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Setting you up for Raiders weekend; Challenge Cup update

Oct 30, 2015 | 7:24 AM

The Prince Albert Raiders are currently on a seven-game winning streak, their longest such streak since the 2012-2013 season.

That will be on the line this weekend when the Raiders face the Victoria Royals on Friday and the Swift Current Broncos on Halloween Saturday.

Here’s a few notes to get you set up for the weekend.

Royals Friday

The Raiders have only beaten the Royals once since the Royals were formed in the 2011-2012 season, after the Chilliwack Bruins relocated to Victoria. That was on Jan. 29, 2013, 6-5 in a shootout in Victoria. The Raiders have lost both games they’ve played the Royals at the Art Hauser Centre.

Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid was the Royals’ head coach in their first year in the 2011-2012 season before being replaced by Dave Lowry after the completion of that season. Habscheid was the head coach of the Chilliwack Bruins two years prior to their relocation.

The Royals started the year off 7-1, but lost four straight games Oct. 16-23 to come back down to earth. They snapped the streak Oct. 24 with a 3-0 road win over the Spokane Chiefs, and lost 4-3 in a shootout Oct. 27 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at home before boarding the bus to Saskatchewan.

The Royals are embarking on their Eastern Division road trip, starting in Prince Albert before travelling around the rest of the division.

Broncos Saturday

The Raiders haven’t faced the Broncos yet this season. Both teams had a 4-2-1-1 record against each other last season.

The Broncos are the lone team in the WHL East Division not currently in a playoff spot, as they are 5-6-2. They’ve scored 36 goals in 13 games this season, the third lowest total in the conference.

They did acquire goal-machine Jon Martin, who’s scored 10 goals in nine games with the Broncos since they acquired him from the Kootenay Ice. Martin also has an 11-game point streak going, scoring 12 goals and 22 points during it. The Raiders will have to keep a close eye on Martin, as well Boston Bruins first round draft choice Jake DeBrusk (16 points in 10 games) and Glenn Gawdin.

The game will take place at 7 p.m., despite being originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

U16 Challenge Cup

Raiders prospect Spencer Moe got an assist in Team Alberta’s 3-2 win over Team Saskatchewan. Team Sask featured Raider prospects Cole Fonstad, Carson Miller, as well as Mintos Jake Davidson and Layne Matechuk. Davidson made 22 saves on 25 shots in a losing effort.

Raider prospect Justin Nachbaur scored his third goal in two tournament games as his Manitoba outfit lost to Team B.C. 4-2. Alberta is the lone side undefeated at 2-0, B.C. and Manitoba are both at 1-1.

The final round robin games will be on Friday, with the playoffs happening on Saturday and Sunday.

 

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea