The world stage awaits

Playing for Canada at the World Under-18 Hockey Championships is a great opportunity for Raider winger Mike Winther and underage defenseman Josh Morrissey.

It takes away the competitive disadvantage for Winther heading into this June's NHL draft. Many other early round contenders will have a chance to strut their stuff in front of NHL scouts during their Major Junior playoffs.

Instead, Winther not only gets to play for his country (Like Mark McNeill last season), he will go head to head with players from other countries who will be under the intense scrutiny of NHL scouts in the Czech Republic. Winther used his speed, quick release and willingness to get into the dirty areas to put together a 32 goal season. Those attributes should serve him well on the big ice and high tempo pace at the world championships.

Morrissey opened many eyes with a 38 point rookie campaign, breaking the Raider record for 16-year-old defensemen. The Calgary kid was impressive, especially after being paired with Harrison Ruopp against the best forwards from other teams.

Morrissey making the team isn't a huge surprise. Morgan Reilly of the Moose Jaw Warriors achieved the feat last year as an underage defenseman and there was a late season hint from a former NHL broadcaster who is tight with Hockey Canada.

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Peter Loubardias, the former Sporstnet voice of the Calgary Flames and former game caller with the Regina Pats (and one of the really good guys in the game) told me Morrissey was very high on Hockey Canada's radar screen. His words look very prophetic today. Morrissey's poise, skill and hockey sense will be put to the test, but so far the 8th overall pick in last May's WHL draft has thrived in response to every challenge.

The experience should make both better players coming back next season as they will form part of the core of a Raider team that needs to get off to a good start.

Other members of the core, Captain Mark McNeill and Assistant Harrison Ruopp are getting pro experience in the American Hockey League, opportunities for both to learn what it takes to be pros, and bring that back to the Raider dressing room. (Loudardias is also a big Harrison Ruopp fan)

Another piece of the positive puzzle in the Raider office at an ice-less Art Hauser Centre is the final average attendance number of 2,425, the highest in many years during a season that did succeed from an entertainment standpoint, but not so much in the win/loss column.

There are also rumblings the team did not lose money last season. That won't be confirmed until the Annual General Meeting in September.

However for hard core Raider hockey enthusiasts, it will still be a long five months until the preseason opener.

dwilson@rawlco.com