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Raiders make CHL’s Top-10; Corbin signs with AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs

Oct 10, 2012 | 5:31 PM

After winning all four games in their Central Division road trip, the Prince Albert Raiders have matched their best start since 2002-2003 with a 7-0-0-1 record. The Raiders currently lead not only the Western Hockey League with 15 points in eight games, but all three leagues associated in Canadian Hockey League.

As a result, the Canadian Hockey League has recognized the Raiders red hot start and has included them in the CHL Top 10 rankings, which include the WHL, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Raiders currently hold the sixth position in the rankings despite not being ranked in any of the previous three weekly Top-10 lists.

Although they have the best start in the nation this year, it’s not going to their heads.

“We’re cautiously optimistic, we’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Raiders general manager Bruno Campese. “We’re very happy with where we’re at right now, but by no means are we content.

“We’re trying to make sure that we stay focus on an everyday basis here and that’s the message that is getting sent from our coaches, right down to our players and everybody in the organization.

“We’re just worrying about one day at a time and that’s it.”

Corbin makes AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs

The Raiders have been able to pile on wins despite losing overager defenceman Antoine Corbin for most of the start as was invited to tryout for the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs announced Wednesday that Corbin signed with the American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens after making the team out of training camp.

“First and foremost we’re happy that he had the opportunity and has done good with it and he’s moving on—that’s why we’re here,” said Campese. “We’re really proud of the fact that we developed another pro guy so that’s good.”

“The one thing that he brought to the table was he was a big body guy and his biggest asset was his ability to shoot pucks. He was good on the power play and two of his goals early (this year) were bombs for the point. He brought a lot in terms of experience, size and the ability to shoot the puck.”

Campese and the Raiders went through a very similar situation last season, when then 20-year-old forward Jonathan Parker was invited to tryout with the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Campese admitted that when Parker made the Americans, there wasn’t an immediate plan to replace him.

“From every circumstance, you learn from it. Last year, we had Parker go to a try out and we expected him back and sure enough, he plays well enough and earns himself a contract,” said Campese. “We’re proud of the fact he did that as well, but it left our team high and dry and left us scrambling.

“There was no way we were going to make that mistake again.”

In a preventative measure, the Raiders acquired 20-year-old, 6’4 defenceman Davis Vandane from the Spokane Chiefs on Friday for a conditional pick despite not knowing for sure if Corbin would come back or not.

Both players have very similar start lines as they each scored exactly 25 points last season and have two points this year (Corbin, two games, two goals: Vandane, three games, one goal, one assist).

“To be honest, I don’t think we’ll miss a beat,” said Campese. “(Vandane) has got great size, he’s composed for a 20-year-old, he’s got real good hands for a big guy and skates real well. He’s a presence on the ice and if you look at his point totals, they’re almost identical to Corbin’s but (Vandane) is more of playmaking guy than a guy that lets bombs go from the point.

“Very similar in a lot of ways, his defensive play is solid.”

The Yorkton-born Vandane and the rest of the Raiders will hope to keep their seven-game winning streak alive Friday against the Portland Winterhawks (4-3-1, first in U.S. Division) who a 4-3-1 on the season but have just one win in their last four games.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea