Recent Raider defections isolated cases: Campese

The decision by overage winger Dakota Conroy to leave the Prince Albert Raiders has been a hot topic in the social media. However General Manager Bruno Campese calls it speculation from sources outside the organization.
 
Conroy went home to Edmonton a day after Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Red Deer Rebels which ended a five game losing streak and came four days after Colton McCarthy’s decision to head home to Salmon Arm, B.C. Campese insisted there is no link regardless of social media suggestions of problems within the organization.
 
“You take those in islolation” said Campese who points out they are two players with vastly differing roles. “The first guy that left (McCarthy), we knew he was going to be a role player. He obviously wanted more ice, more time and from an organizational standpoint it wasn’t deserved. He made a decision (to leave) and that’s fine.”

With Conroy, a different situation, here is a player playing close to 18-to-20 minutes a night, playing 5-on-5 on one of our top two lines, power play, pk (penalty kill), having ample opportunity, but off to a very tough tough start and as a 20-year-old and a guy on our team being depended upon to produce, he’s had two points, 1 goal and 1 assist in 10 games. Obviously his rough start has weighed on him heavily.”
 
Campese pointed out social media banter aside, the numbers speak for themselves.
 
“He’s a top line player on our team that has not produced to his capabilities who is frustrated and is looking for answers and obviously not finding them.  He feels it’s in his own best interests to go home and for us (the team), it’s in our best interests to suspend him.”
 
Campese said the answers for the departures of McCarthy and Conroy are known within the organization.
 
“It’s really not as complicated as people think, but people (through social media) want to take shots at the organization and want to take shots at individuals within the organization, I think it’s unfair. If you look at the player, their role and their responsibility to the team, I think that’s what people need to look at.”
 
Add in the recent resignation of assistant coach Tim Leonard and Campese understands how the speculation can mount, but insists the incidents are isolated and coincidental.
 
The Raiders are left with just 11 available forwards as Leon Draisaitl remains with the Edmonton Oilers. Campese is talking trade with GM’s throughout the WHL but isn’t confident of a deal anytime soon.
 
“If you think you are going to replace a top six forward quickly, that’s not going to happen.” said Campese who points out there is another complicating factor.
 
“Most teams have only played ten games. Teams are still trying to find out who they are and what they are early in the season and typically things (trades) don’t get going until games twenty to thirty. We are looking to add a player or two but it’s just not going to happen overnight and we are not looking at just bringing in anybody. With our organization there is a certain way we’ve got to do things and if people want to be a part of it that’s great, if people don’t I guess there are other alternatives. ”
 
The Raiders have 21 players available for Tuesday night’s home game against Kootenay. Chances are defenceman MacKenze Stewart will see action as a forward following Saturday night’s aggressive performance on the front line against the Rebels.
 
All Raider games can be heard on 900 CKBI.
 
dwilson@panow.com
 
On Twitter: RaidersVoice