Blades rebound from letdown with 3-1 win over Raiders

Blades centre Josh Pillar, left, dishes a pass after taking a hit.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The Saskatoon Blades made certain a nine minute letdown became a distant memory.

On Saturday, the Blades jetted out to a 3-0 first period lead, maintained that edge to the end of the second period and held on for a 3-1 victory over the host Prince Albert Raiders before standing room crowd 2,676 spectators at the 2,580 seat Art Hauser Centre. The win was a big bounce back for the Blades after they dropped a 6-5 decision in overtime one night earlier against the Raiders at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon to start a home-and-home series between the two sides.

In Friday’s clash in Saskatoon, the Blades had a 5-2 lead over the Raiders with eight minutes remaining in the third. The Raiders rallied back with three straight goals in regulation and star left-winger Sloan Stanick potting the winner 49 seconds into overtime.

Jayden Wiens scored the Blades first goal on Saturday.

The Blades win on Saturday halted the Raiders winning streak at five games. Saskatoon improved to 38-13-4-1, while Prince Albert fell to 24-29-3.

“Yesterday was probably if not the biggest disappointment, it was one of the biggest disappointments of the season,” said Blades head coach Brennan Sonne. “We’ve had games where we weren’t ourselves or didn’t play hard or things like that.

“We hadn’t experienced what we did last night. To come in and play the exact same team, we put ourselves in the exact same situation and to handle it the way we did like you just watched us learn a lesson and grow as a team, which is exactly what championship teams do.”

The Blades celebrate a first period goal from Brandon Lisowsky (#8).

While the Raiders came out on the wrong head of the scoreboard on Saturday, head coach Jeff Truitt liked how his team competed in that contest.

He said the fact the Blades ultimately converted on two-of-three power-play chances, while the Raiders were 0-for-4 on the power play had a big impact on the final outcome. The shots on goal for the contest finished even at 25-25.

“I thought the difference was their power play versus our penalty kill tonight,” said Truitt. “(On their) three goals, two of them were power-play goals.

“One was a four on four. You take a look at the halfway mark of the first period I thought that we competed. I thought that we might not have had a tonne a quality chances, but we weren’t chasing the game at that point in time.

Brandon Lisowsky had a goal and an assist for the Blades.

“Then we get into penalty trouble and that is momentum. At the end of the day, that is the difference.”

The Blades entered Saturday’s game knowing they had officially clinched a berth in the WHL Playoffs. The playoff berth clinch happened earlier in the day when the Lethbridge Hurricanes downed the Hitmen in Calgary 4-3 in regulation.

If the WHL Playoffs started after Saturday’s action was complete, the Blades would be the third seed in the Eastern Conference in the first round.

The Raiders, who are 11^th overall in the Eastern Conference, are still four points back of a playoff berth. They trail the Hitmen (24-26-5-2) and the Swift Current Broncos (26-27-1-2) who are tied for the eighth and ninth positions in the Eastern Conference with 55 standings points. The Broncos blanked the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors 4-0 on Saturday.

Jake Chiasson scored the Blades third goal on Saturday.

As for Saturday’s clash between the Blades and Raiders, the teams came out to an unexpected feeling out start as shots on goal were tied 1-1 after six minutes of play. At that point, the Blades power play kicked into gear.

Just eight seconds in their first chance with the man advantage, Blades star right-winger Brandon Lisowsky had the puck by the right side boards in the Prince Albert zone, and he slid a pass across the face of the Raiders net to linemate Jayden Wiens. Wiens converted a backdoor tap to give the visitors a 1-0 edge at the 11:23 mark of the frame.

Just a little over two minutes and 30 seconds later during four-versus-four action, Lisowsky blasted home a mid range shot from the front of the Prince Albert goal to put the Blades up 2-0. Lisowsky said it is always easy for his squad to get up for game at the Art Hauser Centre

Ryder Ritchie scored the Raiders lone goal on Saturday.

“The (Raiders) fans kind of get into it,” said Lisowsky. “It is kind of a rocking barn when things get going, so it is something that kind of fuels the team and kind of fuels me personally.

“I kind of want to make a difference and kind of score. It feels good to score in this barn.”

With 1:39 remaining in the opening frame, the Blades struck again on the power play to extend their advantage to 3-0. Blades overage star centre Josh Pillar had the puck by the left side boards and passed it into the doorstep of the left side of the Saskatoon goal to left-winger Jake Chiasson. Chaisson did a half spin move and tucked home his 18^th of the season to give the visitors their three-goal edge.

Ethan Chadwick makes one of his 24 saves on Saturday.

Just 34 seconds later, Chiasson was crushed into the left boards on the blue-line by Raiders defenceman Justice Christensen. Chiasson stayed down on the play and had to be helped off. He didn’t return to the contest.

The Blades exited the opening frame with an 8-6 edge in shots on goal. The two sides played through a scoreless second period that included a number of scoring chances with the Blades holding a 13-12 edge in shots on goal in that stanza.

Truitt liked his team’s mental toughness, and thought his Raiders missed out on making gains in the second.

“When we get opportunities off the rush, we have to be able to make chances count,” said Truitt. “You can’t miss nets.

Terrell Goldsmith controls the puck at the point for the Raiders.

“I thought we missed a lot of nets tonight. We had point blankers, and we missed the net. We just didn’t make him (Blades netminder Ethan Chadwick) make as many saves as we wanted to.”

Just 1:28 into the third, the Raiders got on the board when star 16-year-old rookie right-winger Ryder Ritchie blasted home his 17^th goal of the season from the left side of the Saskatoon net to cut the Blades lead to 3-1. The Raiders weren’t able to get any closer on the scoreboard, but Truitt said it wasn’t from a lack of effort.

“We go shift by shift after something like that happens,” said Truitt. “We’re going to continue to battle and continue to do what we need to be.

“You have to take chances every once in a while. In the third period, we open things up. We got a goal, and we kept the pressure on, and I thought we did a good job that way in the third period.”

Defenceman Blake Gustafson navigates the offensive zone.

Max Hildebrand turned away 22 shots to take the setback for the Raiders. Chadwick stopped 24 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades.

Looking back on the win, Lisowsky said his team’s penalty kill played in creating a positive outcome for the visitors.

“I thought every time we took a penalty we just reset,” said Lisowsky. “Our penalty kill was probably the best it has been in the second half.

“I think we had unbelievable penalty kill guys laying out and blocking shots and doing all the good things. I think we just talked about it. Our bench was positive, and we just reset every shift keeping those positive vibes going.”

Raiders captain Evan Herman circles low in the offensive zone.

The Raiders return to action on Tuesday when they host the Red Deer Rebels (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre). 

That contest will be the Raiders “This Girl Can” night. Stock car driver and Prince Albert product Shantel Kalika will be giving a girls’ empowerment speech as part of a special pre-game function.

The Blades get back it on Wednesday when they host the Rebels (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre). With having clinched a playoff berth, Lisowsky said his squad is aiming to finish as high up in the standings as possible.

“Now, we are just battling for a better seed,” said Lisowsky. “I think that is the mindset going forward.

Jordan Keller jets up ice for the Blades.

“I think today was a good start. We have to play like we did today throughout the whole month of March.”

Truitt said his players just have to regroup when they get up in the morning on Sunday.

“You take a look at the scoreboard tonight there is not a lot of room for error left,” said Truitt. “We’re ticking down on games here.

“Some teams that we are chasing are winning tonight and some are losing. We have to concentrate again keeping our work ethic right where it needs to be. Right from here to game 68, we’re not going to slow down for anything.

“We will give ourselves the best chance to get there.”

The Blades begin to celebrate their win on Saturday.

NOTES – The Raiders were without 19-year-old import netminder Tikhon Chaika for a second straight game as he is day-to-day with a lower body injury. Chaika last played this past Monday, when the Raiders slipped past the Wheat Kings in Brandon 4-3 in overtime. He made 30 saves in that contest. Cooper Anderson, who is a 15-year-old associate player call up from South Island Royals under-17 AAA team in Victoria, B.C., dressed as the Raider backup the past two contests. Anderson was selected by the Raiders in the 10^th round and 208^th overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

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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Bedard visit played out perfectly for Raiders fans

Pats C Connor Bedard, left, faces Raiders D Eric Johnston.

Never underestimate how much Prince Albert Raiders fans want their team to win even when Connor Bedard is in the house on a rockstar tour.

On Friday, the 17-year-old phenom centre made his only visit to Prince Albert with his Regina Pats for the 2022-23 regular season. Bedard missed the Pats previous two visits to “Hockey Town North” due to his obligations with Canada’s world junior team.

While there was hype around his four visits to Prince Albert last season, Bedard’s most recent visit came after his brand took a huge jump upwards after his play at this past world juniors, where he helped Canada win a gold medal. Canada took the gold medal final 3-2 in overtime over Czechia this past January 5 in Halifax, N.S.

Bedard, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 185 pounds, topped the tourney held jointly in Halifax and Moncton, N.B., in goals (nine), assists (14), points (23) and had the best plus-minus (+13).

The North Vancouver, B.C., product was named the most valuable player at world juniors along with picking up accolades being named the event’s best forward and a tournament all-star.

This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click the link right here.

Birthday boy Johnston nails two firsts in Raiders win

Prince Albert downs Moose Jaw 5-2 for third straight victory

Eric Johnston gets pumped up after scoring for the Raiders.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – After getting his first WHL career power play-goal and game-winning tally under his belt, it was cake time for birthday boy Eric Johnston.

Ice cream cake time that is.

On Saturday night playing before 2,389 spectators at the Art Hauser Centre, Johnson drove home a power-play goal from the point through a screen to give his Prince Albert Raiders a 3-1 advantage on the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors at the 10:44 mark of the second period. That tally ultimately held up as the winner as the Raiders skated to a 5-2 victory in the WHL regular season clash.

That marked the first time Johnston scored both a power play and winning goal in his WHL career. As a bonus for the sophomore defenceman, it all happened on his 19^th birthday.

The Raiders celebrate Eric Johnston’s power-play goal.

When the game wrapped up as a third straight win for the Raiders, Johnston had his mind set on enjoying some birthday cake time at his billet home.

“I’m doing it tonight,” said Johnston, who is from Regina, Sask. “I’m pretty pumped about that to get some ice cream cake in me.”

Johnston’s power-play goal came off an offensive zone faceoff with 10 seconds remaining in the Raiders third chance with the man advantage. With the draw in the left faceoff circle, Raiders captain Evan Herman drew the puck back to the left point to 20-year-old offensive-defenceman Landon Kosior.

Kosior fed a pass over to the right point that Johnston one-timed past Warriors netminder Jackson Unger.

Jagger Firkus was unable to score on a first period penalty shot.

“I loved it,” said Johnston. “It wouldn’t have happened without (Landon) Kosior.

“He made a great pass. Luckily, it (the puck) went through his (Unger’s) glove. It was good to get that one in.”

After downing Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats 6-5 on Friday before the first sellout crowd of 3,299 spectators of the season at the Art Hauser Centre, the Raiders got off to a sluggish start on Saturday. The Warriors recorded the first four shots on goal in the game including a penalty shot at the 2:30 mark of the opening frame.

Warriors star right-winger Jagger Firkus was awarded the penalty shot after he got a couple of strides ahead of Kosior on the break towards the goal and took a slash from the Raiders rearguard. On the penalty shot attempt, Firkus tried to put on a series of deke moves, but he was run out of room by Raiders import netminder Tikhon Chaika, who turned away the scoring opportunity.

Niall Crocker scored a pair of goals for the Raiders.

The Raider didn’t register a shot on goal until they got their first power-play chance at the 9:12 mark of the first. Just 39 seconds later, the Warriors took another minor infraction, and while the Raiders were unable to score on those power plays, the host side did build momentum.

Playing at even strength, Raiders right-winger Niall Crocker opened the game’s scoring at the 14:19 mark of the first period firing home a short range shot from the front of the Moose Jaw goal. Raiders captain Evan Herman poked the puck off the stick of a Warriors player to Crocker, who was able to shoot it by a startled Unger.

Just under two minutes later, Warriors star centre Brayden Yager, who turned 18-years-old in early January, potted his 24^th of the season to send the teams into the first intermission locked in a 1-1 tie. Yager jetted into the Prince Albert zone down the right wing on a two-on-one break and roofed home a shot to the top right corner of the Raiders goal over Chaika’s shoulder on the short side.

Brayden Yager scored the Warriors first goal on Saturday.

The tally allowed Yager to increase his consecutive games goal scoring streak to four contests and consecutive games point scoring streak to five contests. Over his last five games, Yager has four goals and four assists.

“I didn’t like our first period at all,” said Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt. “I thought there was an emotional letdown (after beating the Pats 6-5 on Friday night).

“I thought that we were slow. I don’t what they were thinking, but we weren’t at the top of our game. It was a grind it out type of game from there on in.

“It certainly wasn’t pretty. There were lots of turnovers and misplays and missed coverages. Sometimes, that does happen with a group that comes off an emotional win like that.”

Aiden Oiring had a goal for the Raiders on Saturday.

Even with the auspicious start, the Raiders were able to jump ahead 3-1 in the second period. Just 1:41 into the second, the Raiders took a 2-1 lead on a goal from 17-year-old rookie centre Aiden Oiring, who blasted home a mid-range shot from the front of the Moose Jaw goal. Raiders standout 16-year-old rookie Ryder Ritchie went in on the forecheck in right corner of the Moose Jaw zone, and a pass by a Warriors player deflected off Ritchie to Oiring.

Oiring made no mistake firing a shot past a once again startled Unger. The young forward came to the Raiders in a trade with the Winnipeg Ice on December 31, 2022.

In 18 games with the Raiders, Oiring’s 10 points coming off five goals and five assists has surpassed the eight points he put up in 32 career games with the Ice. With the Ice having a stacked roster that has allowed them to post a WHL leading 43-7-1 record, Oiring wasn’t seeing that much Ice time with the Winnipeg side.

Ryder Ritchie had three assists for the Raiders on Saturday.

He is getting more opportunities with the Raiders including playing first line minutes with left-winger Sloan Stanick and Ritchie.

“It is amazing developing a bit more with all the ice time,” said Oiring. “Just the players, I feel I got more chemistry, especially with this top line with Stanick and Ritchie.

“We know where we are going, and we’re passing the puck well and putting it in the net.”

After Johnston’s tally put the Raiders up 3-1 heading into the second intermission, the host side appeared to be set to cruise to victory.

The Warriors came out with a push back effort in the third, and with 8:15 remaining in the frame, Warriors 19-year-old centre Josh Hoekstra potted an off-speed shot from the point to cut the Raiders lead to 3-2.

Josh Hoekstra had the Warriors second goal on Saturday.

The Raiders sealed the game with goals from Kosior and Crocker to close out the frame. With 2:59 remaining in the third, Kosior scored with a backhander from close in to give the Raiders a 4-2 advantage.

Just 31 seconds later, Crocker scored a power-play goal shooting the puck home from the red line to account for his second tally of the contest. When Crocker scored that second marker, Unger was trying to skate to the Warriors bench for an extra attacker and tried to skate back to make a diving attempt to unsuccessfully get to the veteran winger’s shot.

Chaika stopped 21 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Raiders (22-28-3). Jackson Unger turned away 18 shots to take the setback in net for the Warriors (33-18-0-3).

Landon Kosior (#12) had a goal and an assist for the Raiders.

Ritchie finished the contest collecting three assists for the Raiders.

The Raiders return to action on Monday when they travel to Brandon to play the 22-24-7 Wheat Kings (2:30 p.m. local time, Westoba Place).

The Warriors get back at it on Tuesday when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes (7 p.m., Moose Jaw Events Centre).

Following the completion of Saturday’s games in the WHL, the Raiders sat 11^th in the WHL’s Eastern Conference and six points back of a playoff position. The Pats (25-24-2-1), the Swift Current Broncos (25-24-1-2) and the Medicine Hat Tigers (22-22-8-1) sit tied for seventh to ninth in the Eastern Conference standings with 53 points.

Sloan Stanick jets up ice for the Raiders on Saturday.

The conference’s top eight teams qualify for the WHL Playoffs.

The Wheat Kings sit 10^th in the Eastern Conference four points ahead of the Raiders and two points back of the Pats, Broncos and Tigers. 

