2023-24 Hat Trick Scorers
Four different Raiders scored hat tricks in the 2023-24 regular season. We’ll take you through them in chronological order.
Krzysztof Macias: October 6, 2023 @ Red Deer
Macias scored half of Prince Albert’s goal in a 6-2 win over the Rebels at Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer. He opened the scoring just 2:45 into the first period, fooling Chase Wutzke with a long range shot along the left wall to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead. 4:13 into the second period, it was a pretty passing play between him and fellow Euro import Matej Kubiesa that led to his second goal of the contest. Streaking up the middle of the offensive zone, Macias fed a pass to Kubiesa near the goal line. Returning the favour, Kubiesa put the puck right back on Macias’s stick, and he was able to fire a quick shot home to give the Raiders a 3-1 lead. Still in the second and just over five minutes later, Macias completed his first career WHL hat trick. After Niall Crocker drew a penalty on a partial breakaway, the Raiders maintained possession in the Rebels zone. From behind the net, Oli Chenier found Macias cutting in front and gave him a perfect pass on the tape. Macias was able to slide a low shot home, giving the Raiders a 4-1 lead on what was his fifth goal of the season.
Oli Chenier: January 9, 2024 vs Vancouver
While it came in a losing effort, Oli Chenier’s first career hat trick was a big part of the reason the Raiders were able to salvage a point in a 6-5 shootout loss against the Vancouver Giants. After trailing 2-0, Chenier scored Prince Albert’s first two goals of the game. His first goal of the contest was a one timer from the slot after he received a pass from Harrison Lodewyk. His bullet beat Matthew Hutchison blocker side from point blank range for his fifth goal of the season. 7:16 into the second period, Chenier scored one of the goals of the year for the Raiders, with an incredible solo effort. From the Vancouver blue line, the rookie dangled his way through a pair of Giants defenders, before toe dragging and sniping another shot blocker side past Hutchison, tying the game at 2-2. In the third period, the Raiders trailed 5-4 with 3:56 left in regulation, but that changed when Chenier nipped home his third goal of the game. Like his first goal of the game, he took another pass from Harrison Lodewyk, and fired home a one timer, and for the third time in the game, he beat Hutchison on the blocker side. His hat trick goal sent the green and gold to overtime, but they would eventually fall in a six round shootout.
Niall Crocker: January 19, 2024 @ Edmonton
Niall Crocker’s first career hat trick came midway through a career-high 23 goal season, and it came in Alberta’s capital of Edmonton. All three of his goals came in his classic fashion, right on the doorstep. On a Raider powerplay in the second period, he took a pass from Sloan Stanick near the goal line beside the right post, and used his long reach to steer a shot far side past Kolby Hay down low. His second goal of the contest was a tip in the low slot, as he redirected a point shot from Eric Johnston glove side. Just over four minutes later with time winding down in the third period, Crocker collected a rebound off a Krzysztof Macias shot, and buried home his third goal of the game right in front of the crease, scoring his 11th, 12th, and 13th goals of the season in that game.
Sloan Stanick: February 24, 2024 vs Brandon
This particular hat trick was one of the sentimental variety, as Sloan Stanick scored three goals on the Raiders’ Kid Takeover Night. Both he and captain Eric Johnston spent time colouring and having fun with two kids from the Victoria Hospital Pediatric Unit in Prince Albert. Both of the kids, Carter and Bryce, were in attendance for the game. Sloan worked with Carter on colouring his hero board for the game, while Eric did the same with Bryce. With the game tied 1-1 in the second period, Stanick struck on the powerplay, sniping a shot low past Carson Bjarnason. Celebrating his first goal of the game, Stanick pointed over to the glass near one of the tunnels where Carter was cheering, a way of saying “that one was for you.” Stanick wasn’t done there either, as he scored twice more in the third period, with both goals again coming on Raider powerplays. 8:40 into the final frame, Stanick held a puck in at the blue line and worked his way into the high slot. From there he fired a shot on goal through traffic, fooling Bjarnason for his second goal of the game to put the Raiders up 4-1. After giving up a shorthanded goal with 6:46 left in the third, Stanick needed just 25 seconds to strike back. Stepping in from the left win, the overage winger sniped a shot high on the blocker side past Bjarnason, giving Prince Albert a 5-1 lead. It was Stanick’s third career hat trick.
