By Jeff D'Andrea

Rolling Raiders

Raiders’ tiny line comes up big in W over Broncos; Raiders’ off to best season in 23 years

Feb 13, 2019 | 10:17 PM

They may be one of the smallest forward lines to be assembled in hockey history, but they did some heavy lifting for the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday.

The 6-foot tall Parker Kelly, five-foot-six Dante Hannoun and five-foot-six Spencer Moe combined for all three goals and seven points as the Raiders beat the Swift Current Broncos 3-1 Wednesday in Swift Current.

That’s the Raiders’ fifth straight win and their 46^th victory of the season. Despite the Raiders having 13 games remaining, they’ve already accumulated the most wins they’ve had since the 1995-96 season.

Kelly scored the game-winning goal in the second period and the insurance marker in the third period.

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But it was Hannoun that was named as the game’s first star. He scored the opening goal of the game and got primary assists on both of Kelly’s goals. Moe got a pair of assists.

Hannoun has really heated up, scoring two goals and nine points during his five-game point scoring streak. He now has seven goals and 20 points in 17 games as a Raider.

“When you come for the first couple games, it’s adrenaline. You want to fit in and everybody’s heard you’ve got skill and speed. So that’s what you give,” Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt said. “The systems are kind of secondary and responsibilities are secondary. But you’re starting to kind of see it… I’ve thought that he’s done a real good job. His confidence is higher, you can tell he wants the puck, he wants to do things with it and he wants to be the difference now.”

No Leason, Scott or Montgomery

The two Raiders that represented Team Canada at the World Juniors in Brett Leason and Ian Scott both missed their second consecutive game on Wednesday. Both have lower body injuries and both are listed as day-to-day on the league’s injury report.

Leason collided with Jack McNaughton in the Raiders’ 8-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen in the first period and was forced to leave the game. Scott finished out the game, but did not play their next game on Saturday in Lethbridge.

Sean Montgomery also missed the game due to illness. That stopped an iron man streak of 155 games consecutive games played, dating back to Jan. 11, 2017.

To take up the empty spots, call-up Brett Balas has served as the backup for the last two games, and Boston Bilous has taken over in goal. Bilous made 15 saves on 16 shots for the victory on Wednesday.

Cole Nagy played in his first WHL career game on Wednesday, being called up from the Saskatoon Blazers of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Justin Nachbaur returned to the lineup after a three-game absence due to suspension.

Habby back home as a 500-winner

Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid walked into his hometown of Swift Current as a member of the 500-win club, only the eighth coach to do it.

Habscheid picked up the milestone victory on Saturday, 6-5 over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on the road. Like he was when he won 400 games with the Raiders, Habscheid was caught unaware at the timing of the achievement.

“I had no idea,” Habscheid said. “I walked into the room just to talk to the guys after [the game]. I turned around to go out and they said ‘where are you going?’ I said ‘well, what do you mean?’ And they said ‘500 wins.’ I said, ‘really?’

“Then [forward Cole] Fonstad had the hat that they give out to the player of the game, so he came and plopped that on my head. Went around and had a little cheer with the boys, had a cheer with the coaches and Puff [athletic therapist Duane Bartley].

Then after the team departed the building, the Raiders’ bus pulled up to the nearest Dairy Queen in Lethbridge for some celebratory ice cream.

Scoring Summary

First Period

No scoring.

Second Period

1-0, Raiders, Dante Hannoun from Spencer Moe and Sergei Sapego (power play), 2:24

2-0, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Dante Hannoun and Brayden Pachal, 5:33

Third Period

2-1, Broncos, Joona Kiviniemi from Alex Moar and Carter Chorney (power play), 2:49

3-1, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Dante Hannoun and Spencer Moe, 15:23

Double dose of Brandon

The Raiders will have a home-and-home series against the Brandon Wheat Kings, with both teams meeting on Friday at the Art Hauser Centre and Saturday at Westoba Place.

The Raiders will then play five straight games at the Hauser, Feb. 18 against the Moose Jaw Warriors, Feb. 22 against the Kootenay ICE, Feb. 23 against the Brandon Wheat Kings and Feb. 27 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW