Memorable first half? A huge understatement

Recapping the notable from the Prince Albert Raiders first half of the season could rival the Harry Potter series for the number of story lines.

The controversy began with the early season defection of overage winger Dakota Conroy who according to former head coach Cory Clouston was unhappy with his line mates. The former 30-goal man left with one goal and one assist in 10 games. Conroy departed after the team decided to trade centreman Calder Brooks, who has flourished in Spokane. Conroy and defenceman Sawyer Lange were overage locks heading into the 20-year-old deadline, meaning the final decision came down to Brooks and Jayden Hart. You can’t argue with the decision to keep Hart who is tied for the team lead with 17 goals to go along with 13 assists as a true power forward who can play both wing and centre.

An impressive 5-0 win in Kootenay one night followed by an equally unimpressive 5-2 loss in Lethbridge the next night was the type of inconsistency that cost Clouston his job. Enter Marc Habscheid, who has loosened the reins on defencemen to jump into rushes and play a more puck possession game.

There has been a four-game home ice losing streak, a five-game win streak and a league high seven-game run of success on the road, followed by a five game-slide to close out the longest and most arduous road trip in the last several years of Raider hockey. That foray into futility featured three-straight shutout losses including back to back 1-0 setbacks despite outshooting and out-chancing Kelowna and Victoria respectively.

Then there were the three trades that saw the additions of four players including the blockbuster. Captain Josh Morrissey and Gage Quinney said their emotional goodbyes to teammates following the Vancouver game and after 13 hours through a blizzard, freezing rain and fog along curve filled two-lane highways in B.C. the remaining Raiders met new teammates Jesse Lees and Austin Glover in Cranbook at about 11:30 p.m. before their next game.

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The true assessment of the deal can’t be made for at least two seasons. Lees and Glover are good additions as his overage defenceman/forward Coltan Heffley. Raymond Grewal has played well in his two appearances. These deals were influenced at least in part by the injuries to d-men Hunter Warner and Lange. Warner is gone for the season, Lange won’t be back for at least a month. When he does return a decision will have to be made on the blueline suggesting more deals are at least a good possibility.

There were several opportunities to panic and make changes to systems, styles and the new approach to the game, but Habscheid remained patient calling it a process and more importantly remained positive through a very adverse period.

The Raiders closed out the first half with a solid 5-1 win over Moose Jaw in front of less than 22-hundred at the Art Hauser Centre who got a bit of everything including a final-minute line brawl. 

The fact the Raiders still have a chance at a playoff spot amid this challenge-ridden first 35 games is reason for encouragement in itself and the schedule becomes much more friendly in the new year.

This is a team that plays with pace and tempo that can exhilarate you on one shift and frustrate you during the next, but isn’t that what junior hockey is all about? Regardless of the outcome what we can say for sure is there has been no questioning the effort under the Raiders new regime and that’s really all any coach, media member or fan can ask for.        

dwilson@panow.com

On Twitter: @RaidersVoice