Raiders live up to being more than a team in opener

PA bests Pats 7-4 in banner raising night at home

Connor Howe first of two goals on Friday.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The Prince Albert Raiders were living up to their legacy of being more than just a hockey team to the folks in “Hockey Town North.”

On Friday before a standing room crowd of 2,916 spectators at the storied and historic 2,580 seat Art Hauser Centre, the Raiders downed the visiting Regina Pats 7-4 in the WHL regular season opener for both clubs. It was a night where the Raiders raised banners for finishing first in the WHL’s East Division and capturing the Eastern Conference Championship last season.

On their opening day roster on Friday night, the Raiders took the ice with 12 returning plays from last season’s squad that finished second overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 52-10-5-1 mark and advanced to the WHL Championship Series falling in five games to the Everett Silvertips. The Raiders are still without two more potential returning skaters from last year’s squad as 19-year-old left-winger Brandon Gorzynski is still taking part in NHL training camp activities with the Dallas Stars and 18-year-old right-winger Jonah Sivertson is in camp with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Benett Kelly skates on to the ice during pre-game introductions.

Raiders head coach Ryan McDonald said it was important to see the East Division and Eastern Conference championship banners to up into the Hauser’s rafter, because it further cements the history that was made last season.

“It was a real special night in a number of ways,” said McDonald. “Watching the banner go up and the trophies sitting there, the guys who were here with us last year it is an amazing accomplishment and something that you should be very proud of.

“You watch those banners go to the rafters, and you’re a part of this history and this culture forever when those are up there.”

The Raiders raise two championship banners to the rafters.

The Raiders also ran a stirring video tribute for club mainstay in the late Mark Odnokon. Odnokon passed away this past May 24 due to cancer, and he was still a Raiders assistant coach at the time of his passing.

In living to age 63, Odnokon is viewed as a Raiders lifer. In the early 1970s growing up in Prince Albert, he went to Raiders games as a ticket buyer and used to camp out for tickets in the team’s early playoff runs when they were in junior A as part of the SJHL.

He was a stick boy for the Raiders first Centennial Cup winner in 1976-77, was a late season call up for their second Centennial Cup championship team in 1978-79 and was a full-time player for their final two Centennial Cup triumphs in 1980-81 and 1981-82.

After serving as head coach and general manager of the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs from 1988 to 1990, Odnokon returned to the Raiders as an assistant coach in the 1990-91 season. He was pretty much a part of the Raiders staff for most of the years he lived from that moment until his passing, when he served as a skills coach and the team’s Respect Champion. It was really only broken up for a long stretch from the mid 1990s to the early 2000s when he was a scout for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.

The Raiders paid tribute to the late Mark Odnokon.

McDonald, who was born and raised in Prince Albert and played for the under-18 AAA Prince Albert Mintos and the Raiders, said Odnokon has been present in his hockey journey, and he still feels the physical void of the forever hockey coach not being there. Odnokon’s celebration of life took place fittingly at the Hauser this past May 31.

““Ozzy” was a huge part of those banners and the fabric of the culture that we have here in Prince Albert with the Raiders,” said McDonald. “He is a man who has been at this rink since I’ve been a kid.

Ben Harvey had one goal and three assists for the Raiders.

“He has been a part of it every single way with me whether it was working NorSask Hockey School, coming to the rink as a player playing for the Prince Albert Raiders to assistant and to head coach. It is hard to come and him not be here with his laughter, his humour, his work ethic and everything that he brings. He was the ultimate glue guy of a teammate.

“You heard all the stories at his funeral. Also as a coach too, he kept that coaching office extremely light, extremely close, and he is sadly missed.”

Raiders sophomore 17-year-old right-winger Ben Harvey said he still feels Odnokon’s physical absence. Following all the pre-game ceremonies, Harvey went out and had a huge night recording a short-handed empty-net goal, three assists and posting a plus-five rating in the plus-minus department.

The Raiders celebrate a goal from Maddix McCagherty (#17).

“Obviously, heavy hearts out to “Oz” and his family,” said Harvey, who has 14 goals, 13 assists and a plus-21 rating in 45 regular season games in 2025-26 as a 16-year-old rookie with the Raiders. “You never want to see that.

“He is a big part of our organization and was out with us every day.”

Harvey said Odnokon will always stand for all the good values and characteristics of what the Raiders are and mean to the community of Prince Albert.

“He means a lot to this organization itself,” said Harvey. “It was nice to do a little tribute video there.

“We’re playing for him this year, and he is definitely in our hearts.”

Following the pre-game festivities, the Raiders exploded out to 3-0 a lead. Just 70 seconds into the contest, Raiders 18-year-old defenceman Benett Kelly slipped a see-eye point shot through a screen to put the hosts up 1-0.

Carsyn Dyck sets up to score a breakaway goal for the Raiders.

The Raiders proceeded to show their skill with 17-year-old left-winger and local product Connor Howe finishing off a couple of nice setup passes with goals to give Prince Albert a 3-0 lead at the 14:14 mark of the first. Howe would finish the contest with a plus-four rating.

With any opening game of a regular season, there were moments when the sailing wasn’t entirely smooth. Just 45 seconds after Howe’s second tally, Pats 20-year-old right-winger Keets Fawcett scored on the power play to trim the Raiders lead to 3-1.

At the 5:29 mark of the second, the Raiders pushed their edge out to 4-1 with a grittier goal, when 20-year-old centre Maddix McCagherty backhanded home a rebound in close that came from a long range shot taken by 18-year-old rookie defenceman Darius Hordal. McCagherty also had two assists and a plus-three rating on Friday.

PIMS the Parrot meets the Raiders young fans.

Veteran right-winger Jace Egland popped a single home for the Pats just over four minutes later to trim the Raiders lead to 4-1. Carsyn Dyck, who is a 20-year-old veteran centre, proceeded to slip home a shot on a breakaway just over two-and-a-half minutes later for the Raiders to put the hosts up 5-2. Dyck previously played in the WHL for the Portland Winterhawks until being released this past off-season allowing him to be added to the Raiders roster.

Before the second frame closed out, Fawcett netted his second of the contest and centre Ellis Mieyette, who will turn 20-years-old in October, tallied with 51.2 seconds remaining in the frame to cut the Raiders lead to 5-4.

Riley Boychuk jets into the offensive zone on a rush.

The Raiders ensured the Pats wouldn’t spoil the opening game party in the third. With 4:07 remaining in the frame, Raiders star 18-year-old centre Ben Harvey burst into the offensive zone on a rush with his team working on the power play.

Harvey got in close to the Regina net and put a backhanded pass to import right-winger Alisher Sarkenov at the right post of the Pats goal. Sarkenov potted the puck into the open side of the cage to push the Raiders lead out to 6-4. Harvey would add his short-handed empty-net goal with 2:15 remaining on the clock to round out the scoring in the contest.

Maddix McCagherty had two assists to go with his goal.

Star 19-year-old import netminder Michal Orsulak made 20 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Raiders. 

Taylor Tabashniuk turned away 10-of-13 shots starting in goal for the Pats and was pulled after the first period. Drake Mooney turned away 12-of-15 shots playing the rest of the way in relief and took the loss in goal for Regina. 

The Pats were without 16-year-old star centre Maddox Schultz and veteran defenceman Kolten Bridgeman with undisclosed injuries.

The only other downer for the Raiders was that 18-year-old rookie left-winger Cash Lanigan was given a major penalty for kneeing, which also saw him get kicked out of the contest. The major penalty will automatically be reviewed by the WHL office for a possible suspension.

The Raiders return to action on Saturday when they travel to Swift Current to take on the Broncos (6 p.m., InnovationPlex). The Pats also get back at it on Saturday when they travel to Brandon to face the Wheat Kings (7 p.m. local time, Assiniboine Credit Union Place).

The Raiders salute their faithful at the Art Hauser Centre.

As the Raiders go forward in the season, Howe would like to see the 2026-27 Raiders create another banner raising ceremony for September of next year. He admitted it was pretty sweet to see the banners from last season get raised on Friday night.

“I think it means a lot to us all that hard work from last year,” said Howe. “I think we’re trying to do that again this year, so I think it should be a good year.”

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