2025 WHL Graduates: Prince Albert Raiders
Over the summer, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2024-25 season in a 22-part, team-by-team series.
Today, we continue with the graduating players from the Prince Albert Raiders.
Niall Crocker (F)
Hometown: Delta, B.C.
WHL Career Stats: 288 GP – 70 G-93 A –163 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 1st Round, 22nd Overall (Prince Albert)
Like most first round, WHL Draft selections, expectations to achieve on-ice access was placed on the shoulders of Prince Albert’s 22nd-overall selection from the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Niall Crocker. And, like most first-round selections, Crocker not only lived up to the expectations – he surpassed them. After making his WHL debut with the Raiders on March 12, 2021, the Delta, B.C. local quickly became a mainstay on the East Division club’s roster. In total, the looming forward starred in 288 regular season games with Prince Albert, putting up 163 career points (70 G-93 A). And, as each season progressed, so did Crocker’s on-ice production. After posting a mere four points (4 A) in his first 23 games during the 2020-21 season, Crocker would advance his career bests in points at the conclusion of each season in Prince Albert. He went from six points in 2021-22 and 31 points in 2022-23 to 57 points in 2023-24 and a career-best of 65 points in 2024-25. Crocker’s 65-point performance (27 G-38 A) during his 20-year-old season placed him fifth in team scoring. In his five-season stint in HockeyTown North, Crocker also suited up for the WHL Playoffs during three campaigns. In total, the veteran forward starred in 21 post-season games, racking up eight goals and three assists for 11 points.
Having completed his WHL career, Crocker announced his commitment to Ohio State University for the 2025-26 season.
Now that's some hand eye coordination from Niall Crocker! 👀@PARaidersHockey pic.twitter.com/AU0MKHG9gy
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 5, 2025
Rilen Kovacevic (F)
Hometown: Kelowna, B.C.
WHL Career Stats: 225 GP – 59 G-69 A –28 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 10th Round, 204th Overall (Kelowna)
After more than 200 appearances in the Western League, forward Rilen Kovacevic might go down as one of the greatest 10th-round selections in WHL Draft history. Originally nabbed by the Kelowna Rockets with the 204th-overall pick during the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Kovacevic wasted no time in making his WHL debut. Hitting the ice with the Rockets on January 11, 2020, a budding Kovacevic skated in total of five regular season appearances with the Rockets during the 2019-20 season. After three more skates with Kelowna in 2020-21, the late-draft steal began to make waves as a WHL regular during the 2022-23 WHL Season. Splitting the season between Kelowna and Edmonton, Kovacevic hit the 30-point threshold for the first time in his career – doing so in just 56 games. His breakout performance was noticed and admired by the Moose Jaw Warriors, who later acquired Kelowna, B.C. local – alongside Anaheim Ducks prospect, Vojtech Port – in December 2023. Slotted into a depth role with Moose Jaw, Kovacevic’s punishing style of offence bloomed with the Warriors. After recording 20 points (5 G-15 A) in his first 34 games with Moose Jaw, Kovacevic’s true potential shone through during the 2024 WHL Playoffs. With 15 points (4 G-11 A) in 20 post-season games, Kovacevic’s efforts proved to be monumental for the Warriors as the forward helped the East Division club capture their first-ever Ed Chynoweth Cup in June 2024. Now, a WHL Champion, Kovacevic’s services were once again requested by another club. Acquired by the Prince Albert Raiders in January 2025, Kovacevic concluded his WHL career in HockeyTown North, suiting up in 27 games with the Raiders. Kovacevic exits the WHL following a six-season stint spent with Kelowna, Edmonton, Moose Jaw, and Prince Albert. On July 1, 2025, Kovacevic signed a one-year contract with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Colorado Eagles.
Rilen Kovacevic continues to fuel the @MJWARRIORS and a four-point effort earns him the latest Tempo WHL Player of the Week honours.
📝 | https://t.co/OnNAIgknPf pic.twitter.com/le3dS5iJBh
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 23, 2024
Max Hildebrand (G)
Hometown: Martensville, Sask.
WHL Career Stats: 143 GP – 3.06 GAA – 0.905 SV% –69 Wins
WHL Draft: 2019 – 13th Round, 286th Overall (Prince Albert)
It’s official – goaltending greatness is graduating from the Western Hockey League. After four seasons of guarding the Prince Albert Raiders’ crease, veteran netminder Max Hildebrand is moving on to future endeavours and he’s bringing the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy with him. Named the WHL’s Goaltender of the Year following the conclusion of the 2024-25 WHL regular season, Hildebrand joins Niall Crocker and Rilen Kovacevic as Prince Albert’s graduating class of 2025. Originally selected in the 13th round (286th overall) of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Hildebrand made his League debut on January 21, 2022, making 12 saves in a relief performance against the Winnipeg ICE. The product of Martensville, Sask., waited until October 21, 2022 for his first career WHL win, backstopping the Raiders to a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings. In 2023-24, Hildebrand took up the mantle of Raiders starting netminder, posting a record of 25-20-2-2 in 51 regular season starts. However, his 20-year-old season was his best campaign to date. In 55 games as Prince Albert’s starter, Hildebrand owned a record of 33-16-5-0 and posted a remarkable goals-against average (GAA) of 2.87. His 55 starts led all WHL goaltenders through the regular season and his 33 wins placed him tied for second, alongside Prince George Cougars netminder and San Jose Sharks prospect, Joshua Ravensbergen. Hildebrand’s final season of WHL eligibility also saw the netminder backstop Prince Albert to a spot in the second round of the 2025 WHL Playoffs, recording four wins in 11 starts. Hildebrand, 21, is now set to join the NCAA’s Bemidji State University for the 2025-26 season.
SUPER MAX!@PARaidersHockey veteran and recent WHL graduate Max Hildebrand is the recipient of the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL's Goaltender of the Year! #WHLAwards
📝 | https://t.co/QR0KDOV3uf pic.twitter.com/VIHrFEsJjV
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) April 30, 2025
