Prairie Mobile / SaskTel Preview: Raiders vs. Blazers
PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS VS. KAMLOOPS BLAZERS | Dec. 12, 2015 | 7:00PM
RAIDER REVIEW: The Prince Albert Raiders (18-9-2-1) return to the friendly confines of the Art Hauser Centre tonight to host Kamloops Blazers (13-10-3-1) for Canadian Tire Teddy Bear Toss Night. The Raiders have not played at home since November 27 when they were dealt a 5-1 setback by the Edmonton Oil Kings. Prince Albert has spent the last five games on the road, including the past four contests in Alberta. Following a difficult 6-1 loss to the Calgary Hitmen to begin the Alberta swing, the Raiders responded with better results in their last three games. Prince Albert finished the five-game stretch away from home with a 3-2-0-0 record.
VS. KAMLOOPS: Tonight is the first and only meeting of the season between the Raiders and Blazers. Kamloops’ last visit to the Art Hauser Centre was nearly two years ago today on December 13, 2013. On that night, former Raiders defenceman and Vancouver Canucks prospect Mackenze Stewart scored his first WHL goal in a 4-2 Prince Albert loss.
2014-15 SEASON SERIES RECAP
Dec. 5/14 at KAM | PA 5 KAM 4 | S. Stransky (1g-2a), M. Revel (2g-1a), C. Ully (1g-2a)
Shots on Goal: PA 35 KAM 28 Power Plays: PA 1-3 (33.3%) KAM 1-3 (33.3%)
TEDDY BEAR TOSS: The Raiders host the Canadian Tire Teddy Bear Toss tonight. Bears will rain down onto the ice following the team’s first goal. Here is a brief look back at Prince Albert’s last three Teddy Bear Tosses:
Nov 29/14 vs. Brandon | Teddy Bear Goal scored by Jordan Tkatch at 11:43 of the 1st
Dec 6/13 vs. Lethbridge | Teddy Bear Goal scored by Dakota Conroy at 9:58 of the 3rd
Nov 30/12 vs. Regina | Teddy Bear Goal scored by Mike Winther at 0:34 of the 2nd
GAGE’ING THE SITUATION: Former Raiders forward Gage Quinney will play his first game against his former team tonight. In 91 games as a Raider, Quinney recorded 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points. Prince Albert dealt Quinney along with Josh Morrissey on December 10, 2014 to the Kelowna Rockets for Jesse Lees, Austin Glover, and two bantam draft picks – a second round pick in 2016 and a third round pick in 2017. Quinney was moved to Kamloops earlier this season by Kelowna in order to fit under the roster limit of three 20-year-old players.
SIMON SAYS: Import forward Simon Stransky played in his 100th WHL game on Tuesday night in Edmonton. In two seasons with the Raiders, Stransky has compiled 23 goals and 50 assists for 73 points. The native of Ostrava, Czech Republic left the team on Wednesday to take part in an evaluation camp for the 2016 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Stransky was given an A ranking by NHL Central Scouting in their November Players to Watch List.
NUMBER 4: The Raiders announced last week that the club will retire Dave Manson’s number “4” in a special pre-game ceremony on Friday, February 12 as part of a weekend celebration honouring the Prince Albert legend. Manson will be the second player in Raiders franchise history to have his number retired, joining Mike Modano’s number “9” in the rafters at the Art Hauser Centre. Following his jersey retirement, the Raiders will host the “Roast of Dave Manson” in the Ches Leach Lounge on Saturday, February 13.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Raiders will close out first half of the 2015-16 season with three games at home next week, beginning on Tuesday, December 15 versus the Lethbridge Hurricanes. To share the gift of hockey this holiday season, pick up the Raiders’ Co-op Holiday pack for only $65. The pack includes four adult flex tickets, a Raider toque, and $10 to spend at Prince Albert Co-op! For additional ticket information, visit raiderhockey.com or call 764-GAME.
