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2015-16; A Raider retrospective

Apr 5, 2016 | 11:00 AM

The 2015-16 Prince Albert Raiders experienced more than their fair share of peaks and valleys on that wild pendulum packed ride that produced many memories.

Highlights included improvements of seven wins and 18 points from the regular season before and ending a 12-game playoff winless streak with a 7-3 victory in game three over the Moose Jaw Warriors.  

However the Warriors potent power play anchored by Brayden Point, Dryden Hunt and Brett Howden proved to be the difference as Moose Jaw prevailed in a five game first round playoff series.

Throw in the goaltending of Zach Sawchenko who posted two straight shutouts to help clinch the series and the Warriors will give the Wheat Kings all they can handle in the second round, assuming Brandon wins either games six or seven at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Reid Gardiner became an elite all around player with 43 goals and 92 points in addition to a team leading 11 power play goals, two shorthanded markers, a rating of +28 while being a proficient, shot-blocking penalty killer.  It would be nice to see some NHL team take a chance and sign the Humboldt product to a free agent contract.

Rylan Parenteau has vaulted up the WHL goaltending food chain earning 2nd team all star honors in the Eastern conference with a stellar second half that resulted in 25 wins, a 2.89 GAA and .913 SP.

Ian Scott earned his WHL stripes as the rookie playing more minutes than any other 16-year-old goalie in the entire CHL.  It will be very interesting to see how the goaltending situation shakes out next season with Curtis Meger who is coming off another all-star season in Midget-AAA sure to push the two veterans.

Parenteau’s prowess provides the Raiders with a proven number one puck stopper or flexibility in a complicated, competitive and potentially trade tripping overage situation.  The other five returnees who will rally to represent Raider nation next season as their three 20-year-old’s are Gardiner, Austin Glover, Captain Tim Vanstone, Kolten Olynek and defenseman Dalton Yorke.     

Head coach Marc Habscheid agrees secondary scoring is a major key toward taking the team to the next level.  Assuming Gardiner, Glover and the soon to be NHL drafted Simon Stransky return to form the top line, it’s hoped double-digit goal men Luke Coleman, Sean Montgomery and Layne Bensmiller will be another year better with statistics to match.

Brendan Guhle and Vojtech Budik should return as the team’s top two defensemen.  Guhle is getting some pro experience with the AHL’s Rochester Americans while Budik is a shoe-in to play for his native Czech Republic in the upcoming world under-18 hockey championships before getting picked in the NHL draft.    Budik has made great strides since reporting to Prince Albert last summer and could join Guhle by exceeding his projection among the NHL scouting services.  Guhle was Buffalo’s second round pick last summer.

It will also be fun to watch Parker Kelly step up from fresh faced rookie to steely-eyed sophomore status.  Kelly had 8 goals and 11 assists while hitting virtually everything in sight with his slight 160 pound frame (he was probably weighed with some rocks in his pocket).  Not bad for a 16-year-old selected in the 7th round, 141st overall in the bantam draft.

Marc Habscheid told the final 900 CKBI “face off” program audience of the season he believes they have come a long way toward building a “nothing short of winning is acceptable” culture in the dressing room that will be carried forward by those who return to wear the jerseys next season.     

Time will tell.

 

dwilson@panow.com

On Twitter: RaidersVoice