By Jeff D'Andrea

1st pick Guhle already ‘loves’ being a Prince Albert Raider

Sep 2, 2017 | 9:32 PM

Since 1990, the Prince Albert Raiders have only picked two players first overall pick in a WHL Bantam Draft. One is former Raider captain and long-time NHL’er Kyle Chipchura, chosen first in the 2001.

The other is 15-year-old Kaiden Guhle, who just finished his first Raiders training camp on Saturday after his Team Green beat Team White 7-5 in the annual intrasquad game at the Art Hauser Centre.

Saturday was the first time Guhle put on on the Green and Gold threads for a game situation with the Raiders. Previously, he was presented one when he signed with the Raiders during a ceremony that featured fellow 2017 first rounder Cohner Saleski and second round pick Ozzy Wiesblatt. 

“It was really special. It got me really excited for the next few years of my life,” Guhle said of wearing the jersey at the intrasquad game. “I love this logo, I love this jersey and I want to be in it for a long time to come.”

Guhle came into Raiders camp named Top Defenceman in the Canadian Sport School Bantam Hockey League last year, scoring 17 goals and 40 points in 30 games as captain with OHA Edmonton.

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He scored in the intrasquad game in the third period, a screen shot that found its way into the top corner past Andreai Proctor-Ramirez.

“It was special, it was kinda lucky with a good screen in front,” Guhle said. “It was really cool, it was cool to get my first goal out of the way.

Up next for Guhle and the Prince Albert Raiders is the Young Guns Game on Labour Day Sunday against the Saskatoon Blades.

Although he’s not sure if he’s playing in it or not, it could be an enticing matchup for Guhle, who would go head-to-head against some of the best WHL prospects in his age. The Blades sport a pair of 2017 Top 10 draft picks that were Guhle’s CSSHL rivals: fifth overall pick and defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere and sneaky winger Kyle Crnkovic, the 10^th overall pick in that year.

But perhaps the dream matchup Raider fans want to see is Guhle test himself against Blades 16-year-old Kirby Dach, the 2^nd overall pick in the 2016 draft.

“He’s really good,” Guhle said of Dach. “Got to know him a little bit, he went to my school and his brother [Colton Dach] played on my team last year. He’s a great player, great with the puck and he can do just about anything. I’m pretty excited to play him, hopefully.”

The Young Guns game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. puck drop on Sunday at the Art Hauser Centre.

Team Green 7 Team White 5

First Period

1-0, Team Green, D-Jay Jerome from Parker Kelly, 1:10

2-0, Team Green, Jordy Stallard from Parker Kelly (2) and D-Jay Jerome, 15:11

3-0, Team Green, Jordy Stallard (2) from D-Jay Jerome (2), 18:48

Second Period

3-1, Team White, Brayden Pachal (unassisted), 2:27

3-2, Team White, Nikita Krivokrasov from Eric Pearce, 3:32

3-3, Team White, Austin Crossley from Quinn Olson and Curtis Miske, 15:24

Third Period

4-3, Team Green, Parker Kelly from Jordy Stallard, 6:37

5-3, Team Green, Kaiden Guhle from Jordy Stallard (2) and Parker Kelly (3), 7:20

6-3, Team Green, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Cole Fonstad, 7:55

6-4, Team White, Drew Warkentine from Sean Montgomery, 13:53

6-5, Team White, Devon Skoleski from Drew Warkentine and Sean Montgomery (2), 14:20

7-5, Team Green, Carson Miller from Ozzy Wiesblatt, 17:19

Goalies

Team Green: Curtis Meger, 15-17; Brett Balas, 23-26

Team White: Josh Breznik, 20-23; Andreai Proctor-Ramirez, 15-19

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW