By Jeff D'Andrea

3 Raiders D sticking with NHL main camps; not starting year in P.A.

Sep 17, 2014 | 5:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders will start the season without three 19-year-old core defencemen, who have moved on to NHL main training camps.

Last year’s captain Josh Morrissey moved on to the Winnipeg Jets' main camp after being promoted from rookie camp. Mackenze Stewart did the same with the Vancouver Canucks, as did Hunter Warner with the Minnesota Wild. They are expected to miss the opening two-game series Friday-Saturday against the Saskatoon Blades, but could return as soon as Sept. 27's home game against the Regina Pats.

With those three notable absences on their blueline, that logjam at defence the Raiders have had this preseason is proving to be valuable at this point.

Raiders general manager Bruno Campese said the Raiders were patient in terms of reassigning players this preseason to be prepared for this kind of situation, especially on defence.

As a result, the Raiders still have seven defencemen available, and with some veteran presence like 20-year-old Sawyer Lange, 19-year-old Euro Tomas Andrlik and sophomore 17-year-old Brendan Guhle who by all accounts had a very impressive preseason.

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That opens the door for the other four remaining defencemen as they’ll fight to stay on the team, and look to increase their roles.

Included in that group is 19-year-old Ryan Coghlan, who played sparingly with the team after being acquired from the Saskatoon Blades, as well as 17-year-old rookies Brennan Riddle and Curtis Roach and 18-year-old Ben Verrall who got into one game with the Raiders last year.

“On the back end, we’re missing three of our core guys but we feel confident with the guys we have heading into this weekend,” said Campese. “They’ve played very well and our young guys have been exceptional.”
 

Curtis Roach, who came into camp as a walk-on, has been one of the surprises for the Raiders this preseason and one that Campese and the coaching staff have been happy with.

Roach plans on taking full advantage of the opportunity he has to start the year with the Raiders.

“Obviously with the three guys gone, it gives a chance for me to prove myself, not only 5-on-5 but also on the power play,” said Roach, who was in power play drills to start Wednesday’s practice. “I've been working hard in practice, working on all the skills and making sure I have the systems down.

“Hopefully I can earn some extra ice time.”

Brennan Riddle, who the Raiders traded for at the deadline last year from the Calgary Hitmen, said he learned a lot from the veterans, especially Morrissey and Stewart. 

“They're all good players and it was good to learn from them, guys like Stew and J-Mo who have been playing here in previous years,” said Riddle. “Now that they're gone, it gives our young guys a chance to step up to play a little more, a little more ice time and a bigger role so it's been good.”

The young rookies will be thrown into the heated Highway 11 rivalry as the Raiders will begin the season with a home-and-home series with the Blades, starting Friday at the Art Hauser Centre.

Roach, born and raised in the Bridge City, said he grew up “a big Blades fan.” As he was being asked about the prospect of facing the Blades, a wide grin quickly crept over his face.

“Oh yeah, I have a lot of family and friends coming out to watch these couple games,” said Roach. “Hopefully I get to play. It should be really fun.”

With seven defencemen currently available, one will have to sit this weekend as the Raiders will wait to see what happens in the NHL training camps.

Campese said on Wednesday that he wasn’t sure who would be the odd man out and have to sit. That will be a game time situation.

Further NHL camp updates

Leon Draisaitl will move on to Edmonton Oilers’ main camp. The Oilers drafted Draisaitl third overall last year’s NHL Entry Draft.

Of the five Raiders they sent to NHL rookie camps, the only one returning is Reid Gardiner, who like Warner attended Minnesota Wild’s camp.

Campese said Gardiner is expected to start the year with the Raiders Friday against the Blades, and is arriving to Prince Albert Wednesday afternoon.

Pruden re-assigned

The Raiders re-assigned 18-year-old forward Ryan Pruden to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Pruden played for both the OCN Blizzard and the Steinbach Pistons last season after playing three games for the Saskatoon Blades. The Raiders now sit at 27 players.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea