P.A.Raiders fans were lining up and camping out late Friday night as soon as they heard there would be a game 6 in the WHL Championship series. (Ken Landers/CKBI)

By Ken Landers and Glenn Hicks

raiders fever

Raiders fever rises ahead of game 6

May 11, 2019 | 8:20 AM

Who cares that the Prince Albert Raiders didn’t win Friday’s game 5 of the WHL Championship series in Vancouver right?

Raider mania is still very much alive and well in the city. Many fans, like the team, remain firmly focused on earning a trip to the Memorial Cup and made that statement loud and clear from late last night.

They began lining up and pitching camp outside the Art Hauser Centre immediately following the 3-4 loss to the Giants in Langley. By around 11 p.m., despite the damp and cold conditions, the buzz was happening, as it so often has throughout this hugely successful season.

Some fans, like Chris Jackson, was ready for his all-night wait in his winter jacket and figured Sunday’s game 6 would be extra special.

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“The other series were won on the road so I think the boys want to win this one for us Sunday night,” he told paNOW. “I can’t wait, it’s going to be the game of a lifetime and I hope everyone can get a ticket for it.”

Jackson, a life-long resident and Raiders supporter said this year’s team was top class.

“They have bonded together like real champions and I think they can go all the way to the Memorial Cup and take it,” he said.

Like the team, there has also been a special bond develop among the fan base and Jackson was in line along with many others to ensure they got a seat to what could be a memorable Mother’s Day occasion Sunday night at the Art Hauser.

Fans like Fran Fremont and Jeramiah Morrison brought their Eskimo ice fishing hut with sleeping bags and warm clothes to make their wait a little more comfortable. They kicked it up a notch, adding a portable heater, all in the quest to get tickets to the hottest show in town.

In for the long haul. These Raiders fans were among many who set up outside the Art Hauser Centre Friday night for the ticket office opening Saturday morning at 9 a.m.(Ken Landers/CKBI)

By dawn on Saturday the line-up had grown further ahead of the ticket office opening at 9.a.m. Online ticket sales were set to go on sale at 10 a.m.

Game 6 goes Sunday night, puck drop is at 6 pm. As always, you can listen live to all the play-by-play action on 900 CKBI.

Proud mom awaits flight arrival

Meanwhile a Prince Albert mom and Raider fan will have more reason than most to feel extra proud about the return from Vancouver of the team Saturday.

Coral Dallman’s son Trevor is the captain for the charter flight bringing both teams back to P.A. for games 6, and if needed, game 7 of the WHL Championship series.

A unique view of the Raiders bus from inside the plane that will bring the team and the Vancouver Giants back to P.A.Saturday. (submitted/Coral Dallman)

“Trevor worked for three years at McDonald’s while he got his private pilot’s licence here in P.A.,” she told paNOW. “Since then he’s got his commercial multi-engine rating, flew air taxi and air ambulances, and is a chief pilot with North Cariboo Air Service.”

Dallman said her son now flies private corporate jets all over the world including for major sports teams.

Prince Albertans will only have one team on their mind this weekend and will be happy to have Capt. Dallman at the controls to bring the boys home after their successful trip to Vancouver against the Giants.

“I can hardly wait to see him today,” Coral said. “I’ll be at the airport to give him a Mother’s Day hug.”

Editor’s note: this story was modified at 12:25 p.m. to include reference to the return plane trip.

ken.landers@jpbg.ca/ glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow