Zack Hayes named as new Raiders captain

Hayes served as alternate captain last season and has seen it all in Prince Albert having appeared in 217 career regular season games with the club, along with 30 in the postseason.

“He knows exactly what it’s all about, he knows the organization, he knows the coaching staff and the city as well as anybody,” head coach Marc Habscheid said. “He’s deservedly the captain. Great kid, great family, and he will carry on the tradition proudly.”

Asked about his leadership style, Hayes said he learned a lot from previous captains like Tim Vanstone, Curtis Miske, and Brayden Pachal, while also serving alongside Parker Kelly and Sean Montgomery as alternates last season.

“We were able to take things on as a group which I think we’ll be able to do this year. A lot of that will help prepare me for this situation,” Hayes said.

While he may not be the most vocal player on the team, Hayes is comfortable setting the tone on the ice in practice and in games, letting his work ethic and commitment to winning serve as an example for his teammates.

“The leaders kind of surface on their own. He’s a big voice in the room, and I think the biggest thing with him is he has the respect of the group. He just has a presence about him, he’s a real good human being, he’s got a good balance, he understands the culture of what we try to enforce here and we know he’ll carry that forward,” Habscheid said.

Last spring, Hayes was honoured with the Raiders’ Century 21 Lionel Diehl Memorial Hardest Working Player of the Year award.

As for the three alternates, each one brings a wealth of experience to the club. Both Masella and Protas are returning players from last year’s championship team, while Watts was a leader in Vancouver. His Giants advanced all the way to game seven before falling to Prince Albert in overtime.

Masella has been in Prince Albert since Jan 2018 when he was acquired from the Victoria Royals. He’s produced 25 points in 110 regular season games and was a key part of the Raiders’ run to the championship in 2019. He was also the recipient of the team’s 2018-19 Parkland Ambulance Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Watts is the newest addition to be given a letter, but he has quickly established himself as a big part of the Raiders.

“He’s made an impact in our group already, he’s ecstatic to be here, and we know he’ll add to that leadership group as well,” Habscheid said.

Watts has chipped in with 10 points in his first seven games as a Raider since being acquired on Sept. 24 from Vancouver. The Bakersfield, CA native has appeared in 260 regular season games in the WHL along with 34 in the postseason.

The youngest player to be wearing a letter is 18-year-old forward Aliaksei Protas, the second year forward from Belarus. Protas was selected in the 2018 CHL Import Draft and made a big impression with 40 points in his first regular season, followed by 22 points in 23 playoff games.

He was selected in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals and signed to an entry-level contract during the offseason.

“You saw earlier in the year he had chances to hit the open net twice and he pulled up and gave it to teammates. That’s what we’re looking for, we’re looking for people that are selfless and care more about their teammates than themselves, and that proves the point right there,” Habscheid said of Protas.

“He’s well-liked, he’s funny, he fits into our room. He’s a signed guy, a drafted guy, and he carries a presence in our room.”

In addition to the four players that will serve as captain and alternates, Habscheid mentioned several other players who received consideration and will be a part of the team’s leadership group through the season.

“Boston Bilous has had a big impact for us, Spencer Moe has had a big impact for us, Nachbaur has had a big presence for us, and a young guy like Kaiden Guhle, he’s in our leadership group and is a big part. These guys all made us think because they could have letters as well,” Habscheid said.

Raiders acquire McGovern, send Balas to Spokane

The team also announced a pair of trades on Tuesday, with goaltender Duncan McGovern being acquired from Winnipeg, and Brett Balas dealt to Spokane.

McGovern has been playing with the Dauphin Kings in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League after being re-assigned by Winnipeg, and will remain there. The 6’2, 207-lb goaltender has appeared in 66 games throughout his WHL career between the ICE and Medicine Hat, posting a 22-33-5-0 record with a 3.85 goals-against average and a 0.878 save percentage.

The Raiders sent an eighth-round pick to the ICE in exchange for the Winnipeg native.

Later in the day, the club announced the acquisition of a ninth-round pick in the 2023 bantam draft in exchange for goaltender Brett Balas, who had recently been sent from the Raiders to the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons.

Balas had appeared in three games with the Raiders in his career, posting a 2-1-0-0 record with a 2.96 goals-against average and a 0.857 save percentage.

The Raiders’ road trip through the US Division begins Saturday night in Everett against the Silvertips.

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden

by Trevor Redden

Zack Hayes named as new Raiders captain

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