2019 Rogers #WHLChampionship Series Preview: Vancouver Giants (1) vs. Prince Albert Raiders (1)
With the 2019 Rogers #WHLChampionship Series set to begin Friday, May 3, WHL.ca provides a look in at both sides of the main event.
With a general introduction, vital statistics and keys to the series, we’ve got everything you need to know heading into the 2019 WHL Playoffs. While the usual suspects are known, our ‘Players to Watch’ section will take a deeper dive into some of the supporting characters set to take on a big role in the post-season.
Finally, we’ll close our series previews with a quick look to the past for a brief historical take on the rivalry that exists – or stands to ignite.
In our 2019 Rogers #WHLChampionship Series preview, we’ll examine two teams intent on gaining admission to the 2019 Memorial Cup presented by Kia for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at junior hockey glory!
The Western Hockey League’s top two teams from the regular season will meet in a battle of the absolute best in the 2019 Rogers #WHLChampionship Series.
Since March 22, the Vancouver Giants and Prince Albert Raiders have faced and conquered each foe on a similar path to realize championship glory.
Both conquered an inter-divisional opponent in the first round, facing challenges throughout the course of each series, but ultimately prevailing. In the second round, both teams dispatched of their geographical rival they had gone back and forth with throughout the regular season, earning their way into the Eastern and Western Conference Championships respectively. There, both teams once again overcame an inter-divisional opponent on impressive runs of their own seeking to right playoff wrongs of years past.
Now, each team stands in the other’s way of realizing their championship glory.
The Raiders have built an impressive case to date against their WHL competition. Possessing the best record in the 2018-19 WHL Regular Season, the Raiders captured the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the second time in team history. On the Giants’ side, the run to their sixth division title and third Western Conference Championship was powered through a career year from Bowen Byram, the Canadian Hockey League’s top-ranked prospect for the upcoming 2019 NHL Draft.
Up front, the Raiders have enough talent to carry them through the seven-game series. With Noah Gregor (San Jose Sharks), as well as 2019 NHL Draft prospects Brett Leason and Aliaksei Protas finding their stride, it’s easy to forget the Raiders have forward depth extending to their second and third lines as well. Add in long-time Raider Sean Montgomery, Parker Kelly (Ottawa Senators) and prized mid-season acquisition Dante Hannoun and you have all the makings of the deep roster teams can win a championship with. The contributions of Cole Fonstad (Montreal Canadiens) and rookie Ozzy Wiesblatt can’t be discounted either.
The Giants will counter with 20-year-old forward Davis Koch and captain Jared Dmytriw, who have combined for 30 points in the team’s first 15 games of the 2019 WHL Playoffs. Talent along the likes of Owen Hardy, Dawson Holt, and Tristen Nielsen have also made their presence felt offensively for the Giants with clutch overtime goals and perfect setups to each other. Rookie Lukas Svejkovsky has made himself one of six Giants forwards to reach double-digit points in the 2019 WHL Playoffs and should continue to be a big factor while the likes of Milos Roman (Calgary Flames) and Jadon Joseph always have offence on their mind.
On the Raiders’ blue line, the duo of Sergei Sapego and captain Brayden Pachal have provided an offensive element for Prince Albert. The Giants have conceded just 31 goals through their first 16 games in the 2019 WHL Playoffs and those two are a big reason why.
As the WHL scoring leader in the 2019 WHL Playoffs, it’s not hard to see how Byram has contributed to the Giants’ success. Having just recently turned 20-years-old, Dylan Plouffe has been in fine form as well. The pair have actually outscored Vancouver’s top two forwards through the Western Conference Championship, combining for 11 goals and 31 points.
The series is set to deliver in net with Ian Scott (Toronto Maple Leafs) and David Tendeck (Arizona Coyotes) set to duel each other. Both have been stingy in the blue paint throughout the 2019 WHL Playoffs. Scott is coming off being named the WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week, WHL Vaughn Goaltender of the Month, and WHL Goaltender of the Year in a span of three days. The Calgary, Alta. product continues to lead all four major goaltending categories in post-season play. While he hasn’t won the same amount of major awards, Tendeck ranks fourth in goals-against average and save percentage and has been every bit the top-tier netminder the Giants expected he would be.
Game 1 of the 2019 Rogers #WHLChampionship Series will be hosted at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Sask. on Friday, May 3 (7:00 p.m. MT). Following Game 2, the series will shift to the Lower Mainland for the next three games, beginning with Game 3 on Tuesday, May 7 (7:00 p.m. PT).
Catch every second of the series on WHL Live! Playoff packages are available at WHLLive.com!
It's going to be a good one! The @PARaidersHockey & @WHLGiants will meet in the 2019 @Rogers #WHLChampionship Series!
DETAILS 📰 | https://t.co/vgp7CjAJw6 pic.twitter.com/OwSASQZXFk
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 28, 2019
Schedule
Game 1 – Friday, May 3 – Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, Sask. – 7:00 p.m. MT
Game 2 – Saturday, May 4 – Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, Sask. – 7:00 p.m. MT
Game 3 – Tuesday, May 7 – Langley Events Centre – Vancouver, B.C. – 7:00 p.m. PT
Game 4 – Wednesday, May 8 – Langley Events Centre – Vancouver, B.C. – 7:00 p.m. PT
Game 5* – Friday, May 10– Langley Events Centre – Vancouver, B.C. – 7:30 p.m. PT
Game 6* – Sunday, May 12 – Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, Sask. – 6:00 p.m. MT
Game 7* – Monday, May 13 – Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, Sask. – 7:00 p.m. MT
* If necessary
Season Series
January 24 – Prince Albert (1) at Vancouver (3)
 |
 |
|
| Vancouver Giants | vs. | Prince Albert Raiders |
| 48-15-3-2 (101 points) | Record | 54-10-2-2 (112 points) |
| Second Place | WHL Standing | First Place |
| First Place | Conference Standing | First Place |
| First Place – B.C. | Division Standing | First Place – East |
| 26-6-1-1 | Home Record | 28-4-2-0 |
| 22-9-2-1 | Road Record | 26-6-0-2 |
| 228 (11th) | Goals For | 307 (First) |
| 162 (Third) | Goals Against | 156 (Second) |
| 24.6% (Fourth) | Power Play | 22.0% (Ninth) |
| 84.9% (Second) | Penalty Kill | 86.9% (First) |
| Eliminated in First Round | 2018 Playoffs | Eliminated in First Round |
| Davis Koch – 28-50–78 | Leading Scorer | Brett Leason – 36-53–89 |
| Bowen Byram – 26-45–71 | Second Leading Scorer | Noah Gregor – 43-45–88 |
| Milos Roman – 27-33–60 | Third Leading Scorer | Cole Fonstad – 29-44–73 |
| Davis Koch – 28 goals | Top Goal Scorer | Noah Gregor – 43 goals |
| Bowen Byram – 26-45–71 | Top Scoring Defenceman | Brayden Pachal – 15-36–51 |
| Trent Miner (32 GP, 24-5-1-1, 1.98, .924, 3 SO) |
Top Goaltender | Ian Scott(49 GP, 38-8-1-2, 1.83, .932, 8 SO) |
Key to the Series – Prince Albert Raiders
Goals will make you whole: With 54 goals through their first 16 games in the 2019 WHL Playoffs, the Prince Albert Raiders have only faced intermittent issues of being able to put the puck in the back of the net. Though it’s likely not ideal for the nerves of their fans or coaches, the Raiders have also shown their ability to lock down a 1-0 game or a tight contest when called upon. Eight of their 16 games have been settled by a pair of goals or fewer
As much as that should matter to the Raiders, the mantra of the path to victory can sometimes change between two unique opponents. The Raiders have the offensive and defensive talents to win the high-scoring contests as much as they do the tight games.
The @PARaidersHockey have the first win in the Eastern Conference Championship! #PAvsEDM | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7ex1RMGdyG
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 20, 2019
Key to the Series – Vancouver Giants
Strike while the iron is hot: Through three rounds, the Giants have been perhaps the best in the league at being able to flick a switch. In the second round, many thought they’d receive a strong challenge from the Royals, only to shut them out in Game 1 and follow that up with back-to-back overtime victories. Suddenly, the series was at 3-0 and a comeback was out of the question.
The same happened in the Western Conference Championship, where they were able to go up 3-0 on a defensive stalwart of a team 57 seconds into the period of Game 1. Then in Game 2, a 3:21 span in the third period quickly changed the course of the game. Add in an OT win and suddenly their opponents were heading back to the Langley Events Centre facing a 3-1 series deficit. Things will be different this time as the Giants don’t have the benefit of home-ice advantage, but if they can manage to turn the tables in one of the two games and return home to a rink they’ve been virtually unbeatable in all playoffs, it’ll be tough going for the Raiders.
Four goals. 201 seconds.
Capped off by Yannik Valenti! The @WHLGiants are rolling! #VANvsSPO | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/8L73fG9PYg
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 21, 2019
Forward to Watch – Prince Albert Raiders
Aliaksei Protas (11-29–40): They call him The Viper from Vitebsk. 2019 NHL Draft prospect Aliaksei Protas showed his ability to play at a high level throughout the 2018-19 WHL Regular Season, then had a strong start to the WHL Playoffs with a pair of goals and three points in a Game 2 win against the Red Deer Rebels. His best performance of the season came more recently though as he had the hot stick for Game 5 and 6 of the Eastern Conference Championship with back-to-back hat tricks to elevate his team to victory both times.
Protas is another draft-eligible player in this series that is shining at the right time. The rookie from Belarus has elevated him into the top five of scoring and into the lead among scoring for rookie skaters in the 2019 WHL Playoffs. Coming up big when it counts is a great indicator for the 18-year-old in first WHL campaign. If he’s able to do the same when it counts in the battle for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, he’ll have a chance to do it again in Halifax, Nova Scotia later this month.
Forward to Watch – Vancouver Giants
Davis Koch (28-50–78): The memories, the friendships, and the lessons learned. Players reflect positively on their junior hockey careers for those three experiences and more between the ages of 16 and 20. They also look for the positive culmination to their junior hockey careers, regardless of the level they’re playing at. Davis Koch is now in that position, set to play the final four to seven games of his WHL career.
Koch has been a strong contributor as well for the Giants, posting 17 points (2G-15A) in the 2019 WHL Playoffs to rank second among all skaters. Will Koch thrive against the Raiders or will Prince Albert’s defence be able to contain him? Right now, all we have is the two goals he scored against them on January 24 to go off of, a good first piece of info, but not enough to make a firm decision. With the lack of familiarity between the two teams, we won’t know how things will shake out until the puck drops on the series Friday.
It's a 2-0 advantage! A sweet pass from Davis Koch & @tristen_080 wins it for the @WHLGiants in overtime!#VANvsVIC | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Om9SFysCwR
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 7, 2019
Defenceman to Watch – Prince Albert Raiders
Brayden Pachal (15-36– 51): Near the 2017 WHL Trade Deadline, Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt made a deal involving two WHL Bantam Draft selections and two players. With hindsight being 20/20, more than two years later that deal has been a huge win for the Raiders. They acquired Pachal in that deal, who at the time had just three assists in 35 games with the Royals. The change of scenery has benefited the Estevan, Sask. product ever since.
His career-high total of 51 points this season by the 19-year-old put him in a tie for eighth among WHL defencemen. His 15 goals all came at even strength, ranked second in the WHL behind only Bowen Byram. What’s even better is that seven of them were game-winning goals, another career-best for Pachal. Playoffs can be a bit of a different beast for players to adapt to and his six points (1G-5A) through 16 games is due to the deserved prioritizing of defence at this time of year. If the 6-foot-1, 193-pound rear guard can find more of that offensive rhythm from the regular season this series, it’ll be a great aid to the Eastern Conference Champions.
Prince Albert Raiders captain Brayden Pachal. Photo: Lucas Chudleigh/Apollo Multimedia
Defenceman to Watch – Vancouver Giants
Bowen Byram (26-45– 71): Is there anything more we can say about the CHL’s top-ranked skater ahead of the 2019 NHL Draft? One thing fun about the WHL Playoffs and #WHLChampionship each year is the potential for new records to be set. No defenceman has ever led the WHL Playoffs in scoring, something Byram is in a prime position to accomplish once the final buzzer sounds on the 2019 Rogers #WHLChampionship Series.
A 25-point effort from Chris Phillips with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 1997 WHL Playoffs came close, three points off a 28-point performance from teammate Byron Ritchie. In addition to the bonus of having the best teams compete for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, it’s crucial to have the best players possible on each side. Byram will be under the watchful eye of scouts, seeing if he can possibly impress them more than he already has this season.
Goaltender to Watch – Prince Albert Raiders
Ian Scott (49 GP, 38-8-1-2, 1.83, .932, 8 SO): The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has checked all the boxes indicative of success in the WHL. His incredible regular season was recognized Wednesday in Red Deer, Alta. as he was named the recipient of the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as WHL Goaltender of the Year. With so many WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week and WHL Vaughn Goaltender of the Month Awards to his credit, all that’s left to win now is an Ed Chynoweth Cup.
There’s nothing more that needs to be said about how impressive Scott has been and how valuable he’s been in the Raiders’ progression. Interestingly enough, Scott’s first-ever WHL victory came against the Giants way back on October 2, 2015 in Prince Albert. If there’s one challenge left for him to prove, and it’s a big if, it’s winning a game against the Giants on the road. His last attempt came in the 3-1 loss in January 2019. While that game didn’t go in Scott’s favour, you can ensure he’ll bring his A-game for the Raiders once more.
Goaltender to Watch – Vancouver Giants
David Tendeck: (38 GP, 24-10-2-1, 2.84 GAA, .911 SV%, 4 SO): For the first two rounds of the 2019 WHL Playoffs, the Vancouver Giants rotated their goaltenders to split up the games evenly. In the Western Conference Championship,Michael Dyck handed the reins in net to the Arizona Coyotes prospect and Tendeck didn’t disappoint. In those five games, he posted a 2.09 GAA and a .929 SV% while collecting four victories, his one loss coming in overtime.
While it’s an honour to get selected at the NHL Draft like Tendeck was last year, that just begins another cycle of proving teams that they made the right decision in selecting you over the other guy. So far, Tendeck has done that in the regular season and playoffs and being able to hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup would only serve to enhance that. If Tendeck can continue to play at the level he was at in the Western Conference Championship, there’s a good chance he’ll get to do that.
What a save David Tendeck! The @ArizonaCoyotes prospect comes up big with a save at the side of the net in the second!#VANvsSPO | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/PSlxcHHYtf
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 20, 2019
Playoff History – Prince Albert Raiders
Moments like this come around once in a generation, something the Prince Albert Raiders players, organization, and fans know all too well. With their first and only WHL Championship coming in 1985, it hasn’t just been a long wait for the organization, but for WHL fans in northern Saskatchewan. The province’s third-largest city has had fans come out in droves to support them throughout the first and second round as well as the Eastern Conference Championship.
You can bet that fans will come out in droves for the next four games, if necessary, and that they’ll make the Art Hauser Centre a tough building for opponents to win in once again.
The Prince Albert Raiders celebrate winning the WHL Championship in 1985 against the Kamloops Blazers. Photo: WHL Archives
Playoff History – Vancouver Giants
The Vancouver Giants know both sides of the jubilation and pain the Rogers WHL Championship Series can cause. In 2006, a four-game sweep of the Moose Jaw Warriors put the Giants above the rest of the competition. A year later, a seven-game series loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers caused momentary pain. After all, it was followed by the team’s first and only Memorial Cup victory just a few weeks later.
It goes without saying that the Giants would like to replicate the success they had a decade ago and have gone through their share of tough years to get back to this point. For a team that’s come this far, they won’t want to suffice with anything less than four victories in their next seven games or fewer.
The Vancouver Giants pose together after winning the 2006 WHL Championship against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Photo: WHL Archives
Head-to-Head Playoff History – Prince Albert Raiders and Vancouver Giants
The 2019 Rogers #WHLChampionship Series will mark the first-ever meeting in the WHL Playoffs between the two teams.
Trent Miner of the Vancouver Giants in action against the Prince Albert Raiders on January 24, 2019. Photo: Chris Relke/Vancouver Giants
Loading ...