By Trevor Redden

Playoff-bound Raiders to select third overall in bantam draft

Mar 21, 2018 | 5:00 PM

Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. Just ask the Prince Albert Raiders.

While the team continues preparations for its first-round playoff matchup against the Moose Jaw Warriors, they found out they will have the third overall pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft after a lottery was held in Calgary to determine the final order Wednesday morning.

Typically, only non-playoff teams are entered into the draft lottery, but the Raiders found themselves included after acquiring this year’s first-round pick from the Prince George Cougars in the fall of 2016 along with Max Martin, Kolby Johnson, and a 2019 third-round pick, all in exchange for Brendan Guhle. The Cougars finished 21st out of 22 teams this season, placing their first-round pick second from the top prior to the lottery. Today the lottery ball fell in favour of the Kootenay ICE, moving their pick from fourth to second (the lottery winner was only allowed to move up two spots) and moving the Raiders’ pick from second to third.

“We won the lottery last year, we would have loved to win it again this year, but the great thing about Western Canada is we produce great hockey players and we’re going to get ourselves a real good player at the number-three spot,” Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt said.

Hunt said his intentions are to improve the current team to a playoff calibre while keeping a strong stock of prospects and draft picks moving forward. While holding the Cougars’ pick, the Raiders flipped their own first-round pick to Prince George in January along with Rhett Rhinehart and Austin Crossley for Kody McDonald and a conditional pick. McDonald has produced 30 points in 33 games as a Raider, helping the team reach the playoffs.

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This is the second straight year the Raiders will pick near the top of the draft after taking Kaiden Guhle, Brendan’s brother, first overall in 2017. The 2018 bantam draft takes place Thursday, May 3.

Adopt-a-Raider coach crowned

Prince Albert Minor Hockey Technical Director James Mays presented Raider goaltender Curtis Meger with a trophy Wednesday afternoon, celebrating his contributions to the Adopt-a-Raider program. The program pairs all current Raider players with minor hockey teams in the community, where they act as mentors throughout the season.

In addition to Meger, Mays also recognized Curtis Miske, Jordy Stallard, Vojtech Budik, and Brayden Pachal (who also spends time as a minor hockey referee in the winter) for their willingness to go over and above expectations for their respective teams.

“Some of these guys are going to games and to wind-up banquets, really becoming a part of the team, the kids look forward to it,” Mays said. “It’s just an added level of excitement when the kids see [the Raiders] coming in.”

Mays emphasized the commitment it takes to be a junior hockey player and recognized what it means for them to use their free time to give back to the community.

“For Curtis Meger to go out 15 or 18 times, that’s almost a month worth of nights that he’s going to the rink with these kids. It’s great.”

Box office opens

Raider fans were lined up at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning to get their hands on single-game tickets for games 3 and 4 of the first-round series against the Moose Jaw Warriors, which will be played at the Art Hauser Centre next Tuesday and Wednesday.

trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden