By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders’ Guhle poised for a breakout season

Sep 16, 2014 | 6:49 AM

With three 19-year-old defencemen off to NHL camps since last Tuesday, the Prince Albert Raiders needed Brendan Guhle to take on a bigger role in the two-game set against the Regina Pats.

Did he ever.

The 17-year-old defenceman was in on 50 per cent of the Raiders’ goals in the two wins over the Pats: a 4-1 win Friday at the Art Hauser Centre and a 4-3 win Wednesday in Regina. Guhle had a pair of goals in Friday’s win and a goal and an assist on Wednesday.

“With a few guys gone right now, it gave me a bit of a bigger role and I guess I embraced that,” said Guhle before Monday’s practice. “Hopefully we can keep that going.”

“It was a good weekend, I guess, but it’s still preseason so nothing to get too excited about. Our team has great chemistry and a couple of nice wins, so hopefully we can just keep that going and for the rest of the season.”

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But even when (and if) Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets), Hunter Warner (Minnesota Wild) and Mackenze Stewart (Vancouver Canucks) come back from their respective NHL training camps, Guhle is still poised to take on a bigger role than he did last year as a 16-year-old rookie.

Fellow 2012 WHL Bantam Draft selections in 23rd selection and this year’s expected starting goaltender Nick McBride, and centre Matteo Gennaro (41st overall), are also in the same boat. Judging by their preseason stats, everything looks encouraging as they led the Raiders in production at their respective positions.

Gennaro was tied for the Raiders lead in both goals (three) and points (six), Guhle led the Raiders in points among defencemen and also had three goals, and McBride was second in the WHL in both save percentage (.952) and goals against average (1.30).

“We have good chemistry and we get along really well,” said Guhle. “Hopefully we can be leaders on the team this year and hopefully we can get a lot of wins.”

Raiders head coach Cory Clouston said he saw an encouraging progression from all of the big-three 1997-born players on the Raiders last year in their 16-year-old seasons and this year in the preseason. Clouston also believes the Raiders will “rely heavily on” their performances as well.

“I think all three of them had very positive seasons last year, have had very good off-seasons and have come in with very good attitudes,” said Clouston. “We need them to be very good and so far we’ve liked what we’ve seen.

Raider report

Although forward Tim Vanstone’s left leg is in a cast, and he’s using crutches to get around, the Raiders are saying very little about the extent of Vanstone’ s injury. Clouston simply referred to the injury as lower body and said the team will be re-evaluated on Friday.

Raider 20-year-old Jayden Hart did not play in any of the six preseason games, nor the Raiders’ training camp, as he’s been nursing a groin injury. Despite his absences, Hart was skating in Monday’s practice in a red (non-contact) jersey.

Home opener this Friday

The Raiders will take on the Saskatoon Blades Friday at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre for their first regular season game of the season. Tickets are available on raiderhockey.com or at the Raiders’ box office at the Art Hauser Centre.

The Raiders will also head to Saskatoon on Saturday to complete the home-and-home series.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea