By Jeff D'Andrea

The ‘Contact connection’ is strong and real with Raiders

Dec 1, 2015 | 7:28 PM

Kolten Olynek may be the new kid on the block for the Prince Albert Raiders, but he’ll have at least three guys to help get him settled in.

The Raiders acquired Olynek from the Spokane Chiefs on Monday for a conditional ninth round draft choice in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.

The 19-year-old winger from Saskatoon played on the 2011-2012 SMAAAHL champion and Telus Cup bronze medal winning Saskatoon Contacts, as did three other current Raiders in Reid Gardiner, Austin Glover and Rylan Parenteau. Olynek and Parenteau also hung around for the 2012-2013 season when the team won their second straight league championship.

“Knowing guys on a new team right off the start is huge,” said Olynek, who will wear number 26 on the Raiders. “They can introduce you to everyone else and that’s easier coming to a new team, especially with a road trip coming up.”

When news started breaking about the trade, Olynek was in ‘contact’ with all of his former Contact mates quickly in one form of another. He phone Glover himself right away to tell him the news.

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Parenteau had a little bit more difficulty trying to get in touch with Olynek.

“I was trying to contact him, but I only had his Saskatchewan number, not his American number,” smiled Parenteau, who added he had seen Olynek around in the summer. “I didn’t get to text him though, but I snapchatted him and used other means of communication.

“It’s awesome to see the old teammates coming back together. He’s a really good guy and he’s going to be a really good addition to the room and on the ice.”

Olynek is in his third year in the WHL, but the Raiders already make his fourth team.

Olynek was a second round, 26th overall pick of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft then played his rookie season in 2013-2014, the year the Hurricanes won just 12 games. He started last year with the Moose Jaw Warriors before getting dealt to the Chiefs midseason. 

In total, Olynek has 31 points in 140 games in his WHL career.

“[My career] started out kind of slow,” said Olynek. “In Lethbridge that year, we had a tough ride. In Moose Jaw last year, things didn’t work out. Then Spokane was really good to me, I really enjoyed my time there. Their direction with their team this year, they wanted to go young and they wanted to give me an opportunity with a good team—I really respect their decision.

“For my game, I think I’ve grown not only as a player but as a person these last three years with all the moving I’ve done. I’m ready to step in here and try and make an impact.”

Olynek

Hockey Canada

Another former Contact on that 2011-2012 team, Rourke Chartier of the Kelowna Rockets, will attend the Hockey Canada National Junior Team Selection Camp.

Mathew Barzal, Seattle, Jayce Hawryluk, Brandon, Nick Merkley, Kelowna, Brayden Point, Moose Jaw, and John Quenneville, Brandon, make up the rest of the forwards.

Haydn Fleury, Red Deer, Joe Hicketts, Victoria, Noah Juulsen, Everett and Travis Sanheim, Calgary, were the four WHL defencemen named to the selection camp.

Fleury and Chartier are the two players invited that are from Saskatchewan. Fleury hails from Carlyle, while Chartier is from Saskatoon.

Alberta bound

The Raiders will head out to Alberta for their next four games, Thursday in Calgary, Friday in Lethbridge, Sunday in Red Deer and Dec. 8 in Edmonton.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea