Raiders general manger Curtis Hunt. File photo/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D’Andrea

Getting you set for the season

Raiders’ GM discusses Paddock’s practices, busy Belarusians, pandemic protocols

Feb 21, 2021 | 11:42 AM

While the Prince Albert Raiders and the rest of the WHL East Division teams in isolation get ready for the upcoming season, Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt took time away from his pre-season preparations to discuss three big news items with paNOW ahead of the 24-game season.

Among them, Hunt discussed Max Paddock’s professional tryout with the Stockton Heat and what that means for the Raiders, as well as Belarusians Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Usau, and Uladzislau Shyla’s availability this year, and where the Raiders will be housed this season.

Raiders goaltender Max Paddock. File photo/paNOW Staff

Paddock’s professional tryout

Raiders goaltender Max Paddock earned himself a tryout with the Stockton Heat, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Calgary Flames. But, according to Hunt, Paddock will be playing for the Raiders this season.

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“I actually spoke to Calgary [Friday], they asked me when he has to be back. He’ll be joining us in the hub on Saturday,” Hunt said.

Hunt said he was glad to see Paddock get the tryout, and have the chance to introduce himself as a person and player to the Flames’ organization.

“I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for him for a couple of things,” he said. “One is, you show Calgary right there, you’re in the system, they get to know who you are. We all know Max is such a great person and that’s always such a vital asset to teams. And they can project a little bit by watching him, can he be a starter at some point? Can he be a great backup? So, I think it’s a great opportunity for him.”

Hunt acquired Paddock during the trade deadline last year. Paddock will be entering his 20-year-old season with the Raiders this year.

Aliaksei Protas. (Lucas Chudleigh/Apollo Multimedia)

Busy Belarusians

As much as they would like to have them, the Raiders will not have the services of Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Usau (a dual citizen between the United States and Belarus), and the newly drafted Uladzislau Shyla this season. All three have been playing on teams based in Belarus this year.

Protas and Usau are both wrapping up a full season for Dinamo Minsk in the KHL. Protas has nine goals and 16 points in 54 games this year, while Usau has three goals and six points in 52 games.

Hunt said that for Protas, Usau, and Shyla to come over and play in Canada, they would need a national interest exemption from the Canadian government—much like incoming players and teams did for the World Juniors in Edmonton this past holiday season.

Even if they could get the exemptions, Hunt said the timing would be extremely difficult. Protas and Usau are at crucial points of the season. As the KHL regular season wears down, Dinamo Minsk are currently in a playoff spot and the postseason would start around the same time as the WHL regular season would continue.

For Shyla, he has 22 points in 37 games with Team Belarus U18 in the Belarusian Extraleague B. Even if Shyla could get the exemption and play for the Raiders, he would have to miss out on the U18’s in the United States in April.

And, on top of all that, the three players would have to travel across the world during a pandemic, and go through isolations as well to enter the hub centre.

“Where that left us was on Feb. 25, those players have to be on our roster and cannot play anywhere else,” Hunt said. “If I was to bring them in and put them on our roster, and hope that someone at the federal government level would approve their national interest exemption–just felt it was too much risk for those players who currently are playing and having an opportunity to develop.”

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has tried to get their European players to come throughout the season and that has not worked out.

(File photo/paNOW Staff)

Pandemic protocols

According to Hunt, the Raiders started officially isolating when the clock struck midnight between Friday and Saturday. They will isolate for a week, allow two days for travel Regina, then will isolate for another week. Throughout the process, teams will go through at least two tests before they start skating on March 5. Although the schedule has not been set, it will start on March 12.

The WHL East Division teams will be staying in dorms at both the University of Regina and Luther College. The Raiders will stay at the University of Regina for the duration of their 24 games.

“We believe we’ll be able to maintain our own team cohort and stay away from the general public, we’ll be away from the other teams, we’ll eat on our own,” Hunt said. “By getting through the first [isolation] week at home, and stay away from the population, getting tested twice before getting on ice, and of course using all the protocols and precautions—almost very similar to the NHL with masking and social distancing, that we can play without harm.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW