Raiders forward Ilya Usau has been one of the biggest point producers for the team this preseason, despite new to the team. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Bob the builder

Usau shows his skills as the Raiders wrap up pre-season with another win

Sep 14, 2019 | 10:04 PM

He may be a newcomer to the Prince Albert Raiders, but Ilya Usau has already starting to make a name for himself.

He headed into this year with no experience with the Raiders other than attending their training camp three years ago but finished the exhibition season with six points in four games—second behind only sophomore sniper Ozzy Wiesblatt.

Usau scored his second goal as a Raider to help the Raiders to a 5-2 victory over the Regina Pats Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders finished the pre-season with a 4-1 record.

Although he’s shown what he can do, the 18-year-old Usau is already looking ahead.

“It’s definitely a fast team, so I’m just trying to keep up with that pace and trying to not look at the points as much. It feels good that I’m helpful to the team, but there’s more ways to be helpful,” said Usau, who the team has nicknamed ‘Bob.’ “There’s still a lot of work to be done.”

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Ever since he’s been head coach of the Raiders, Marc Habscheid has like to make his teams play fast and up-tempo. Although Usau hasn’t wrapped his head around Habscheid’s entire playbook just yet, Habscheid is confident he’ll do it.

“Usau, he’s smart. He’s strong, he’s got some good moxie on him but tactically, he just has to learn how we play a bit more. He’ll learn that,” Habscheid said.

Usau signed with the Raiders just before their training camp at the end of August, going away from a commitment to the University of Connecticut. Originally from Minsk, Belarus, Usau moved to Denver to play his bantam and midget years there. He played the last two years at Salisbury School in Salisbury, Connecticut.

But Usau is glad that he made the choice to sign with the Raiders and end up in Prince Albert.

“It’s great. The school’s great, the people are great, the team’s great. Everybody’s treating me well, so it’s going well.”

Raiders 5 Pats 2

Cole Fonstad went off on Saturday, scoring a pair of goals and adding two assists. Max Martin had a goal and three helpers. Ozzy Wiesblatt scored his sixth goal and got an assist on Fonstad’s empty net goal to lead the Raiders in both goals and points (seven).

Boston Bilous made 32 saves on 34 shots for the victory, and finished the preseason with a 3-0 record, a .933 save percentage and 1.91 goals against average in four appearances.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Pats, Makai Mitchell from Cole Dubinsky and Ryker Evans, 3:26

1-1, Raiders, Ilya Usau from Cole Fonstad, Max Martin (power play), 11:02

Second Period

2-1, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Cole Fonstad and Remy Aquilon (power play), 14:11

2-2, Pats, Robbie Holmes (shorthanded, unassisted), 19:44

Third Period

3-2, Raiders, Max Martin from Cole Nagy and Nolan Allan, 2:44

4-2, Raiders, Cole Fonstad from Max Martin, 17:08

5-2, Raiders, Cole Fonstad from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Max Martin, (empty net goal), 19:28

Injury update

Eric Pearce was scratched for the Raiders final two preseason games against his hometown Pats, but is expected to play in the season opener on the 20^th.

“I think he’ll be okay to start the year,” Habscheid said. “He’s a heavy body, plays structured, smart, good teammate. We could use him, too.”

Jakob Brook missed all of training camp and didn’t get into a preseason game with the Raiders after suffering an undisclosed injury at Hockey Canada’s camp for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in July.

Habscheid ruled him out for the opening weekend.

“He’s skating and when he gets clearance he’ll play. But he won’t play on the weekend, that’s for sure,” Habscheid said.

Down in California

Both parts of last year’s top defence pairing made it to main camps of NHL teams.

Brayden Pachal stayed on with the Vegas Golden Knights to attend their training camp after participating in rookie tournaments with the team.

His partner Zack Hayes did the same with the Anaheim Ducks. Both are attending camps as unsigned, undrafted free agents.

The only other player that’s still on the Raiders’ current roster that’s still out camping with an NHL team is Aliaksei Protas, with the Washington Capitals.

Max Martin attending rookie camp with the Boston Bruins, but has returned to the Raiders. Cole Fonstad has also come back to the Raiders, returning from the Montreal Canadiens.

They start to count next week

Saturday’s game wraps up the preseason, meaning the Raiders will start playing for real next week.

Their regular season opener on Sept. 20 against the Saskatoon Blades. That will be a special night, as they will hang four banners prior to the start of the game that night for winning the league championship, for finishing first in the regular season and winning the conference and division.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW