Raiders forward Parker Kelly is excited to see a ton of family and friends during the conference final series against the Edmonton Oil Kings. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Pesky Parker

Camrose crowd carries Kelly’s career against the Oil Kings

Apr 18, 2019 | 3:29 PM

Every time the Prince Albert Raiders bus over to Edmonton to play the Oil Kings, forward Parker Kelly always wants the team to take a specific route, or at least a detour to his beloved hometown of Camrose, Alta.

It has yet to work in the four years Kelly’s been on the team, but he hopes just once that Raiders’ bus driver Rick Kugler will make an exception during one of the trips to the City of Champions during the WHL Eastern Conference Final series against the Edmonton Oil Kings.

“I tell Ricky to drive through Camrose every time, but he never does,” Kelly said. “He always drives through Unity and the Saskatchewan roads. But maybe this time I’ll be able to convince him.”

But whether or not the Raiders ever do get through Camrose or not, Kelly will still feel his hometown’s support. Buses holding Kelly’s family and friends have routinely made the hour trip to Edmonton throughout Kelly’s career. He estimates about 50 people will be doing so this series.

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He’s had great success against the Oil Kings in his career as a result, scoring nine goals and 17 points in 12 games in his past three seasons.

“Maybe it’s all those fan buses that come up from Camrose to watch me. I don’t know, it’s just one of those rinks you feel you have confidence in—something good’s going to happen,” Kelly said. “For me, it’s been that way my whole career.”

Speaking of support on the bus, the whole team including Kelly felt it as they arrived at the Art Hauser Centre around 9 p.m. Sunday after defeating the Saskatoon Blades in six games.

Despite it getting late and Monday morning was looming around the corner, there were still around 700 fans were at the rink to welcome in the Raiders. As the players got off the bus, fans stood in a line to give all the team high fives and show their appreciation.

“I think that was real important, because they have to understand when they’re blocking shots why they’re doing it—and it’s to win a hockey game. And what does winning produce? Well, it produces moments like that, that you can’t reproduce,” Habscheid said. “You don’t get that unless you’re in a sports team and you’re winning. Those moments are precious, and I think to have our guys go through that, and see that and feel that, was important. Because now when it comes to blocking a shot in the series, they understand that ‘Jeez, I want to block that shot. Because if we win, we get to go do that again.’”

Games 1 and 2 will be at the Art Hauser Centre starting on Friday and Saturday. Games 3 and 4 will be at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW