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Get excited about the Raiders’ start, but not too excited

Oct 3, 2012 | 7:23 PM

By Jeff D’Andrea

paNOW Staff

Don’t plan the parade for the Prince Albert Raiders just yet, it’s only four games into the season, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be encouraged with how well they’ve come out of the gates.

In the short time they’ve played this season, the Raiders have shown they are a much different team to start this season and have already accomplished some huge milestones.

They’re off to an undefeated start in four games with a 3-0-0-1 record and are currently tied for second in the Eastern Conference. It’s their best start since the 2002-2003 season when the Raiders went 7-0-0-1.

They also defeated the Saskatoon Blades at the Credit Union Centre 5-2 on Sept. 22, snapping a 16 game losing streak in the Blades’ rink. The last time the Raiders won a game in the Bridge City was Jan. 3, 2009.

To put in perspective how long ago that was, no Raider currently on the team played in that game, or was on the permanent roster except for Mark McNeill, who appeared in four games that year as a 15-year-old. McNeill, now the Raiders captain and four-year veteran, spent the rest of that year playing Midget AAA for his hometown Edmonton South Side Athletic Club.

The Raiders lineup have been very balanced in their scoring attack so far, as seven players are averaging a point-per-game or more, including McNeill who leads the club with six points in four games.

That balance could come from the fact the team is returning 16 players from last year, a huge and very promising number. Major-junior is not only a developmental league, but one that has a very high-turnover rate. When a team can return that many players, it usually bolds well. The Raiders roster right now has 11 18-year-olds, which also means good news for next year.

Raiders general manager Bruno Campese has been very busy in the offseason and early to start the season in making trades, and his acquisitions have been imperative to their start.

Luke Siemens has been a welcome addition in net for the Raiders as the 20-year-old has a 0.932 save percentage and a 2.16 GAA through four games and captured the WHL Goaltender of the Week award. He was acquired from the Moose Jaw Warriors on draft day for two picks.

Two other Raiders newbies have produced as well as defenceman Evan Morden has four assists in three games and Dakota Conroy has two goals and three points in just two games with the Raiders.

Now Raider fans, there’s a few things to get excited about with this year’s clubs, but let’s take a deep breath. With 68 games remaining, so many things can change along the way.

Remember that 2002-2003 team that went 7-0-0-1? They didn’t make the playoffs, finishing one point out of eighth place. Good starts don’t mean anything unless the team can maintain or even improve their play as the season goes on.

The Raiders may lose Mark McNeill and Leon Draisaitl for a significant time for the IIHF World Junior Championships, deal with other injuries, absences and other unforeseen circumstances.
Raiders head coach Steve Young has also admitted that his Raiders haven’t exactly played perfect hockey and have a few kinks to work out—namely playing better in first periods and eliminating turnovers and positioning errors.

But after the Raiders’ awful start to the year last year (5-15-1-1) and their dead-last finish, (21-45-3-3), the way they’ve played so far is a breath of fresh air.

The Raiders will receive a big test with their first road trip of the season, playing the defending WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings (3-1) on Thursday, the Calgary Hitmen on Friday (3-0-1-0) and the Kootenay Ice Sunday (1-3) before finishing their roadie in Lethbridge (2-2) on Tuesday.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea