Prairie Mobile / SaskTel Preview: Raiders at Hitmen
PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS AT CALGARY HITMEN | JAN. 29, 2016 | 8:00 PM CST
RAIDER REVIEW: The Prince Albert Raiders (26-16-4-1) begin a stretch of three games in three nights on Friday evening as they invade the Scotiabank Saddledome to face the Calgary Hitmen. Prince Albert is coming off a difficult pair of games last weekend that saw them drop decisions to the Brandon Wheat Kings and Regina Pats. On Saturday in Regina, the Raiders heavily outshot the Pats throughout the game but were dealt a 4-2 setback when Sam Steel scored the game-winning goal with two minutes left in the third period. The Raiders are seven points back of the East Division leading Wheat Kings.
VS. CALGARY: Friday night’s game is the fourth and final regular season meeting this year between the Raiders and Hitmen. Reid Gardiner (2g), Simon Stransky (2a), and Jordan Tkatch (2a) each have two points for Prince Albert in the season series against Calgary. Hitmen forwards Jakob Stukel (4g-1a) and Radel Fazleev (1g-4a) have registered five points versus the Raiders.
2015-16 SEASON SERIES RECAP
Nov. 4/15 at PA | PA 3 CGY 2 | R. Gardiner (2g), J. Tkatch (2a), S. Stransky (1g)
Nov. 24/15 at PA | CGY 4 PA 2 | J. Stukel (2g-1a), R. Fazleev (2a), C. Babych (1g)
Dec. 3/15 at CGY | CGY 6 PA 1 | M. Zipp (2a), L. Bensmiller (2a), Tr. Sanheim (2a)
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: PA 80 CGY 92 Power Plays: PA 0-14 (00.0%) CGY 1-9 (11.1%)
FAMILIAR FACES: Friday’s game is the first between the Raiders and Hitmen since their deadline trade on January 10. In the deal, Prince Albert acquired forward Layne Bensmiller and defenceman Loch Morrison from Calgary in exchange for forward Matteo Gennaro and prospect Ty Prefontaine, along with a sixth round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.
TOP PROSPECT: Raiders forward Simon Stransky competed on Thursday at the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The Ostrava, Czech Republic native was part of a 3-2 victory by Team Orr over Team Cherry at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, BC. It has been a memorable season to date for Stransky. He was given an A-rating in the Preliminary Rankings by NHL Central Scouting and was recently ranked 25th in the Midterm Rankings. Stransky also represented the Czech Republic at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
CALLED UP: 16-year-old forward Josh Maser has joined the Raiders for the team’s three-game road trip. The Houston, BC native has spent the majority of the 2015-16 season with the Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget Hockey League where he plays with brother and fellow Raiders prospect Tyler Maser. In 26 games with the Cougars, Josh Maser has 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points. He made his WHL debut in the Raiders’ season opener in Saskatoon on September 25.
INKED: The Raiders announced on Thursday the signing of 1999-born defenceman Zack Hayes to a WHL Standard Players Agreement. Prince Albert selected the Calgary, AB native in the ninth round, 184th overall, in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. Hayes has spent the 2015-16 season with the Calgary Northstars of the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League. In 27 contests he has registered a goal and nine assists for 10 points.
UP NEXT: The Raiders resume their three-game road swing on Saturday night when they visit the Medicine Hat Tigers. The team is back at the Art Hauser Centre on Wednesday, February 3 when they host the Prince George Cougars. Puck drop is 7:00 PM. For ticket information, visit raiderhockey.com or call 764-GAME.
