McDonald named WHL Coach of the Year finalist
The Prince Albert Raiders are proud to announce that head coach Ryan McDonald has been named a finalist for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for WHL Coach of the Year.
McDonald, who’s hometown is Prince Albert, is in his first season as head coach, after serving as interim head coach at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. He led the Raiders to a 52-10-5-1 record, their best showing since the 2018-19 season. Prince Albert finished first place in the Eastern Conference, and just advanced to round two of the 2026 WHL Playoffs after a five game series win over the Red Deer Rebels.
In the regular season, the Raiders finished with the best goal differential in the league at +45. That also ranked second in the entire Canadian Hockey League.
Under McDonald, Prince Albert became the first team to clinch a playoff spot, and clinched the East Division title for a second straight season, finishing 28 points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings for top spot. In a battle for first in the Eastern Conference with the Medicine Hat Tigers, the Raiders finished the regular season on a six game winning streak, edging the Tigers by two points to lock up first place.
