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Raiders 4-0 since Guhle’s return

Oct 20, 2015 | 5:01 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders faired well without Brendan Guhle, the smooth skating defenceman they picked third overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.

They’re doing even better with him back in the lineup. Since Guhle has returned Oct. 13, after a surprising preseason with the Buffalo Sabres, the Raiders are a perfect 4-0.

The win streak puts the Raiders’ west coast road trip record to 4-1-0-1, their best U.S or B.C. road trip since records were available since the 1996-1997 season. That win streak has catapulted the Raiders up to eight wins, the most in the WHL. Their winning percentage is at .773, good for fourth in the league.

“I’m really excited. Watching the games when I was in Buffalo, I saw that we had a good team and we had a lot of good battle back,” said Guhle before Tuesday’s scrimmage. “I’m excited to come back to the team and hopefully keep that going with the team.

“We’re on a four-game win streak right now, on the road that’s kinda unheard of. That’s really good for our team.”

Guhle scored four assists in those four games, including a three-assist effort Oct. 14 against the Tri-City Americans. Although he will undoubtedly bring some offensive life to the Raiders blue line, Guhle takes as much pride in his defensive work.

“I think it’s important for me to just play my game,” said Guhle. “My number one goal for myself is to shut down the other team’s top lines, moving the puck quick.

“As long as I can keep doing that, I don’t think my game changes too much from the pro level.”

Guhle was billed as the surprise in Sabres camp this year. The 51st overall pick by the Sabres in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft played four NHL preseason games. He played the first three for the Sabres—the only player in camp that was able to do so. Guhle thought heading into camp that he’d be lucky to see any preseason action.

Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma left the door open for Guhle to make the Sabres roster, as well as saying himself he was the surprise in camp.

“It’s an honour that he’d say that about me,” said Guhle. “He’s a great coach, it’s easy to play for him. He’s not a hard ass, but he expects the best out of his players and his team. For me playing at the next level, that’s my goal. It always has been. Hopefully next year, I can do that.”

Guhle said he learned a lot from his experience at Sabres camp—one of them being to keep his head up. He took a now well publicized hit from Dion Phaneuf in an exhibition game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, in what Guhle said was the biggest hit he’s ever received.

“No question, that was a pretty big hit,” said Guhle. “It didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would, or what I was really expecting. He’s a pretty big body but he hit me in a pretty lucky area. It could have been a lot worse.

“I think it’s a good learning experience for me, that I didn’t get hurt too bad. It’s something I could be more aware of now.”

Guhle was the lone Raider named to the 2015 Canada Russia Series Nov. 9 in Kelowna, B.C. and Nov. 10 in Kamloops, B.C.

Ian Scott was named the WHL Goaltender of the Week. The 16-year-old was 2-0 with a .60 goals against average and .980 save percentage.

The Raiders will have their Pink in the Rink game this Friday at the Art Hauser Centre against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

After a game on the road Sunday against the Regina Pats, the Raiders will play three more home games next week, Oct. 28 against the Edmonton Oil Kings, Oct. 30 against the Victoria Royals and Halloween Day against the Swift Current Broncos.

 

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea