Game Preview: Round One, Game Five vs Red Deer

SETTING IT UP:

The Prince Albert Raiders have another chance to wrap up their first round series tonight against the Red Deer Rebels. Red Deer stayed alive in game four on home ice, beating Prince Albert 4-3 to make it a 3-1 series lead for the Raiders.

ORSULAK NAMED WHL GOALIE OF THE MONTH:

An impressive month of March led to Raiders netminder Michal Orsulak being named WHL Goalie of the Month. Orsulak went a perfect 9-0-0-0 between regular season and playoff games, stringing together a 1.33 GAA and a .933 SV%. He shutout the Rebels in game two of the series as well.

CRIPPS NAMED ROTY FINALIST:

The WHL announced on Thursday morning that Brock Cripps has been named a finalist for the WHL Rookie of the Year Award.

COOTES NAMED MOST SPORTSMANLIKE FINALIST:

Braeden Cootes was also nominated for a league award on Thursday. The 18-year-old was named a finalist for the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player award.

2025-26 HEAD TO HEAD (REGULAR SEASON):

October 4, 2025: Raiders 4, Rebels 1

December 6, 2025: Raiders 7, Rebels 3

March 3, 2026: Rebels 4, Raiders 3

March 7, 2026: Rebels 3, Raiders 1

SEVEN YEARS IN THE MAKING:

The Raiders and Rebels are squaring off in the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Prince Albert swept Red Deer in that first round series, by scores of 3-0, 6-4, 4-2, and 4-1. The Raiders would go on to win the WHL Championship.

UP NEXT:

If necessary, game six of this series will be on Sunday night back in Red Deer. Looking past that, if necessary, game seven would be in Prince Albert on Tuesday night.