Raiders finish off preseason with two wins, complete trade with PG

“That’s huge. I think at the beginning of it, we didn’t have many of our veteran guys in so that played a little bit of a role into it,” said Lees. “I think guys are starting buy into the system and play the way we have to, to be successful.”

Raiders make trade, acquire Babych from PG

Shortly before Friday’s game, the Raiders announced they acquired 1997-born forward Cal Babych from the Prince George Cougars in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in 2016.

Babych has 21 career points in 93 games the past two seasons between the Cougars and the Calgary Hitmen. The Hitmen originally drafted Babych in the fourth round of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.

New Raiders forward Cal Babych is the son of two-time NHL All-Star Dave Babych, who played 19 seasons in the NHL. Wayne Babych, Cal’s uncle, played in the NHL for nine seasons.

For Curtis Hunt, this was his first trade as the Raiders general manager. He said the deal was necessary not only because of the upper-body injuries to Dylan Stewart (on Sept. 5) and Dylan Williamson. Williamson didn’t return after taking a huge hit for Pats forward Trygve Many Guns in the third period of Friday’s game. Many Guns received a five-minute charging major on the play.

Also, Hunt said there because of some absences at camp, that he did not want to mention specifics, he feels Babych can come and fill in at right wing.

“We had some kids that didn’t come to camp, and I think because of that we didn’t get the push we wanted from all of our young players,” said Hunt. “[The trade] gives us a little more depth and some experience with a guy who, for whatever reason, became available. We think he can fill a void on the right side for us.”

After the game, the Raiders also reassigned defenceman Ty Prefontaine to his hometown Saskatoon Contacts of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.

Scoring summary

The Pats got on the board first as Erik Gardiner, younger brother of Raiders veteran Reid Gardiner, snuck one by Raiders goaltender Ian Scott. On Reid’s next shift, he hit the crossbar but couldn’t tickle the twine behind Pats goalie Jordan Hollett.

Reid did get the primary assist on the Raiders’ equalizer, shovelling it over to Austin Glover for a one-timer. He batted in the rebound from midair after Hollett couldn’t locate it.

Raiders goaltender Ian Scott made a terrific cross-crease save to rob Adam Brooks with his left pad. The Raiders went the other way, with Simon Stransky’s shot completing fooling Pats goaltender Tyler Brown and going between his wickets to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead.

Tim Vanstone scored on the power play, tipping a Vojtech Budik shot home before Jesse Less scored on a half-clapper, top-cheddar effort to put the Raiders up 4-1.

Overtime

They won regulation 4-1, but both teams played a full five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime period so both teams could adjust to the new overtime format being put in this year in the WHL.

Parker Kelly scored a shorthanded goal in the overtime period but since the period was for practice purposes, the goal wasn’t recorded on the WHL’s official game sheet.

It was the first time this year the Raiders got to see and play in the new overtime format and got to learn take in a few things.

“What I learned is there’s going to be a lot less shootouts,” said Habscheid. “That was quick, that’s fast. There’s a strategy to it. Good on both teams for agreeing to do that because it gave us a chance—we hadn’t seen it before. You can do it in practice all you want, but until you play against a different team you don’t really get to see it.”

Still campin’

Brendan Guhle: Buffalo Sabres, 2^nd round pick in 2015

Matteo Gennaro: Winnipeg Jets, 7^th round pick in 2015

Mackenze Stewart: Vancouver Canucks, 7^th round in 2014, signed

Hunter Warner: Minnesota Wild, signed as a free agent last year

Returning from camp to the Raiders are Reid Gardiner (Vancouver Canucks) and Nick McBride (Los Angeles Kings. McBride was scratched in Friday’s game.

Bring on the Blades

The Raiders will begin their regular season with a home-and-home series Sept. 25-26 against the Saskatoon Blades. Both teams will meet at the SaskTel Centre on the 25^th, before bussing up to the Art Hauser Centre on the 26^th.

The Raiders will play their home opener in a special retro jersey to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the WHL.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders finish off preseason with two wins, complete trade with PG

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