Prairie Mobile / SaskTel Preview: Raiders vs. Wheat Kings
PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS VS. BRANDON WHEAT KINGS | Nov. 15, 2015 | 4:00PM
RAIDER REVIEW: The Prince Albert Raiders (12-5-2-1) travel to Manitoba for the first time this season as they take on the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Raiders are coming off a travel day, while the Wheat Kings played on Saturday night against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. In their last game, the Raiders suffered a tough 4-3 overtime setback to the Saskatoon Blades. Prince Albert looked on their way to a win when Ryan Graham connected on a rebound for his second goal of the night. Graham would complete the hat trick 30 seconds into the extra frame to secure his team two points.
VS. BRANDON: Tonight is the first of six contests this season between the Raiders and Wheat Kings. Last season Prince Albert took the final two meetings, both at home, against Brandon. The Raiders’ last win in Brandon was January 10, 2014 in a 4-3 decision. Last year’s Eastern Conference champions, the Wheat Kings have remained a dangerous opponent despite losing overage forward Tim McGauley in the first game of the season. McGauley tallied 42 goals and 63 assists for 105 points in 2014-15.
2014-15 SEASON SERIES RECAP
Nov. 29/14 at PA | BDN 6 PA 3 | J. Tkatch (2g-1a), T. Kaspick (2a), N. Patrick (1g-1a)
Dec. 30/14 at BDN | BDN 4 PA 1 | T. McGauley (1g-1a), J. Papirny (31 svs), R. Bukarts (2a)
Jan. 23/15 at BDN | BDN 5 PA 1 | T. McGauley (2g), J. Quenneville (2a), A. Moodie (31 svs)
Feb. 15/15 at BDN | BDN 5 PA 2 | M. Klimchuk (3a), D. Campbell (2g), J. Papirny (35 svs)
Feb. 20/15 at PA | PA 6 BDN 4 | A. Glover (2g-1a), R. Gardiner (1g-2a), J. Hawryluk (3g)
Mar. 6/15 at PA | PA 5 BDN 2 | A. Glover (2g), J. Tkatch (1g-1a), R. Gardiner (2a)
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: PA 196 BDN 207 Power Plays: PA 5-23 (21.7%) BDN 4-29 (13.7%)
MAPPIN’ IT OUT: Forward Ty Mappin made his Raiders debut on Friday night against the Blades – one of his former teams. Mappin was originally selected by the Everett Silvertips in the first round, seventh overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. In 69 career WHL games, split between the Raiders, Silvertips and Blades, Mappin has collected six goals and 12 assists for 18 points.A Big Valley, AB product, Mappin began this season with the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. In 22 games with the Dragons, he scored four goals and added 20 assists for 24 points.
STEADY SEVEN: With rookie netminder Ian Scott away at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, veteran puck stopper Rylan Parenteau took full control of the Raiders crease. Parenteau made his seventh-straight start on Friday night against Saskatoon. During the past seven games, dating back to October 28, Parenteau has posted a 3.14 goals-against average and a 0.909 save percentage, with a pair of wins.
SHORTIES: On Friday night, the Raiders scored a shorthanded goal for the second-straight game. On November 7 in Moose Jaw, Sean Montgomery scored on a shorthanded breakaway. Against the Blades on Friday, Jesse Lees took control of the puck in the neutral zone and worked his way through the defence before sneaking his shot past the goaltender. Prince Albert has now scored three shorthanded goals this season.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Prince Albert Raiders return to the Art Hauser Centre for a weekday affair with the Moose Jaw Warriors on Tuesday, November 17. Puck drop is 7:00 PM. For ticket information, visit raiderhockey.com or call 764-GAME.
