Redden on the Raiders: Smilin’ Roger earns honours

Mayert earns nod

It takes a lot of people to make a junior hockey team run, and if you regularly come to home games at the Art Hauser Centre, you’ll quickly begin to recognize the faces of some of those contributing members who work behind the scenes.

For me, a few of the people I look forward to seeing before every home game are Roger, Ann, and Darcy Mayert in the media and scouts room. No matter the weather or the recent play of the Raiders, you’re always greeted with a smile and it’s been a pleasure getting to know these three over the course of the season. Although as a newcomer to the community I’ve just gotten to know them recently, the family’s connection to the team runs deep as Roger has been a season ticket holder since 1971.

On Saturday night the Raiders will be recognizing all the work put in over the years with the induction of Roger Mayert into the team’s Wall of Honour as a builder. When asked about his induction, Roger said he wasn’t expecting the news.

“I really got surprised, because Doug Williams came in and shook hands with me,” he said. “I knew nothing about it, and he said ‘congratulations,’ and that was the first I heard about it.”

After more than 40 years of involvement with the team, Mayert said he still enjoys coming to the rink night after night because he views the Raiders as a valuable part of the community.

“I just like the Raiders to be around here because it’s nice hockey,” he said. “I wish we had more fans coming out to the game and filling this building.”

Among his many memories over the years, Mayert fondly recalled his trip to Québec to cheer on the Raiders in the 1985 Memorial Cup. He was a board member at the time, and went to Shawinigan in time to see the Raiders get beat 6-2 in their tournament opener by the host Cataractes. Despite the tough start, it ended up being a great experience, as Roger saw the team turn it around to win their next four games and claim the national title.

Mayert and former standout defenceman Chris Phillips will be honoured as the Raiders host the Hurricanes Saturday night.

Milestone men

Congratulations go to Raiders Captain Curtis Miske on playing in his 250th WHL regular season game Tuesday night. He made it a memorable one, notching a goal and two assists in the victory.

When asked after the game about his memories of the start of his career, Miske said he remembers stepping on a puck and falling over in warmup the first time he took the ice as a Spokane Chief.

Looking at the matchup that night, back in the 2013 preseason, I can see why there may have been some nerves. Not only was it his first taste of WHL action, but he was also facing a Portland team that featured future NHLers Chase De Leo, Nic Petan, Taylor Leier, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Brendan Leipsic, who were all dressed for the preseason contest.

Congratulations also go out to Parker Kelly, who skated in his 200th game on Saturday night in Edmonton, earning the game-winning goal in the process. It’s impressive to see the career résumé for Kelly, who reached the 200-game mark nearly three months shy of his 19th birthday. In three seasons, Kelly has missed just three regular season games; two in October of 2015, and one while serving a one-game suspension this year.

Looking at the numbers, you may think that he plays a conservative game, trying not to put his body at risk of injury.

You would be wrong.

Pilon nails debut

I forgot to include a note last week about Owen Pilon, the young man selected by the Raiders to be the team’s junior reporter when the Regina Pats came to town on Family Day.

Owen did a great job on the air with me in the second intermission, as well as conducting a live interview of Parker Kelly after the first intermission and announcing the starting lineup before the game. He’s currently a forward with the PA Bruins, but if he decides to pursue broadcasting, I think Pilon has a bright future ahead of him.

Stallard confident heading into final stretch

Jordy Stallard reached the 40-goal plateau for the first time in his career Tuesday night, with an early third-period marker against his hometown Brandon Wheat Kings. In doing so, he became just the third Raider to score 40 or more in the last decade, joining Reid Gardiner (43 in 2015-16) and Jonathan Parker (45 in 2010-11).

Coming off a season in which he switched addresses from Calgary to Prince Albert due to a trade, and had his year cut short due to a shoulder injury, Stallard has had a tremendous campaign.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to play with some great players,” he said. “Manson and Habby have helped me out a lot. They took me in last year and they both worked with me, so I’m grateful for the opportunity they’ve given me, and hopefully we can make that push for that playoff spot and keep my stint here a bit longer.”

With playoffs looming around the corner, and the Raiders battling for a seat at the table, Stallard sees his teammates as a group that can do some damage.

“I think we had that mindset going into the road trip, and we swept the road trip and got some confidence,” Stallard said. “Every game means everything right now.”

“I think we’ve got a special team here,” he added.

trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden

by Trevor Redden

Redden on the Raiders: Smilin’ Roger earns honours

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