Raiders hope to find next Hannoun

Dante Hannoun (#17) enjoys a WHL title winning OT goal on May 13, 2019.

The Prince Albert Raiders would love to relive the Dante Hannoun trade and the moments that came in the months after it.

Way back on January 3, 2019, the Raiders sat on top of the entire WHL standings and were looking for a way to slightly tweak their roster without throwing any wrenches into the chemistry that had been built. On that day, they acquired 20-year-old centre Dante Hannoun, a fourth round pick and an eighth round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft from the Victoria Royals in exchange for 20-year-old centre Kody McDonald, 18-year-old centre Carson Miller and a third round selection in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. The deal came seven days before that season’s WHL trade deadline.

Hannoun, who stands 5-foot-6 and weighs 160 pounds, had been a high-scoring career WHL member of the Royals until coming to “Hockey Town North.” In just a little over five months as a member of the Raiders before exhausting his WHL eligibility, Hannoun appeared in 28 regular season games with the club posting 10 goals, 21 assists and a plus-16 rating in the plus-minus department. Prince Albert topped the WHL’s overall standings with a 54-10-2-2 record.

Hannoun skated in all 23 contests the Raiders played in the 2019 WHL Playoffs recording 14 goals, 10 assists and a plus-11 rating. He tied for the team high in game-winning goals at four with Brett Leason and Noah Gregor, but everyone who lives in Prince Albert knows one of Hannoun’s winners overshadowed all the others.

On May 13, 2019, the Raiders hosted Game 7 of the WHL Championship Series against the Vancouver Giants in front of a sellout crowd of 3,289 spectators at the storied and historic 2,580-seat Art Hauser Centre. Locked in a 2-2 with 1:35 remaining in overtime, Hannoun tapped home a backdoor feed at the right side of the Giants net that came from Gregor to deliver the Raiders to a 3-2 victory in the game and a 4-3 win in the series.

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

Christensen’s return brings extra poise to Raiders back end

Justice Christensen in action for the Raiders on October 4.

Isn’t it great to have Justice Christensen back.

The 20-year-old captain and star defenceman returned to the Raiders on September 30 after attending training camp with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. While the Raiders have been playing strong in the early going posting a 6-0-1 record, Christensen’s poise has been so noticeable in the three games he has played this season.

While he isn’t the biggest player on the back end standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 191 pounds, Christensen has been a presence along the Raiders blue line, and it feels like there is an extra sense of security when he is back there. Of course, the best aspect of having Christensen back is his ability to score goals.

On October 8, all Raiders fans would have to admit it was a tonne of fun seeing Christensen score a pair of power-play goals off point shot blasts 23 seconds apart from each other in a 6-0 home ice victory over the Vancouver Giants. “Juice” had the “Juice Bomb” going once again at the Art Hauser Centre.

Last Friday, Christensen netted his third goal of the season joining in on an offensive rush against the Kamloops Blazers. He tipped home a shot from Raiders star 20-year-old right-winger Brayden Dube to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead, and they would claim a 5-2 victory at the Hauser on that night.

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

Get ready for another classic Game 7 Tuesday

The Raiders celebrate Dante Hannoun’s OT winner on May 13, 2019. 

How many Prince Albert Raiders fans remember Dante Hannoun’s overtime goal?

The above query is a rhetorical one for most in “Hockey Town North.” If a Raiders fan has trouble remembering the Dante Hannoun goal, they were either not born yet, recently began following WHL hockey or are living under a rock.

The moment came in what was arguably the most exciting Game 7 played in the history of the WHL. It occurred in the league championship series in 2019 at the storied and historic Art Hauser Centre.

You don’t even need to see video footage to picture it. For most Raiders fans, that scene is ingrained in their memory.

The Raiders were locked in a 2-2 tie in overtime with the Vancouver Giants. The winner was going to the CHL championship tournament – the Memorial Cup.

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

Good start for Warriors

Moose Jaw takes opener of WHL final 3-2 in Portland

Matthew Savoie had the winner for the Warriors on Friday.

Don’t be making party plans yet for downtown Moose Jaw.

The Moose Jaw Warriors looked good in Game 1 of the WHL Championship Series, but the battle for the Ed Chynoweth Cup is far from over. On Friday night before 6,486 spectators at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon, the Warriors stunned the host Winterhawks 3-2 in Game 1 of the WHL final.

That marked the first time the Warriors have ever won a game in the WHL’s Championship Series. In their lone previous appearance in the WHL final back in 2006, the Warriors were swept 4-0 in the best-of-seven set by the Vancouver Giants.

In Game 1 of this year’s WHL title series, the Warriors came out of the gates flying, and the Winterhawks started out like they were lagged by an airplane flight. The visitors carried play for most of a scoreless first period and built a 2-0 before the second period was six minutes old.

The Winterhawks did find their legs and battled back and had the contest evened up at 2-2 early in the third.

With 3:02 remaining in the third, Warriors star centre Matthew Savoie found himself in close off to the right side of the Portland goal after receiving a pass from star 20-year-old right-winger Atley Calvert. Savoie snipped home his ninth of the post-season to the left side of the net that gave the Warriors their 3-2 lead.

The visitors played composed the rest of the way closing out the game defensively to secure the win.

Major credit for the Warriors win in Game 1 has to go to head coach Mark O’Leary and the rest of the team’s coaching staff. They found a way to get their squad rested up and ready with only two off days since the Warriors claimed Game 7 of the WHL’ Eastern Conference Championship Series 3-2 in overtime against the Blades in Saskatoon on Tuesday.

The Warriors returned to Moose Jaw following the win over the Blades. The Moose Jaw side then proceeded to take a plane flight on Thursday to get out to Portland.

On top of getting rest, the Warriors showed they are battle hardened for the post-season. The experience of going seven games with constant momentum changes against the Blades with six contests going to overtime showed through for the Warriors. No matter what happened in Game 1 against the Winterhawks, the Warriors were seemingly always composed.

Denton Mateychuk scored the Warriors second goal on Friday.

In the opening minutes of the first period on Friday, the Warriors had the Winterhawks pinned in their own zone on the forecheck. Warriors veteran centre Brayden Schuurman had a good early chance, but he was stopped by Winterhawks star netminder Jan Spunar.

The Winterhawks had a bit of a push back after the Warriors initial spurt of momentum, and the hosts had a 6-2 edge in shots on goal seven minutes into the frame.

Moose Jaw carried the momentum for the rest of the frame ultimately holding a 14-8 edge in shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes. The Warriors best two chances to go ahead came while working on a power player shortly after the midway point of the first.

Savoie had the puck at the left side of the Portland net, and his drive was stopped by Spunar but rebounded out to the front of the net. Calvert pounced on the rebound and drove to the net that was also turned away by Spunar.

Just 77 seconds into the second, Savoie used a long backhanded stretch pass to spring Calvert into the Portland zone on a breakaway. Calvert was hooked from behind by Winterhawks star defenceman Luca Cagnoni, and the officials awarded the Warriors forward a penalty shot.

On the penalty shot, Calvert snapped home a low shot stick side to the left side of the Portland net to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

The Warriors kept coming and at the 5:43 mark of the second a trio of their biggest stars combined to give the visitors a 2-0 edge. Centre Brayden Yager started the play intercepting a Winterhawks clearing attempt along the right side boards in the Portland zone.

Yager got the puck down low to right-winger Jagger Firkus below the icing line and off to the right of the Portland net. Firkus put a pass across the face the Portland goal backdoor to captain Denton Mateychuk, who pinched down from this defensive position.

Mateychuk popped home his ninth of the post-season to give the Warriors their two-goal edge. That tally for a short time sucked all the wind out the Winterhawks home rink.

Jackson Unger made 31 saves for the Warriors on Friday.

A short time later, the Winterhawks got a big traction moment to get their normally vocal crowd back in the game. Traditionally, the Winterhawks have one of the strongest home ice advantages in the WHL. At the nine-minute mark of the second, Spunar made a long pass out of his own zone to send sophomore centre Diego Buttazzoni jetting into the Moose Jaw zone down the right wing.

From the right wing boards, Buttazzoni snapped home a shot that cut the Warriors lead to 2-1. From that point onward, Warriors star netminder Jackson Unger was tasked with making some big saves to keep the Winterhawks at bay.

The Winterhawks would get the equalizer at the 4:14 mark of the third that forced a 2-2 tie. Winterhawks star left-winger Josh Davies had the puck up high on the left side of the Moose Jaw zone.

He made a long backhanded pass across the front of the Moose Jaw net to Winterhawks captain Gabe Klassen to the low right side of the Moose Jaw goal. Klassen roofed a shot to the top left corner of the Moose Jaw net for the equalizer.

That set the stage for Savoie to come through with his winner late in the frame.

Unger stopped 31 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors, who have won their last three straight games. Spunar turned away 34 shots to take the setback in net for the Winterhawks.

During the regular season, the Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 mark and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Warriors finished fifth overall in the WHL regular season with a 44-21-0-3 mark.

The Warriors and Winterhawks met once during the regular season back on February 28. Moose Jaw took that encounter 4-3 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The two sides will go at it in Game 2 on Saturday at 7 p.m. local time again at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The pressure will be on the Winterhawks to take that contest to even the series.

After Game 2, the next three games in the series will be held at the Moose Jaw Events Centre in Moose Jaw. Due to the lengthy travel distance between Moose Jaw and Portland, the WHL final is using a two-three-two series format.

Atley Calvert had a goal and an assist for the Warriors on Friday.

If the Warriors are able to take Game 2 of the set on Saturday, it makes the idea much more conceivable a party could be on with the Moose Jaw side raising the Ed Chynoweth Cup in “The Hangar.”

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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Last dance tour on for Robison as WHL commissioner

Outgoing executive reflects fondly on time in the league

Rob Robison, centre, drops the ceremonial faceoff in P.A. on Dec. 15.

For outgoing WHL commissioner Ron Robison, the 2006-07 campaign stood out better than all the rest when it came to highlights on the ice.

That season concluded with epic post-season encounters between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Vancouver Giants. The two clubs met in a WHL Championship Series that needed a series deciding Game 7.

In Game 7 played on May 14, 2007 before a sellout crowd of 4,006 spectators at The Arena in Medicine Hat, Tigers talented centre Brennan Bosch scored in double overtime to deliver his squad to a 3-2 victory in that contest. The win allowed the Tigers to win their fifth WHL championship in team history.

The two sides would move on to the Memorial Cup Tournament that determines a CHL champion. Medicine Hat entered that event as the WHL champions, and Vancouver was in as the host team.

On May 27, 2007, the two sides would meet in the Memorial Cup championship game played before a sellout crowd of 16,281 spectators at the Pacific Coliseum. The teams entered the third period locked in a 1-1 draw.

With 4:55 remaining in the third, Michael Repik scored the winner for the Giants, and Spencer Machacek scored into an empty net inside the final 50 seconds of the third to round out a 3-1 final. The win allowed the Giants to capture their first Memorial Cup in team history.

The WHL Guide for 2007-08.

The championship wins of both teams were commemorated on the cover of the WHL Guide for the 2007-08 campaign. Serving as the WHL’s commissioner, Robison was pretty proud two of the circuit’s member teams could go head to head in classic encounters like that where each side captured a major championship trophy.

“I have a lot of great memories,” said Robison. “When we talk about a certain event I go back to 2006-07 season when Medicine Hat and Vancouver went seven games in the (WHL) championship series, and then they met again in the Memorial Cup championship.

“In the WHL championship, Medicine Hat won at home, and then Vancouver won at home in the Memorial Cup. I think that was a pretty special year.”

In the current day, Robison is serving out his final days as commissioner of the WHL, which was a position he stepped into on September 15, 2000. Last June, Robison, who is an alumnus of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s Hockey Team, announced the 2023-24 campaign would be his last as commissioner of the WHL.

Before coming on board with the WHL, Robison worked in various roles for Hockey Canada from 1981 to 2000. The 68-year-old had been a Huskies assistant coach and a faculty member of the Physical Education department at U of S before coming on board with Hockey Canada.

On November 30, the WHL hired Dan Near to be the circuit’s next commissioner. Near’s tenure in the WHL office will begin on January 1, 2024 as he transitions into the role of commissioner. He will officially take over the full responsibilities as WHL commissioner on February 15, 2024.

At that point, Robison will transition to an advisory role providing support and guidance to Near.

The 43-year-old Near served as the global head of Adidas Hockey and was responsible for leading Adidas’s entry into hockey managing their global business since 2016. Prior to his time with Adidas, Near, who is a product of Markham, Ont., spent 10 years with the NHL’s head office in New York specializing in marketing, retail development and consumer product licensing from 2006 to 2016.

Ron Robison, right, is pictured with Mathew Barzal (#13) in 2017

Robison is making a tour to visit every WHL centre one last time while he is commissioner. The Indian Head, Sask., product stopped in Prince Albert on December 15, when the host Raiders fell 4-3 in overtime to the Kelowna Rockets at the storied Art Hauser Centre.

One night later, Robison dropped into Saskatoon as the host Blades fell 5-4 in overtime to the Rockets at the SaskTel Centre.

During his time as commissioner, Robison wanted to oversee a circuit that had good competitive balance where any team could win, and it didn’t matter if you came from a big, medium or small sized market. He believes the fact that Swift Current Broncos won a WHL title in 2018 and the Raiders captured a WHL championship in 2019 as small market clubs shows the league has come up with a formula that works in that area.

Robison believe the Raiders, who have a storied history, are in a really healthy spot, and he praised the team’s leadership for the work they’ve done.

“I think the credit is due to the people on the ground here in Prince Albert led by (Raiders president) Gord Broda,” said Robison. “I think they have community leadership like Gord (Broda) provides for this franchise is incredible.

“He has been dedicated for many years and continues to be. Then when you look at the job that Curtis Hunt has done as general manager has really I think done a great job of acquiring a lot of assets to put this hockey program in a really good place moving forward combined with Mike Scissons on the business side. When you are getting buildings in the small markets you need to be over 90 per cent sold out on a regular basis.

Ron Robison takes part in a WHL title presentation in 2019.

“They are doing that here in Prince Albert, so we couldn’t be more delighted. We think the franchise is in a really good place, and we’re looking forward to having a new facility here real soon.”

During his time in the WHL, Robison said the thing he liked most was meeting people in all the league’s centres over the years. He made sure to give credit to a number of people that work behind the scenes to make the league run including education advisors, security network personnel, team doctors and billet families.

“If I look back, I think that is the area we have so much respect for,” said Robison.

Robison was pleased with the growth the league made in two areas in particular while he was commissioner.

“I think we’ve really worked at two things extremely hard,” said Robison. “One was our facility standards to make sure that at all times the players and the fans have as much of a world class experience as we can possibly deliver.

“The standards to make sure that those facilities are always delivering a good environment for the players was really important. I think the player experience overall has been enhanced significantly when you look at our scholarship program. Over the 30-year period of the scholarship (program), we’ve had close to 8,000 players benefitting in investment by over $30-million by our ownership.

Ron Robison does a ceremonial faceoff in Saskatoon on Dec. 16.

“It is incredibility an important program, because the players can commit to us at a young age and focus on their hockey, but also have that education opportunity when it is all over.”

Going forward, Robison said the league will be in good hands with Near. The outgoing commissioner said the strength of the new commissioner will be on the business side of the game. Robison believes Near will quickly adapt to all aspects of his new position.

Looking at his own future after his time with the WHL wraps up, Robison said it will be different not seeing the staff in the league office in Calgary adding you become close with the staff you work with on a day-to-day basis. He said he will miss WHL lifers in vice-president of hockey Richard Doerksen and senior director of officiating Kevin Muench.

Robison said it will be strange to no longer interact regularly with Greg Gardner, who is the WHL’s chief operating officer, and added Near is fortunate he will joining a great group of people who are great to work with.

When Near takes on full responsibilities as WHL commissioner, Robison is going to focus more on enjoying time away from the game, but he believes he will still be attached to the circuit.

“I’m going to be slowing down for sure,” said Robison. “I’m going to step back, and I think I will still be available to help the league in any way they need me.

Ron Robison, right, shakes hands with Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc.

“You don’t just walk away. After all these years, you need to be able to support the league, and I’m prepared to do that for sure. I think it is about going from 100 miles an hour maybe down to 40 or 50 miles an hour about and try to spend a little bit more time with family.”

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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Raiders make B.C. trip most memorable part of 2022-23 so far

Landon Kosior in action for the Raiders on December 27, 2022.

It would be understandable if the Prince Albert Raiders and their fans got a little greedy thinking the team could have won all the games on their B.C. Division road trip.

Still, the Raiders posted a 3-2 record on a trip that saw them play those five games over eight days with extensive travel through the mountains. For the reloading Raiders youthful roster, it was a big accomplishment to post a 3-2 mark.

It also isn’t a stretch to say that the Raiders played well enough they could have won every contest on that trip. The Raiders won the first three games of the swing against the Prince George Cougars, Victoria Royals and Vancouver Giants outscoring those foes 14-5. The Prince Albert side dropped the last two games falling 6-4 to the Memorial Cup hosting Blazers in Kamloops on Friday and a 4-0 decision to the Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday.

In the loss to the Blazers, the Raiders held a 3-2 lead after 20 minutes and were up 4-3 at one point in the second period. The Blazers scored late in the second and netted the only two goals in the third to pull out the win.

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

Maier’s heart will always be with Blades, his only WHL team

Record setting netminder sees Saskatoon as second home

Nolan Maier has a WHL record 122 career regular season wins.

Nolan Maier will always wear his heart on his sleeve when it comes to the Saskatoon Blades, and he expects it will take some time to digest his playing career has come to a close with the team.

On top of being the team’s overage star netminder, Maier played his entire WHL career with the Blades. He joined the team full time as a 16-year-old on November 14, 2017.

He came to the Blades after playing for Team Canada Black at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge that was held jointly that year in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, B.C.

Maier’s WHL career officially came to a close with a 6-3 loss to the Warriors in Moose Jaw in Game 5 of a WHL first round series on Friday, April 29. The Warriors took the best-of-seven series 4-1.

Over the course of five seasons, Maier put a tremendous investment into the Blades and has become fond of Saskatoon as a city itself. Even eight days after the campaign ended, it is a tough pill for Maier to digest that won’t be playing for Saskatoon’s WHL side anymore.

“It is emotional,” said Maier. “I think when you spend a good part of your life in one spot and you get to know a lot of people very well and just like seeing you guys (the media members) every day at the games being around the rink it is very emotional.”

He still feels the sting of the post-season ending loss in Moose Jaw at Mosaic Place.

“It still hurts,” said Maier, who stands 6-feet and weighs 172 pounds. “I think none of us wanted it to end like that or that way at all.

Nolan Maier has a Blades record 5,788 career regular season saves.

“We all thought we had more in us. I think I’m just more grateful that it happened, and I was around such a great group of guys and coaches and management for my whole time here the whole five years. It has just been an honour for me so far.”

Maier departs the Blades as one the team’s all-time greats. He appeared in 216 career regular season games posting a 122-72-18 record, a 2.89 goals against average, a .905 save percentage and 12 shutouts.

Along with those statistics, Maier has played 12,609 career minutes in goal for the Blades and made 5,788 career saves.

His 122 career regular season wins is a WHL record. Maier’s career shutout, games played, minutes played and saves totals are all Blades regular season franchise records.

Getting the WHL career wins record was Maier’s highlight with the Blades. He took sole possession of the record with his 121^st win that came on April 8 with a 2-0 victory over the archrival Prince Albert Raiders before 4,802 spectators at the SaskTel Centre.

Maier made 20 saves to pick up his 12^th and final regular season shutout of his career.

He moved past Corey Hirsch and Tyson Sexsmith for top spot on the WHL’s career regular season wins list. Hirsch and Sexsmith sit tied for second on that list with 120 victories.

Hirsch picked up his 120 victories playing four seasons with the Kamloops Blazers from 1988 to 1992. Sexsmith collected his 120 wins over five seasons with the Vancouver Giants from 2005 to 2009. He also had one non-decision relief appearance for the Medicine Hat Tigers late in the 2004-05 campaign.

Nolan Maier makes a save as a 16-year-old rookie in Nov. 2017.

“It is something I will never forget,” said Maier. “It was kind of the perfect ending just to have it home against P.A. while you get a shutout.

“It was almost like that storybook ending. To get that record definitely means so much, especially just with the same jersey on my back for five years. That definitely meant more to me just to have that.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the team and obviously management for trusting me to play me as much as they did when I was young. That was the only reason I was able to come close. It was something that I will never forget and super special.”

The Yorkton, Sask., product said the WHL wins record wasn’t his greatest achievement with the Blades.

“I think the friendships and the family is what I’m most grateful to achieve,” said Maier. “I think that is something that I will never forget.

“The record, obviously, means a lot to me and is close to my heart, but just the people and everyone that I’ve known and love for the past five years here will be forever.”

Over the past five seasons, the Blades didn’t have any questions in net with Maier playing goal. The Blades will return backup Ethan Chadwick, who is a graduate of the Saskatoon Contacts under-18 AAA team, and associate player call up Austin Elliott, who played most of 2021-22 with the Notre Dame Hounds in the junior A ranks of the SJHL, to be in the goaltending mix as 18-year-olds in 2022-23.

Maier believes the Blades future is bright in goal with the youngsters.

“It will be fun to watch,” said Maier. “I think I will be able to just see from a different view almost as a fan now and just always keeping an eye on them.

Nolan Maier makes a save versus the Raiders on Dec. 27, 2021.

“They have bright futures, and they just got to stick with it and just kind of play their game, because they are here for a reason. They just have to find their own way and just kind of get as many games in as they can, because that is all you have to do especially coming in as a young person. They’ll be fine.

“I’m extremely happy to kind of see their careers unfold.”

As for his future in hockey, Maier doesn’t know what is going to happen. While he has put of great statistics, the 21-year-old has never been drafted by an NHL team or even invited to an NHL training camp.

The fact he stands just 6-feet tall and isn’t at least 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3 is the obvious drawback as most NHL personal look at size in goaltenders.

Maier said he doesn’t let the lack of NHL opportunities bother him.

“It used to drive me nuts,” said Maier. “It is just that nothing has unfolded yet.

“I’m just looking forward to hopefully something happening this summer. I’m just getting ready for any chance I get.”

Maier is still hoping to play professionally. If that doesn’t work out, he would like to play for a post-secondary school team.

The veteran netminder said he has talked to a lot of post-secondary school teams, but he hasn’t gone any further on that route.

Nolan Maier (#73) departs the Blades as one of their all-time greats.

“I don’t have one picked at all or if I am going to go the school route,” said Maier. “I’m just trying to digest everything kind of coming to an end here.

“I don’t what the future is going to hold, but I will know later on.”

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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“Acknowledge Him!” – Blades’ Maier becomes WHL’s all-time goaltending wins king

Goalie Nolan Maier begins celebrating his WHL career wins record.

Nolan Maier stands alone on the mountain top as the WHL’s goaltending wins king.

On Friday night, Maier made 20 saves to backstop the Saskatoon Blades to a 2-0 victory over their archrivals the Prince Albert Raiders before 4,802 spectators at the SaskTel Centre. The victory allows the Yorkton, Sask., product to sit alone in top spot on the WHL’s career regular season wins list with 121 triumphs.

The overage star netminder passed Corey Hirsch and Tyson Sexsmith for first on the all-time wins list. Hirsch and Sexsmith now sit tied for second on the WHL’s career regular season wins list with 120 victories.

Hirsch picked up his 120 victories playing four seasons with the Kamloops Blazers from 1988 to 1992. Sexsmith collected his 120 wins over five seasons with the Vancouver Giants from 2005 to 2009. He also had one non-decision relief appearance for the Medicine Hat Tigers late in the 2004-05 campaign.

The Blades mob netminder Nolan Maier after Friday’s win.

In Friday’s clash between the Blades and Raiders, Maier was in awe of the moment when the game clock hit zero and everyone in the building was on their feat saluting his accomplishment.

“It was surreal,” said Maier, who stands 6-feet and weighs 172 pounds. “It is a moment I will never forget.

“I’m just so happy that I was able to do it at home and just against our rivals. It almost brings a certain sentimental value to it too. It is pretty amazing.”

When the game clock hit zero, the Blades players poured off their bench and mobbed Maier in a scene that looked like the celebration of a championship win.

Nolan Maier (#73) gets a hug from Trevor Wong (#38).

“It was a little excessive,” said Maier with a laugh. “It looked like we won the Stanley Cup.

“They (his teammates) were pretty excited, and I think that is awesome just to have a big group of brothers in there and just how they’ve supported me all year. It has been awesome. I couldn’t ask for anything better from them.”

Maier joined the Blades on a full-time basis as a 16-year-old rookie in November of 2017. He has appeared in 215 career regular season games with the Blades posting a 121-72-18 record, a 2.90 goals against average, a .905 save percentage and 12 shutouts.

Members of the Blades faithful cheer Maier’s record accomplishment.

Along with those statistics, Maier has played 12,549 career minutes in goal for the Blades and made 5,753 career saves.

Maier’s career shutout, games played, minutes played and saves totals are all Blades franchise records.

For the veteran puck stopper, he was happy to capture the WHL’s career regular season wins record playing his whole major junior career with the Blades, who played a tribute for him at game’s end.

Blades players watch a tribute video for Nolan Maier.

“I think that is what makes it so much special for me to be able to do it with the same team and under the same management and a few different coaches,” said Maier, who was selected in the second round and 25^th overall way back in the then 2016 WHL Bantam Draft by the Blades. “For most of it, it was kind of all the same.

“It means everything, and everyone here is just a huge part of my family, especially (Blades owner) Mike (Priestner) and (Blades general manager) Colin (Priestner) and (Blades associate general manager) Hilty (Steve Hildebrand) and now (Blades head coach) Sonnes (Brennan Sonne) and (Blades associate coach) Marshy (Ryan Marsh) and everyone and especially (Blades goalie coach) Harv (Jeff Harvey). I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him.

Nolan Maier cuts a piece of the net from his record win.

“It is just unbelievable the support I’ve had here.”

Sonne was proud to see Maier take sole possession of the WHL’s career regular season wins record. The bench boss said when you reflect on all the netminders who have come through the WHL during the history of the league it makes Maier’s accomplishment look that much more impressive.

“I mean think of the goalies, right,” said Sonne. “It is phenomenal.

“I’m not going to say anything that would even do it justice. It is incredible. It is awesome.

“We are so happy for him.”

Maier made his first big save of the night when the Blades were working on a power play about seven-and-a-half minutes into the opening frame. Raiders overage captain Reece Vitelli had a short-handed breakaway, but he was stoned by Maier, who swallowed the puck in his midsection.

Nolan Maier embraces his teammates after cutting a piece of the net.

With about 2:31 remaining in the first, the Blades had their best scoring chance of the frame, when right-winger Noah Boyko was robbed close in by the left side of the Prince Albert goal by the glove had of Raiders rookie import netminder Tikhon Chaika.

The teams played a tight checking opening 20 minutes where the shots on goal were tied 6-6. The second frame was a tight checking one too, even though the Blades had a 10-8 edge in shots on goal in that stanza.

Nolan Maier stops Raiders captain Reece Vitelli (#15).

The Blades had the best scoring chance in the second near the middle part of the period, when defenceman Tanner Molendyk was denied close in by Chaika with a shot coming close in on the left wing off a two-on-one break.

With the game remaining scoreless after 40 minutes, Maier said he did get some antsy feelings.

“I think those thoughts creep into your head,” said Maier, who has three shutouts this season. “As a goalie, you try not to worry about it.

“It is a cliché, but near the end going into the third 0-0, I knew we just needed one. Once we got that one I knew it was going to happen.”

Nolan Maier makes a stop on a screen shot.

With 9:21 remaining in the third, Raiders defenceman Tayem Gislason drew a double minor for high sticking. The infraction will automatically be reviewed by the WHL office for a possible suspension.

Near the tail end of the first half of that power play, Blades rookie import right-winger Egor Sidorov banged home a shot from the front of the Prince Albert goal to give the host side a 1-0 lead with 7:43 remaining in the frame.

From that point, the Blades skaters did a solid job of clamping things down defensively, and the Raiders didn’t have any real solid scoring chances.

Egor Sidorov (#19) had a goal and an assist for the Blades.

With 1:59 remaining in the third, Blades centre Trevor Wong backhanded home an insurance goal during a net scramble over top of a fallen Chaika. That sealed the 2-0 win for the host side. Sidorov picked up an assist on Wong’s tally.

Wong, who joined the Blades in a trade with the Kelowna Rockets right before the start of the regular season, said it was important to the players on his team to do their part to help Maier get the WHL career regular season wins record.

“He (Maier) is kind of the role model for this whole organization, and a lot of our guys look up to him,” said Wong. “I’m pretty new here, but I could already see since the day I got here by the way he carries himself and just the way he treats others he is a class act.

Egor Sidorov (#19) celebrates scoring for the Blades.

“It was huge that we got it done for him.”

Chaika turned away 22 shots to take the setback in net for the Raiders.

The Blades improved to 37-26-3-1 with the win, and they moved one point ahead of the 36-23-3-2 Moose Jaw Warriors for fourth place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. The fourth place club in the conference will have home ice advantage for a best-of-seven first round playoff series against the fifth place squad.

The Brandon Wheat Kings sit sixth overall in the conference with a 34-25-3-2 record and are five standings points behind the Blades and four standings point back of the Warriors. The Wheat Kings won their fourth straight game on Friday downing the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 6-3.

Tanner Molendyk controls the puck in the offensive zone.

The Blades have one game left on their regular season schedule, while both the Warriors and Wheat Kings have four contests remaining on their respective regular season slates.

The Blades are off until this coming Friday when they close out their regular season schedule against the Brandon Wheat Kings (7 p.m., SaskTel Centre).

Saskatoon still has five regulars on the injury list. Defenceman and captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Overage star centre Tristen Robins, who is the Blades captain for the rest of the current season, is out day to day with an upper body injury and the same goes for veteran centre Josh Pillar.

Trevor Wong scored the Blades second goal on Friday.

Rookie centre Lukas Hansen is week-to-week with an upper body injury, and utility player Spencer Shugrue is day to day with a lower body injury.

Overage defenceman Rhett Rhinehart returned to the Blades lineup from an upper body injury for Maier’s milestone win.

Sonne said his Blades need the time off before their next contest.

“It feels like so long where we’ve played three games a week and that is just taxing,” said Sonne. “We’re not like an older team either.

“We’re a younger team, so it is just even more so. We just get back at 5:30 in the morning (on Thursday) from Lethbridge (after a 6-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Wednesday night), and these guys are getting up to go to school. This has been getting taxing.

Raiders G Tikhon Chaika stops a screen shot.

“They need a few days off, so it is a really good thing.”

The Raiders fell to 26-34-4-1 with the setback to remain 10^th in the Eastern Conference. They sit two points behind the 26-34-5-2 Swift Current Broncos for eighth place and the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Prince Albert is one point behind the 25-31-6-2 Calgary Hitmen for ninth in the Eastern Conference. The Raiders are two points ahead of the 25-34-3-2 Regina Pats.

The Broncos have one regular season game remaining, the Raiders have three contests left on their slate and the Hitmen and Pats each have four games remaining on their respective schedules.

Nolan Maier made 20 saves on Friday night.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes (30-30-4-1) officially locked up a playoff berth with their 5-4 overtime setback to the Rebels in Red Deer on Friday. 

The Hurricanes sit seventh overall in the Eastern Conference.

The Raiders return to action on Saturday when they travel to Regina to take on the Pats (7 p.m., Brandt Centre).

With sole possession of the WHL’s career regular season wins record under his belt, Maier said his milestone win to sit alone as the record holder will be a night he always remembers.

Nolan Maier (#73) is saluted by his teammates.

“Easily, this will be the highlight of my life, especially just to do it here in front of my fans and lots of family and friends I have here,” said Maier. “I couldn’t have wrote it any better.”

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