Raiders forward Ozzy Wiesblatt went down with an awkward looking shoulder injury in the third period. Keith Hershmiller/WHL

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders dropping like flies due to injuries

Raiders Wiesblatt and Herman exit loss to Blades with apparent injuries

Mar 29, 2021 | 7:12 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders may have lost a lot more than just a 4-0 game against the Saskatoon Blades on Monday afternoon.

Raiders leading scorer Ozzy Wiesblatt was sent awkwardly into the boards by Blades captain Chase Wouters, and was clearly favouring his shoulder as he went straight off to the tunnel. And forward Evan Herman, the Raiders’ third-leading scorer, left the game after a collision in the middle of the ice in the first.

Just shy of the 12-minute mark of the third period, Wiesblatt was checked from behind into the boards by Wouters, and Wiesblatt appeared to be favouring his shoulder as he was tended to by athletic therapist Duane Bartley. Wiesblatt headed straight to the tunnel once he got to his feet. Wouters was ejected from the game, and received a cross-checking major for the hit.

“He’s out, that’s all I know,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “Wasn’t a great hit, those are the hits we want out of our game. It was a dangerous hit, he could have broken his neck.”

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In the first period while killing a penalty, Herman seemed to have been tangled up as he was struck in the head during a puck battle at his own blueline. He appeared wobbly when he retrieved his stick before finishing the shift but did not return to the game.

The Raiders were already without the services of star captain Kaiden Guhle (upper body, indefinite), overage goaltender Max Paddock (lower body, day-to-day), and five-year veteran Spencer Moe (lower body, day-to-day).

“I think we have like—whatever— 10 guys that are out now, key guys that are out. But you know what, we just kept battling, scratches and finding a way,” Habscheid said.

The Raiders were also committing some dirty deeds themselves. One game removed from his impressive two-assist performance on the top line, Raiders rookie Logan Linklater was ejected from the game after butt-ending Colton Dach, 3:20 into the third period. While both teams were making a line change in between whistles, Linklater struck Dach with the top of his stick to get the major penalty.

“Our hands aren’t clean, anyways. The butt-ending penalty, that’s a bad penalty. Raiders do not do that. That is a terrible penalty. That’s just not acceptable,” Habscheid said. “Raiders play hard, we play straight up, we don’t butt-end, spear, slew foot, none of that. We don’t do that.”

Raiders affiliate player Terrell Goldsmith pins Blades forward Caiden Daley to the boards. Keith Hershmiller/WHLa

Green and Goldsmith

After clearing all health protocols and waiting patiently for two games, Raiders’ 2020 first-rounder Terrell Goldsmith made his WHL debut against the Blades. Although Habscheid used him sparingly throughout the game, Goldsmith was still noticeable each time he took the ice with his physically and well-timed pinches.

“He moves well for a big guy, good feet, good first pass. He’s going to be fine,” Habscheid said.

Scoring Summary

Colton Dach had two goals and an assist to lead the Blades offensively. Tristen Robins had a goal and an assist. Wouters had the other Blades’ goal. Nolan Maier made 24 saves for the shutout victory. Carter Serhyenko, the third game he’s been the Raiders’ only goaltender, had 28 saves on 32 shots.

Up next

The Raiders will have their second back-to-back of the season, as they will take on the Brandon Wheat Kings (6-2-1) on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Wheat Kings are the second-ranked team in the WHL East Division, behind only the Saskatoon Blades.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW