Manny Viveiros. (submitted photo/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Viva Viveiros

Raider legend Viveiros knows exactly what this year’s run is like

Apr 30, 2019 | 4:11 PM

Manny Viveiros was on the Prince Albert Raiders the last time the team reached the WHL league finals, back in 1985.

He recalls what Prince Albert was like back in 1985 — and it sounds a lot like what’s going on in the city right now.

“I remember how electric that city was — not just the Memorial Cup, but the couple years in a row when we had a pretty good playoff run,” Viveiros said. “Wherever you go, everybody was talking about the Raiders throughout the whole season, especially in playoffs. There was a real electric feeling in the city. Even when I get a chance to get back in Prince Albert, the people and some friends and family we still have in the area, they still talk about that time.”

Viveiros wasn’t just a part of the Raiders back then; he was a vital key to their success. Viveiros was the team’s assistant captain and top offensive option on the blue line. Not only that, but his point production may never be matched by another Raider D-man ever again.

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Viveiros ended his Raider career with 321 points. That’s 142 points more than any other Raider defenceman, with Josh Morrissey coming in second. Viveiros is also tied for the career goals lead with 60 alongside Morrissey. And despite being a defenceman, only two players have scored more points than Viveiros — Danny Hodgson and Jeff Nelson.

Viveiros had a lot of success in the WHL. Not only did he win the league championship with the Raiders then, but also went on to win the Memorial Cup. Then in just his second year as a WHL head coach and director of player personnel, Viveiros won the Ed Chynoweth Cup with the Swift Current Broncos last season.

“It’s so important for these small communities like Prince Albert, and last year in Swift Current, how these communities [embrace hockey],” Viveiros said. “It’s not just a sport; it’s a way of bringing the community close together and it’s a rally point for however long it goes.

“My experience in Swift Current and also here in Prince Albert, they do a great job in recruiting these kids,” Viveiros added. “And once they get here, they don’t want to leave. We’re behind the eight-ball, that’s just a fact of life. But once we recruit these kids, they like being around.”

Nowadays, Viveiros is an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers — a position he took this year. He gets to coach hockey in the top league in the world, while also moving close to St. Albert, Alberta where he grew up.

“It was wonderful, it’s an opportunity to work with the best players in the world. To have an opportunity to see a kid like Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl every single day in practice and how they prepare,” said Viveiros, who was able to head to Rogers Place and watch the Raiders and Edmonton Oil Kings series. “They’re good kids and the whole team is a great bunch of kids and a good hockey team. Although the season didn’t work out the way we wanted it to, I honestly believe we’re not that far away. We have a lot of good pieces in place. We’re going to win a lot sooner than later.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW