Hey, what about Reid?

What does Reid Gardiner have to do to get more recognition from Hockey Canada and NHL teams?

The former first round draft choice of the Prince Albert Raiders has fallen off Hockey Canada’s radar since his participation in the World under-17 challenge and despite high rankings by some scouting services in his draft year, Gardiner has been passed over in two successive NHL drafts.

The 19-year-old from Humboldt has hit the ground running since his return from the NHL young guns tournament in Penticton B.C., where he scored his first professional goal with the Vancouver Canucks’ rookie squad. The right winger who has what many describe as a “pro” shot, has already been a WHL player of the week and finished the 6 game US/Cranbrook road trip with 4 goals and 5 assists.

Earlier this season, when the Raiders were hosting Vancouver, Shaw TV commentator and former NHL tough guy Jeff Odgers (who has seen Gardiner play many times), said he couldn’t believe some NHL team hasn’t either taken a flyer on Gardiner in the late rounds of the draft, or signed the Raider assistant captain to a free agent contract.

Now the hard working, all-purpose, point playing, power play power house has been passed over for team WHL and its annual two game showdown with the touring Russians. The players named are outstanding and will represent the league well, but you have to think there should be room for a high scoring winger with a great shot and tremendous work ethic who just happened to be tied for first in the WHL points’ race when the roster was announced.  Gardiner should be the first player summoned if Calgary’s Jake Virtanen isn’t returned from the Vancouver Canucks and if an injury means one of the forwards on the team has to bow out.

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However, Hockey Canada is finally convinced Raider defenseman Brendan Guhle deserves a second look. The 18-year-old, like Gardiner, fell out of favor with Team Canada bird dogs after a very good performance at the World Under 17 challenge, as he was left off the Canadian Under-18 teams for the world championships and Ivan Hlinka summer tournament.

Buffalo Sabre scouts liked the speedy slick skating rearguard so much they went off the board drafting the lanky Edmonton area kid in the second round, much higher than his rankings. Guhle has responded by playing so well, the Sabres signed him to a 3-year entry level contract and kept him around for the beginning of the NHL regular season.

The Raiders have gone 4-0 with Guhle back in the lineup and he was promptly named to Team WHL for the two game series against the Russians Nov. 9 and 10 in Kelowna and Kamloops. A good showing could earn Guhle an invitation to the Canadian National Junior final tryout camp in December.

Meanwhile, you would think the Raiders 4 game win streak, an unbeaten record at home, a showdown between two of the hottest teams in the WHL and potential first place Eastern showdown this Friday against the Moose Jaw Warriors should remove most remaining reasons for Prince Albert hockey fans to stay away from the Art Hauser Centre.         

dwilson@panow.com

On Twitter: @RaidersVoice