While the Raiders pulled out a win on Saturday, Truitt is looking for a better effort from his club against the Wheat Kings on Monday.

“We’ll obviously take a look at the video here tomorrow morning before we go to Brandon,” said Truitt. “We’ll put in their heads the corrections that we have to make.

The Raiders salute their fans after their win on Saturday.

“That is a team we are chasing, and that is a game we have to have. We have to be able to win on the road, so if you can’t get up for that one, there is something wrong with you.”

NOTES – The Raiders wore old school retro reverse jerseys for their clash with the Warriors on Saturday. The jerseys were designed by team photographer Mark Peterson and were reverse retro uniforms from the ones the club work in the late 1970s and early 1980s while playing in the junior A ranks. The Raiders raised over $10,000 in an online jersey auction of those jerseys with the proceeds going to President’s Choice Children’s Charity.

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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Raiders spoil milestone night for Pats phenom centre Bedard

Prince Albert skates away with 6-5 firewagon win

The Raiders begin to celebrate their victory on Friday night.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Connor Bedard picked up the milestones, but the Prince Albert Raiders picked up victory.

At first, Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre looked like it was going to be a banner night for the Regina Pats 17-year-old phemon centre. Bedard posted two goals and two assists to help stake his Pats out to a 5-4 lead early in the third period in a WHL regular season clash with the Raiders.

At the 5:19 mark of the third, Raiders 16-year-old rookie right-winger Grady Martin knocked home the rebound from his own shot from the front of the Regina net to even the score at 5-5. The tally was Martin’s first career WHL goal.

Exactly four minutes later, Raiders 17-year-old rookie centre Aiden Oiring popped home his ninth of the season from the front of the Regina net to give the Raiders a 6-5 lead. Oiring converting a beauty drop setup pass from left-winger Sloan Stanick at the right side of visitors’ net.

Connor Bedard had two goals and two assists for the Pats.

The young and gutty Raiders made that 6-5 score hold up as the final to the delight of the sellout crowd of 3,299 spectators that packed into the 2,580 seat Art Hauser Centre. While the Raiders first sellout of the current campaign came due to people wanting to see Bedard, almost the whole crowd was firmly behind the Raiders.

When time expired in the third period, the home side faithful gave their Raiders a rousing ovation as sophomore 18-year-old netminder Max Hildebrand gave a kick and fist pump celebration before being mobbed by his teammates. Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt said the sellout crowd got their money’s worth with Friday’s game.

“It took six to beat them (the Pats),” said Truitt. “I didn’t think at the beginning of the night it was going to take six.

Aiden Oiring scored the winning goal for the Raiders.

“It opened up quite a bit. There were some good quality chances on both sides. It was pretty wide open that way.

“The score was indicative of the play, because there were breakdowns on either side and good quality chances.”

The Raiders victory spoiled a banner night for Bedard, who barring something unforeseen will be the first overall selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. That draft will be held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 28 and 29.

With his two tallies, Bedard now had 50 goals on the season. He scored those 50 goals in 40 games played.

The last player to score 50 goals in 50 or few games in a WHL regular season was Jayden Halbgewachs of the Moose Jaw Warriors back in the 2017-18 campaign. Halbgewachs netted 50 goals in his first 47 contests that season. He appeared in all the Warriors 72 regular season games in 2017-18 recording 70 goals, 59 assists and a plus-43 rating in the plus-minus department.

Alexander Suzdalev had a pair of goals for the Pats.

Bedard now has 100 points on the season coming off his 50 goals and 50 assists to go with a plus-32 rating. He leads the WHL in points and goals. The North Vancouver, B.C., product hit the 50-goal and 100-point plateaus in back-to-back seasons.

Besides Bedard’s exploits, Friday’s contest between the Raiders and Pats was as wild as a mid-1980s NHL clash between the Hartford Whalers and the Quebec Nordiques.

The Pats opened the scoring at the 4:37 mark of the opening frame when import right-winger Alexander Suzdalev netted a Michigan style lacrosse goal. Just over four minutes later, left-winger Tanner Howe, who is from Prince Albert, increased the Pats advantage to 2-0 scoring on the power play in close to the left side of the Prince Albert net thanks to a beauty pass from the point by Bedard.

Ryder Ritchie had a goal and an assist for the Raiders.

Rookie 17-year-old left-winger Brayden Dube tallied for the Raiders at the 12:44 mark of the opening frame to cut the Pats lead to 2-1.

With 29.9 seconds remaining in the first, Bedard potted his first goal of the contest to push the Pats lead out to 3-1. Coming down the left wing, Bedard looked like he was going to skate behind the Prince Albert net.

As he was about to go behind the Raiders goal, Bedard stopped, took a stride backwards and deflected home a tally off Hildebrand into the Prince Albert goal.

The Raiders came storming out of the gate in the second surging for three straight goals by the 7:59 mark of the frame to take a 4-3 lead. Left-winger Carter Anderson scored an even strength tally to start the surge. After Anderson’s goal, 16-year-old rookie standout right-winger Ryder Ritchie and overage centre Keaton Sorensen each tallied on the power play to give the Raiders their one-goal edge.

Tanner Howe (#43) had a goal for the Pats on Friday.

Truitt said the host side came out skating a lot better coming out of the second intermission than they did in the opening 20 minutes of the contest.

“I thought we were on pucks,” said Truitt. “I thought that we gained control of pucks in the offensive zone.

“I thought that we cut some seams and made them guess a little bit. We took the ice that was given to us, and we made some really good plays.”

With 2:59 remaining in the second, Bedard scored on the power play for his second goal of the contest driving a mid-range shot through a screen for his 50^th goal of the season. Bedard’s second tally forced a 4-4 tie heading into the second intermission.

Brayden Dube scored the Raiders first goal on Friday.

Just 90 seconds into the third, Suzdalev scored on a five-on-three power play to account for his second goal of the contest and 30^th tally of the campaign to give the Pats a 5-4 edge. Bedard picked up an assist on that tally to account for his fourth point on the night and 100^th point of the season.

That set the stage for Martin and Oiring to come through with their singles to deliver victory to the Raiders. Martin was pumped to net his first career WHL goal.

“I was just so full of joy,” said Martin. “It feels good to get that monkey off the back.

Connor Bedard (#98) reacts to scoring his 50th goal of the season.

“I’ll just keep going from here.”

After Martin scored the equalizer that forced a 5-5 tie, Hildebrand stopped Bedard on a breakaway with 11:48 remaining in the third. That allowed the host side to take the lead on Oiring’s goal.

Hildebrand stopped 32 shots in goal for the Raiders. Drew Sim turned away 25 shots in goal for the Pats.

Ritchie and Oiring each had assists to go along with their goals to post respective two-point nights. Raiders 20-year-old defenceman Landon Kosior collected a pair of helpers in the win. Import defenceman Stanislav Svozil had a pair of assists for the Pats.

Terrell Goldsmith returns after missing eight games due to injury.

The Raiders returned 17-year-old physical defensive-defenceman Terrell Goldsmith to their lineup on Friday after he missed eight games with an upper body injury. Goldsmith, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 219 pounds, is rated 202^nd among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings, and he played a sizable amount of minutes in the host side’s winning effort.

“Obviously, it was awesome to be back,” said Goldsmith. “I had to shake the rust off a bit in the first period.

“After that, I kind of just tired to play my game, and it felt good to be back.”

Raiders LW Sloan Stanick, left, rubs out Pats D Stanislav Svozil.

With the setback, the Pats fell to 25-23-2-1. They sit tied for sixth to eighth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 53 standings points along with the Swift Current Broncos (25-23-1-2) and the Calgary Hitmen (23-23-5-2).

The Raiders improved to 21-28-3 with the second straight win to sit eight points back of the Pats, Broncos and Hitmen. The top eight teams in the Eastern Conference qualify for the WHL Playoffs.

The Pats return to action on Saturday when they return home to face the WHL leading 42-7-1 Winnipeg Ice (7 p.m., Brandt Centre).

The Raiders want to keep holding frequent goal celebrations.

The Raiders also get back at it on Saturday as they host the 33-18-0-3 Moose Jaw Warriors (7 p.m., Art Hauser Centre). Martin believes his Raiders will keep their positive momentum going against the Warriors.

“We’re very confident with our game,” said Martin. “Today, we really showed what we can do and where we are at.

“We’ll get Moose Jaw tomorrow.”

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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“Tour de Bedard” hits Prince Albert with big buzz

Connor Bedard, left, reacts to scoring a goal in P.A. on Feb. 18, 2022.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - “Hockey Town North” can’t escape the hype for Connor Bedard.

On Friday, the 17-year-old phenom centre and his Regina Pats visit the Art Hauser Centre for the final time in the 2022-23 regular season for a 7 p.m. clash with the host Prince Albert Raiders. With the way the schedule has worked out, Friday’s game marks the only time Bedard will play in Prince Albert in the 2022-23 campaign barring any type of post-season encounter.

He missed the December 9, 2022 contest at the Art Hauser Centre that the Pats claimed 3-2 due to participation in the selection camp for Canada’s world junior team in Moncton, N.B.

When the Pats last visited the Art Hauser Centre for a 4-3 overtime win on December 30, 2022, Bedard was playing for Canada at world juniors, which were being held in Moncton, N.B., and Halifax, N.S.

Canada won gold taking the gold medal final 3-2 in overtime over Czechia this past January 5 in Halifax. Barring something unforeseen, Bedard will be the first overall selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft which will be held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, from June 28 to 29. He is rated first among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings.

On Wednesday, the Raiders announced Friday’s encounter with the Pats was sold out. With standing room, attendance at the 2,580 seat Art Hauser Centre was capped at 3,289 spectators the last time the Raiders sold out a game.

That came back on May 13, 2019, when the Raiders claimed Game 7 of that year’s WHL Championship Series 3-2 in overtime against the Vancouver Giants with Dante Hannoun scoring the dramatic winner in the extra session.

Connor Bedard drives home a goal on April 2, 2022.

Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt said his squad is looking forward to what awaits his team on Friday.

“It is enjoyable,” said Truitt. “That is what you want.

“You want a packed house here. They are always boisterous and energetic which is going to help us. We need to bring our best game.

“They’ve got the best player in junior hockey right now. We have to find a way to slow him down and obviously get (standings) points that we need. That is what we are striving for and that is what we need.”

The last time Bedard played at the Art Hauser Centre was near the tail end of the 2021-22 campaign on April 2, 2022. He scored the Pats lone goal in a contest the Raiders took 6-1 before their biggest home crowd of that campaign at 3,040 spectators.

At the moment, that attendance figure stands as the Raiders biggest home crowd until the puck is dropped for Friday’s game between the Pats and the Raiders. Currently, the Raiders biggest draw for any home contest in the current campaign came in a 5-2 season opening setback to the Saskatoon Blades on September 23, 2022, which saw 2,798 spectators turn out to the Art Hauser Centre.

After playing for Canada at world juniors, Bedard’s stock and brand grew even more from his performance at that event. Bedard, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 185 pounds, topped the tourney in goals (nine), assists (14), points (23) and had the best plus-minus (+13).

The North Vancouver, B.C., product was named the most valuable player at world juniors along with picking up accolades being named the event’s best forward and a tournament all-star.

Connor Bedard (#98) sets for a faceoff on April 2, 2022.

His tallies for assists and points were new Canadian records for a single world juniors along with setting a new record for points in a tournament by any player aged 18 or younger. In 16 career games played at world juniors, Bedard set new Canadian career records at the event for goals (16) and points (36).

Due to the increase in fandom for Bedard, the Pats had to suspend online sales of their jerseys shortly after the WHL trade deadline passed on January 10 after it was beyond a shadow of a doubt that Bedard would finish his major junior season playing for Regina. A notice on the Pats website said the move was made due to lower inventory levels.

On eBay, Bedard’s first Pats team issued hockey card with a top mint grade of 10 has sold for around $3,400 on a number of occasions. You can find a number of Bedard hockey cards on eBay for around $25, but anything that has a mint grade of 10 usually has bids starting at $1,250.

As for Bedard jerseys, sellers on eBay have autographed versions of his blue Pats jersey for sale in prices ranging from $998 to $2,200. Hockey Canada Bedard jerseys start at $200 for unsigned replica jerseys and go up $2,500 for an autographed jersey.

On January 21, the Pats hosted their Nickelodeon Night, where they wore SpongeBob SquarePants jerseys in their 5-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. The Pats online auctioned off their jerseys from that night with the proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network. The club raised $29,550 and Bedard’s jersey had the highest bid at $13,025.

Since returning to world juniors, Bedard has drawn season high crowds for each of the Pats opponents on the road. That included attracting 17,223 spectators to the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, where the Pats downed the host Hitmen 6-5 after a tiebreaking shootout before a national audience on TSN.

Connor Bedard breaks down the ice in P.A. on April 2, 2022.

When the Pats bus has arrived at an opposing team’s rink, it has been common to see a gathering of 50 people to be waiting to get Bedard’s autograph. When the Pats have had autograph signings at home, people have been waited up to four to six hours due to lengthy lines to get Bedard’s autograph.

Even with the buzz around Bedard, Raiders gritty forward Niall Crocker expects Friday’s sellout crowd will firmly be behind the host side.

“There should be a lot of energy for us,” said Crocker. “I’m just pumped up for that.”

The Raiders currently sit 11^th overall in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 20-28-3 record and are 10 points back of post-season berth. They will begin the final quarter section of their regular season schedule with Friday’s encounter with the Pats.

The Pats enter the contest with a 25-22-2-1 record and their 53 standings points sees them tied for sixth through eighth in the Eastern Conference with the Swift Current Broncos (25-23-1-2) and the Calgary Hitmen (23-23-5-2). The Medicine Hat Tigers sit ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 23-23-5-2 mark one point back of those three squads.

The top eight teams in the Eastern Conference qualify for the WHL Playoffs.

Bedard enters the clash with the Raiders having posted 48 goals and 48 assists for 96 points to go with a plus-32 rating in the plus-minus department in 39 games with the Pats. He leads the WHL in goals and points.

If Bedard has a big night, he could hit some milestones against the Raiders including scoring 50 goals in 40 games and hitting the 100-point plateau. So far this season, big nights by Bedard have regularly hit the national highlight shows on TSN and Sportsnet.

Raiders 18-year-old sophomore goaltender Max Hildebrand said he and his teammates will focus on the task at hand of getting the win which would likely mean keeping Bedard off the highlight reels.

Connor Bedard in action in P.A. on Feb. 18, 2022.

“It is just another game for us,” said Hildebrand. “He (Bedard) is a good player.

“We’ll shut him down, but it is just another game.”

NOTES – Raiders centre Hayden Pakkala, who turned 19-years-old in late January, won’t be available for the Raiders on Friday as he sits out the first of a two-game WHL imposed suspension. Pakkala was suspended for receiving a boarding major and a game misconduct for a hit he threw last Saturday on Swift Current Broncos 20-year-old defenceman Sam McGinley in a 4-1 Raiders victory at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders have lots of tickets available for their game this Saturday when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors and centre Brayden Yager at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre. Yager, who turned 18-years-old in January, is a highly touted prospected who is expected to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

Remembering when “Tootoomania” ran wild at the Comuniplex

Jordin Tootoo (#22) battles Grant McNeill (#8) on Feb. 22, 2003.

An appearance by Connor Bedard isn’t the first time an opposing player has created a lot of buzz in a visit to Prince Albert.

On Wednesday, the Raiders announced their game versus Bedard and his Regina Pats at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre is sold out.

Way back in the 2002-03 season, “Tootoomania” was running wild in the WHL. After Canada claimed the silver medal at that season’s world juniors held in Halifax and Sydney, N.S., the hype was high to get out to see Jordin Tootoo of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Wheat Kings high energy right-winger, who stood 5-foot-9 and weighed 182, could play with skill and energy along with delivering big hits. Tootoo had arguably one of the highest complete levels ever seen in the WHL.

Having grown up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, and being of Inuit decent, Tootoo was and still is viewed as a big hero in the Indigenous community. After he returned to the Wheat Kings following world juniors, the Indigenous community came out in huge numbers to see Tootoo play during the final months of his WHL career before he moved on to the NHL with the Nashville Predators in the 2003-04 campaign.

The Wheat Kings last two visits of the 2002-03 campaign came in February of 2003. Tootoo had turned 20-years-old on the second of that month.

On February 18, 2003, the Raiders drew 3,185 to the Art Hauser Centre that was then known as the Comuniplex in the building’s old 2,826 seat Smarty box configuration. The Wheat Kings claimed a 5-1 victory and Tootoo posted a plus-two rating in the plus-minus department. Tootoo stuck around to sign autographs for about 800 people following that contest.

Four days later on February 22, 2003, Tootoo and the Wheat Kings made their final stop in Prince Albert and a sellout crowd at that time of 3,504 spectators came out for that contest. Tootoo netted the winning goal and his 30^th tally of the season in a 3-1 Wheat Kings victory. Before that contest, Indigenous leaders from nearby communities presented Tootoo with various tributes and gifts.

In both games, the Indigenous community came out in large numbers to support Tootoo, and their cheers drowned out the regular Raiders faithful. Tootoo received big cheers every time he touched the puck.

“Let’s go Tootoo,” chants also echoed through the rafters of the then Comuniplex.

Tootoo finished the 2002-03 campaign appearing in 51 regular season games for the Wheat Kings posting 35 goals, 39 assists, 216 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating.

From 2003 to 2018, Tootoo played 14 seasons of professional hockey including 13 campaigns in the NHL. He appeared in 723 NHL regular season games posting 65 goals, 96 assists and 1,010 penalty minutes with the Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks.

Tootoo was selected in the fourth round and 98^th overall by the Predators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Now a number of years into retirement, Tootoo is remember as a great teammate by those who played with him and a respected foe by those who played against him. He is active with helping the Indigenous community with outreach and charity work, and he left a competitive legacy on the ice that will never be forgotten.

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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U Sports hockey a hidden gem in Canada’s sports scene

The U of S Huskies and Mount Royal University Cougars battle it out.

The Rodney Dangerfield leagues in hockey are those that exist in U Sports.

While it might not totally be accurate to say the men’s and women’s hockey leagues that make up U Sports get no respect, they don’t get the overall love they likely deserve. The coaching in U Sports hockey is as good as you will find anywhere in the sport, and the athletes train at an elite level, are highly skilled and some of the best you will find in the 18 to 26 age group.

It can be argued that the hockey played in U Sports might be the best hockey you will find played at the amateur level in Canada.

On the men’s side the bulk of the rosters for most teams are made up of former players from one of the three major junior leagues that play under the CHL umbrella in the OHL, QMJHL and WHL. Often, those players join their U Sports teams as 21-year-olds and are mature players.

A lot of the top scorers from the CHL don’t automatically move on to the professional level. They will often go the university route to obtain a degree in order to pursue a fallback career before trying to pursue a professional hockey playing career.

In the WHL, players get a year of tuition, compulsory fees and textbooks paid for at a post-secondary institution for every season they spend on that major junior circuit. Players who don’t get drafted by an NHL team or sign with an NHL club as a free agent often decide to go the post-secondary route.

Joelle Fiala in action for the Thunderbirds.

The level of play in U Sports is really high due to the experience of the players. New players find out everyone knows systems play really well, and when you start a rush up ice, everyone is where they are supposed to be and doing what they are supposed to be.

In the major junior ranks, there is constant learning going on with that aspect of the game.

The thing you won’t find in the U Sports ranks that you will in the major junior ranks are players who are first round NHL Entry Draft selections, or players that will become first round NHL Entry Draft selections. On other words, you won’t find Regina Pats phenom centre Connor Bedard or Moose Jaw Warriors star centre Brayden Yager on a U Sports roster.

You will find former CHL stars and standouts on U Sports rosters like WHL alums Riley Sawchuk, Riley Stotts, Jakin Smallwood, Matt Fonteyne, Connor Hobbs, Jared Dmytriw and Carl Tetachuk.

On the women’s side, the bulk of the rosters are made up of the top players that graduate from Canada’s female under-18 AAA ranks right out of high school. Unlike the men’s side, there is no major junior level in Canada for women’s hockey.

The women’s U Sports ranks are missing who would be the equivalent of the first round NHL Entry Draft selections in the female game. Those players usually flock to the NCAA Division I ranks in the United States.

You won’t see Saskatoon products Sophie Shirley or Emily Clark in the U Sports ranks. Shirley is playing through her final season with the University of Wisconsin Badgers having been part of two NCAA championship winning teams in 2019 and 2021.

Jared Dmytriw in action for the Huskies.

Clark also played her university level career with the Badgers and was a member of the NCAA championship team during her final campaign in 2018-19. Clark is best known as a veteran with Canada’s Senior National Women’s team being a part of gold medal winners at worlds in 2021 and 2022 and the Winter Olympics in 2022.

With that noted, players have come back from the NCAA Division I ranks to play in the U Sports women’s ranks. High scoring forward Amy Potomak decided she didn’t want to finish up her university eligibility with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

 The Aldergrove, B.C., product chose to be closer to home and is finishing her final campaign of college eligibility with the Trinity Western University Spartans in Langley, B.C.

Joelle Fiala, who is a forward that plays a gritty and high scoring game, played her first two seasons with the Robert Morris University Colonials. 

After Robert Morris University elected to suspend both its men’s and women’s hockey programs in May of 2021, Fiala, who is from Clavet, Sask., elected to return to Canada and play for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the U Sports ranks.

Many stars and standouts from Canada’s female under-18 AAA ranks remained in Canada and flourished in the U Sports ranks like Tatum Amy, Madison Willan, Hannah Koroll, Abby Soyko and Camryn Drever.

Men’s and women’s U Sports teams will play some of the best hockey seen in Canada often before very little fanfare. Among the 18 teams that make up the Canada West Conference in men’s and women’s play, only five squads averaged more than 300 spectators per game for the 2022-23 regular season that just wrapped up.

Camryn Drever in action for the Huskies.

Those teams include the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, the University of Alberta Golden Bears, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and the University of Calgary Dinos on the men’s side along with the U of S Huskies Women’s Team.

The Huskies Men’s Team had the top attendance in Canada West averaging 1,290 spectators per game.

With playoffs set to begin this coming weekend, chances are those attendances should have a little bit of an increase.

With all that noted, those that haven’t seen a U Sports men’s or women’s hockey game are missing out. Those that have made those contests have gotten to witness something special on a nightly basis.

Towriss gets Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year nod, other notes

Brian Towriss keeps piling up accolades.

The accolades are still coming for Brian Towriss.

Back on February 3, the retired University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team head coach was officially recognized as the Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year for 2021. He was one of three Sportsmen of the Year who were honoured at the 61^st annual Saskatoon Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner that was held at TCU Place.

The dinner was held for the first time since February of 2020 after being cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

Towriss, who was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2017, guided the Huskies as head coach from 1984 to 2016. During that time, Towriss posted a 167-96-1 regular season record and a 29-22 post-season record for a 196-118-1 combined slate.

He guided the Huskies to 11 Canada West Conference titles and three Vanier Cup titles as U Sports champions coming in 1990, 1996 and 1998.

Towriss played defensive tackle for the Huskies from 1974 to 1977. He was an assistant coach with the Huskies from 1980 to 1983 before becoming the team’s head coach.

Dave Moore was named the Sportsman of the Year for 2020 for his lifetime work as a softball umpire and a curling volunteer. Derek Bloski took the honours as the Sportsman of the Year for 2022 for his lifetime work as a hockey official and coach and softball coach.

The U of S Huskies Football Team was named the Kinsmen Team of the Year for 2022. The Huskies topped the Canada West Conference regular season standings with a 7-1 mark, won the Canada West title for a second straight year and advanced to the Vanier Cup for a second straight year.

The Huskies fell in the 2022 Vanier Cup 30-24 to the University Laval Rouge et Or at Western Alumni Stadium in London, Ont. In the 2021 Vanier Cup played at Stade Telus – Universite Laval in Quebec City, Quebec, the Huskies dropped a 27-21 decision to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs.

Emily Clark, who is a veteran forward with Canada’s Senior National Women’s Hockey Team, was named the Kinsmen Athlete of the Year for 2022. In 2022, Clark helped Canada win gold at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, in February.

An Emily Clark hockey card.

At the women’s worlds hosted in late August and early September in 2022 in Herning and Frederikshavn, Denmark, Clark helped Canada win gold at that tourney for a second straight year. This past January, Clark was named Sask Sport’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2022.

Also at the Kinsmen dinner, the Kinsmen Lloyd Saunders Athletic Scholarship Awards were given to soccer player Sophie Lavallee and football player Dawson Lennea.

The $2,000 scholarship is designated to further the recipient’s education at the post-secondary level. Outstanding high school athletic involvement, community involvement and community service are some of the key selection criteria.

Lavallee graduated from Holy Cross High School in June of 2022. In her Grade 12 year at Holy Cross, she was captain of the Crusaders senior girls’ soccer team and led them to city and provincial championships in an undefeated season. Lavallee is attending MacEwan University studying arts and science and is a member of the Griffiths Women’s Soccer Team.

Lennea graduated from Bishop James Mahoney High School in June of 2022. Besides playing football, Lennea also took part in hockey, curling, cross country running, track and field, gold and badminton. He was a member of the Saints Football Team at Bishop James Mahoney.

After his high school graduation, Lennea is continuing his education at the U of S studying in arts and science and is a member of the Huskies Football Team.

The annual Saskatoon Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner brought in a trio of Toronto Blue Jays players as special guests in Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alek Manoah and Jordan Romano. Beside the MLB players, Sportsnet broadcaster Jamie Campbell was brought in as a special guest as well.

Other special guests included Saskatchewan born and raised pitchers Andrew Albers and Dustin Molleken, who both pitched in the MLB, along with Brayden Lenius and Derrick Moncrief, who play with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

• On Monday, the WHL announced that former Brandon Wheat Kings head coach, general manager, governor and owner Kelly McCrimmon was named the recipient of the WHL Governors Award. McCrimmon joined the Wheat Kings as an assistant general manager in 1988-89. He became a part owner of the team in 1992-93 and the team’s sole owner in 2000-01. He sold the team following the 2019-20 campaign. McCrimmon is currently the general manager of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
• Lukas Dragicevic has turned into the player to watch for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. The 17-year-old defenceman leads the Americans in scoring with 59 points coming off 13 goals and 46 assists to go with a plus-four rating in the plus-minus department. Dragicevic, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 181 pounds, sits second in scoring among WHL defencemen. The Richmond, B.C., product is rated 12^th among North American Skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings.
• On February 9, I had new content appear on the Howe Happening blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a feature on baseball player and Saskatoon product Nolan Machibroda signing with the MLB’s Minnesota Twins. That piece can be found by clicking right here. I also created a photo roundup that mainly highlighted the busy activity happening at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval and the Indoor Training Centre. That piece can be found by clicking right here.

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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If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.