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Column: Raiders resemble Jekyll and Hyde on opening weekend

Sep 28, 2015 | 1:28 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders regular season opening weekend split with the Saskatoon Blades swung severely to both ends of the junior hockey pendulum.

On Friday night in the bridge city, the Raiders controlled the first five minutes of the first and second periods, and in fact, fought back with two goals late in the first to tie the game before the buzzer. However, the game progressively went south after a Connor Gay goal on a mid-point screen shot was the first of five unanswered Saskatoon goals that turned opening night into opening “nightmare on Thatcher Street”.

The Raider home opener on Saturday night was all you could ask for if you were one of the 2,627 Art Hauser Centre fans on hand. A fast physical game that featured a lot of scoring opportunities at both ends, spotty officiating (I’m being kind), and high drama. It ended at 3:54 of three-on-three overtime with 17-year-old sophomore centreman Sean Montgomery converting a Jordan Tkatch pass to send the crowd into frenzy, the PA players pouring off the bench in celebration and the Blades “Running back to Saskatoon”.

Tkatch had a goal and three assists in the 6-5 victory and told us during the 900 CKBI post game show the last four-point game he could remember was back in midget. He also scored in Friday’s season opener making a huge statement in the fou- way race for the three post October 15 20-year-old spots on the team.

Head Coach Marc Habscheid, during last week’s Face-Off (our weekly 6:30 p.m. talk show on 900 CKBI Mondays during hockey season), said the coaches are holding off on naming a captain until all players are back from NHL tryouts. Brendan Guhle, the team’s 18-year-old defenseman, survived another round of cuts this past weekend with the Buffalo Sabres. However, you have to wonder if having Tim Vanstone take the ceremonial opening face-off Saturday is an indication toward who will wear the “C” this season?

The crowd was loud and engaged throughout Saturday night, providing an atmosphere that is difficult to duplicate in any other rink around the WHL. The harvest and warm weather were factors explaining why the old barn wasn’t totally sold out. However, I’m sorry to say, for opening night following an off season fueled by the winds of change and a positive vibe, it simply isn’t good enough.

I’ve said for many years, demanding victories or the replacements of coaches, managers or players as conditions of attendance are unfair, and in some cases smoke screens for people who masquerade as hockey fans around the water coolers and in the coffee shops.

Junior hockey is entertainment provided by teenage boys and young adults who are well beyond their peers in athletic ability, and maturity, and if Saturday is any indication there will be no lack of entertainment at the Art Hauser Centre this season.

dwilson@panow.com

On Twitter: RaidersVoice