By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders enjoying their new Royalties, melt ICE

Jan 5, 2018 | 9:10 PM

Ignited with the addition of some new ‘Royalty,’ the Prince Albert Raiders melted the Kootenay ICE 7-3 at the Art Hauser Centre to snap a five-game winless streak.

Raiders newcomer Regan Nagy, who came over from the Victoria Royals, scored two late goals in the game. The 20-year-old from Ogema is excited to be back in Saskatchewan and suit up for the Green and Gold.

“It’s awesome, I already love it,” Nagy said. “The coaching staff is great, they made me feel welcome here as soon as I got here and so did the guys. They’ve been amazing so far. I’m enjoying it.”

Nagy’s debut for the Raiders was his first game action of any kind since Nov. 28.

“It’s definitely nice to be back in lineup for sure, I was a little rusty to start the game there but shook the cobwebs off,” Nagy said. “I think the boys just battled hard tonight and I could build off that. It’s easy to play with when the boys are doing that.”

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Nagy is one of three players former Royals on the roster. Jeremy Masella also played in his debut game with the Raiders, after he was added on Thursday. The hulking 6-foot-5, 214-pound defenceman flew from Victoria to Saskatoon that night, before heading up to his new hockey home earlier on Friday.

“Yesterday was an exciting day,” Masella said, who registered an assist in the game. “Quick turnaround, I landed in [Saskatoon] late at night, stayed at the hotel and came over this morning. It’s been quite the day but I’m excited to get going.”

One of the players that knows him the best is Raiders defenceman Brayden Pachal, who played with Nagy and Masella before coming over from Victoria during last year’s deadline.

Pachal, who scored two goals on Friday, laughed when asked about the ‘Royals reunion’ in Raiderland.

“There’s three guys now,” Pachal said. “Nagy is coming off an injury right now and Masella too in Victoria, he didn’t get much opportunity. It could take a while to get into our systems and our group, but obviously they contributed huge tonight and we’re looking forward to them being with us.”

With the addition of Nagy, that puts the Raiders 20-year-olds up to four, one over the limit. Devon Skoleski was the odd overager out for Friday’s game. 

“It’s unfortunate, you can only dress three and not four. It’s part of the business,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “It’s too bad because he’s a good guy.”

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Jordy Stallard from Sean Montgomery, 0:34

Stallard gives the Raiders a 1-0 lead just 34 seconds into the game pic.twitter.com/LQlmI9Tjpy

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

1-1, ICE, Colton Veloso from Peyton Krebs, 1:25

It’s a 1-1 game just 1:25 in as Veloso ties it up, nice feed from down low from Krebs pic.twitter.com/3oYGIwQB1w

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

2-1, Raiders, Brayden Pachal (unassisted), 9:36

Brayden Pachal scores in his second consecutive game to make it 2-1 midway through the first period pic.twitter.com/qN6BRbVq39

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

Second Period

3-1, Raiders, Brett Leason (shorthanded, unassisted), 7:30

A tall man scoring a shortie, Brett Leason gives the Raiders a 3-1 lead and chases McGovern from the game pic.twitter.com/TKwmlKmUji

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

Third Period

4-1, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Justin Nachbaur and Jeremy Masella, 1:05

After good forechecking by Nachbaur, he sets up @Parks_17 and Recreation to make it 4-1 pic.twitter.com/fMiJTq7ZTK

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

5-1, Raiders, Brayden Pachal from Jordy Stallard, 2:37

Brayden Pachal with a couple wacks at it for his second goal of the game to make it 5-1 pic.twitter.com/Pxj78NLsia

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

5-2, ICE, Colton Veloso from Peyton Krebs and Dallas Hines, 3:18

Veloso with his second of the game to make it 5-2 pic.twitter.com/h0uJal0oYb

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

5-3, ICE, Jonathan Smart (shorthanded), 9:17

Jonathan ‘I am so’ Smart with a shorthanded goal, making it a 2-goal game. 5-3 Raiders lead with half a period left to play pic.twitter.com/zsVpZuhU9C

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

6-3, Raiders, Regan Nagy (unassisted), 14:59

Nagy with his second of the game to close this one out at 7-3. Raiders back at it tomorrow against Red Deer pic.twitter.com/DU3INXPEht

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

7-3, Raiders, Regan Nagy from Austin Crossley, 19:57

Nagy with his second of the game to close this one out at 7-3. Raiders back at it tomorrow against Red Deer pic.twitter.com/DU3INXPEht

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 6, 2018

Fourth place for Budik

The lone Raiders representative at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Buffalo was defenceman Vojtech Budik. Budik and the rest of Team Czech Republic ended the tournament in fourth place after a 9-3 defeat to the Americans.

Budik finished the tournament with five assists in seven tournament games for the Czechs. Since Budik left for the tournament on Dec. 13, the Raiders have won just once in the six games they’ve played.

Team Canada won the World Junior gold, 3-1 over Sweden. WHL’s Tyler Steenbergen scored the game winning goal. 

Red Deer then Regina

Friday’s game was the beginning of a three-game set this weekend. The Raiders will host the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday, then take on the Regina Pats on the road on Sunday.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW