Raiders keep Guard up, maintain Manson and find new business manager

The Rockets have won another two WHL titles since then and are currently in the finals of this year against the Brandon Wheat Kings—armed with four former Raiders in Leon Draisaitl, Josh Morrissey, Gage Quinney and Chance Braid.

“A lot of people say that Habscheid and that coaching staff started that winning tradition back there. I was glad to be a part of it, really lucked out for me,” said Guard. “I learned a lot of stuff about hockey, how to be a good person and how to be a good teammate back then and I’m trying to relay that to the players now, with Habscheid.

“I was a little nervous at the start, I didn’t know how it was going to turn out with the relationship we had [when I was] a player,” added Guard. “It’s been great so far, I learned so much since November, since he got here. I really look forward to more of it, to help.

“He’s a perfect guy for me to get mentored under, so I’m really looking forward to this year.”

All the transitioning the Raiders faced last year has been well documented. The coaching staff itself went through a lot with the Cory Clouston firing on Halloween and Habscheid replacing him, after Leonard left and Guard was promoted to take his position.

The Raiders player personnel had quite the transition as well, as the team departed with 13 players that started the regular season last year.

With a new year, a fresh start and a training camp for Habscheid and staff to implement their systems and philosophies, the Raiders will look to pick up where they left off after a strong 7-2-1 finish to the season.

“It’s going to be nice to have a fresh start right from training camp,” said Manson, who will enter his 11^th season coaching with the Raiders, having rejoined the team in 2011. “We can finish off in implemented what we started and continue to grow.”

“I think all three of us are excited to get going.”

The contract for general manager Bruno Campese has yet to be finalized. The Raiders have until the end of May to figure out that situation.

From a Blade to a Raider

Michael Scissons has been with the Prince Albert Raiders’ biggest WHL rivals, the Saskatoon Blades, for the past 12 years—most recently as their vice president of business operations.

He can now say he’s been on both sides of the Highway 11 rivalry as Scissons will take on the role as the Raiders business manager effective June 1. Scissons will replace Bruce Vance, who will join the City of Prince Albert as the marketing and sponsorship coordinator after 14 years of service with the Raiders.

Scissons was all smiles on Tuesday despite stepping into the Art Hauser Centre, formally considered enemy territory by the Blades family.

“I wouldn’t have said two years ago that I could see myself in this position [with the Raiders] but I’m excited,” said Scissons. “I’m really excited come out here and join the Raider organization and family.

“This opportunity presented itself and I had a conversation with Bruno and it excited me right away. It’s hard for any other teams to admit, but I would tell you that there are 21 other teams in the Western Hockey League that envy what P.A. has in the Raiders, the atmosphere and the community support.”

In his time with the Blades, Scissons has worked with the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup ticket sales committee, the 2010 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship marketing committee, as well as other initiatives.

“I’ve had the ability to work with a lot of events that have come through town, maybe share some of that knowledge on some of the bigger events and some of the bigger market areas, bring that to P.A. and help grow not just on the business side, but the community side and ticketing,” said Scissons.

“We want to put people in the building. We want to fill it. It allows us on the business staff to provide as much of a chance for the home team to win as we can.”

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders keep Guard up, maintain Manson and find new business manager

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