of 58 wins, 11 losses and three ties in the 1984-85 campaign, when they went on to win the WHL championship and the Memorial Cup. The Blades made the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

    Early on, there was a sense that both teams were going to be good this season. As each team piled up the wins, they were taking notice what the other was doing.

Blades centre Kirby Dach (#77) is a highly touted NHL prospect. 

    When the Blades started out with a solid 16-9-3 record as they exited last November, they were overshadowed by the Raiders storming into top spot with a 25-1 mark.

    Down the stretch, the Blades were the hotter team winning 15 of their final 17 regular season games, while the Raiders won 12 out of their final 18 games also posting two setbacks in extra time.

McConachie would have loved the fact both squads were doing so well at the same time along with the fact they were trying to one up each other.

    Both teams have loads of great people and storylines to follow too.

    The Raiders are led by a pair of hockey veterans in general manager Curtis Hunt and head coach Marc Habscheid. The two have worked together since the start of the 2015-16 campaign and have returned the Raiders to powerhouse status.

Brayden Pachal is the Raiders charismatic captain.

    The Blades are led by a couple of youngsters in general manager Colin Priestner and head coach Mitch Love. Since becoming general manager at the start of the 2016-17 season, Priestner has learned and improved at a rapid rate and become quite accomplished at his position.

    Love is a first-year head coach who came over after spending seven seasons on the staff of the Everett Silvertips and already guides his team like a veteran that has experienced long playoff runs.

    As for the players, right-winger Brett Leason had a breakout campaign in his 19-year-old season leading the Raiders in scoring 36 goals and 53 assists for 89 points. The Raiders are filled with a number of intriguing personalities to follow in charismatic captain Brayden Pachal, Noah Gregor, Sean Montgomery, Cole Fonstad, Parker Kelly, Max Martin and young rookie Ozzy Wiesblatt.

    In goal, the Raiders are backed by the star play of Ian Scott.
    The Blades counter with star centre Kirby Dach, who turned 18-years-old in January. 

Chase Wouters is the Blades charismatic captain.

    Dach, who is in his sophomore season, is a highly touted prospect projected to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, and he piled up 25 goals and 48 assists for 73 points in 62 regular season games.

    Overage defenceman Dawson Davidson topped the Blades in scoring with 13 goals and 62 assists for 75 points.

    Saskatoon’s roster contains a fun bunch to follow in charismatic captain Chase Wouters, Max Gerlach, “Uncle” Gary Haden, feisty Riley McKay, Brandon Schuldhaus, Nolan Kneen and young rookie Kyle Crnkovic.

    In goal, the Blades are powered by the stellar play of sophomore Nolan Maier.

    It wouldn’t be a surprise to see this series play out to a seven-game war. The Raiders will be favoured to win, but a Blades victory shouldn’t be counted out of the question.

    On top of everything, both teams from players, coaches, management and staffers are filled with first rate people. The players on both sides are great guys.

    It has been fun to see both teams get to this point, and it is too bad one squad’s season will end after this series.

The Blades and Raiders will likely be engaged in a few scrums.

    With that said, those that watch this series between the Raiders and Blades unfold will see some great hockey.

    May the best team win.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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