Brayden Pachal with the Ed Chynoweth Cup during the pre-game ceremonies for Friday’s Raider season opener at the Art Hauser Centre. (Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Captain Pachal

Pachal rushes back to P.A. for Raiders’ historic night

Sep 21, 2019 | 12:00 PM

Just over an hour before the Prince Albert Raiders’ home opener on Friday, Raider fans learned that their beloved captain Brayden Pachal wouldn’t be returning to the team.

But at least they had a chance to say goodbye.

After the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights announced they had signed Pachal to an entry level contract and then assigned him to their AHL affiliate in the Chicago Wolves, Pachal was at centre ice at the Art Hauser Centre shortly thereafter.

He walked out to thunderous applause on his way to unveil the Ed Chynoweth Cup the Raiders had won last season and witness the presentation of all four banners his Raiders won last year.

“It was super special. This has been my home for three years. It’s a place I’ll never forget,” Pachal said. “We won a championship here. It’s pretty cool to be able to witness those banners raised up, and all the hard work that we put in the last couple years to get those.”

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Pachal’s schedule was crunched for him to be in Prince Albert in the first place for the celebration, but he wasn’t going to miss it. He put pen to paper on Friday morning with the Golden Knights, then flew to his native Saskatchewan to be at the game. After gathering his vehicle and his belongings, Pachal then left Saturday morning to drive all the way to Chicago to report with the Wolves.

“Pachal made it back. He just came, it was important and he wanted to be here for this. It will be the last time he’ll be in this building as a Raider,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “It’s sad, for sure. You get attached to these guys and when they’re moving on to bigger and better things, that’s our job. At the same time, they’re a big part of the history of the Raiders now and what they accomplished. It’s bittersweet… you miss them.”

It wasn’t the first taste of NHL camp life for Pachal, as he attended the Calgary Flames’ development camp last year. To have gone into main camp with the Golden Knights and earn himself a contract was a big deal.

“It’s amazing. It’s a dream come true. It’s the first step in the right direction and the work starts now,” Pachal said. “I knew that me going to Vegas, I had the opportunity to earn that. That was my goal going in.”

Pachal, the 20-year-old from Estevan, contributed in just about every way to the Raiders. As a defenceman, he scored 15 goals and 51 points in 66 games, while posting a league-high +76 rating and chipped in with 113 penalty minutes.

Never one to shy away from a battle, Pachal was in unfamiliar territory on Friday, watching his Raiders battle in their biggest rivalry against the Saskatoon Blades and fall 3-2 in overtime.

“It’s weird. I was getting a little bit fired up in the stands,” Pachal said. “That rivalry will stick with me forever.”

And those four banners that Pachal led his Raiders to win as captain last year, they’ll stick up in the rafters forever, too.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW