Raiders defenceman Adam McNutt dives to clear the puck against Wheat Kings forward Brett Hyland. Keith Hershmiller/WHL

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders vs Wheat Kings

‘If you can be proud of your players for a 7-1 loss, this is it’

Mar 30, 2021 | 7:10 PM

Prince Albert Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid has ripped his teams in the past after lopsided defeats and narrow losses. He’s even been critical of his teams after wins, and critical of players who have big multi-point nights.

But after Tuesday’s 7-1 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings, Habscheid was anything but critical to his side. In fact, he liked the effort from his guys.

Sure, Wheat Kings forward Ridly Greig scored 22 seconds into the game after Raider blueliner Landon Kosior lost an edge with the puck on his stick. But despite the early goal on a miscue, and the fact the Raiders entered the game without their captain, leading scorer, third-leading scorer etc., they didn’t pack it in.

In fact, Justin Nachbaur and Adam McNutt both dropped the gloves within the first two minutes of the game, finding Ben McCartney and Reid Perepeluk as dance partners, respectively.

“It was 7-1 but the shots were even. So, I guess if you can be proud of your players for a 7-1 loss, this is it. They competed,” Habscheid said, as shots were 35-29 for the Wheat Kings in the game. “There was a few pucks of theirs that found their way in, like that first one, it’s a lost edge and it goes in. Now you’re thinking the guys would just buckle there, but they didn’t. They’re resilient and kept competing. Shots were even, but the score was the score. The guys gave us what they had.”

Politics

Liberal leadership race crystallizes as candidates make opening pitches

9h ago

Middle east conflict

Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to begin Sunday

12h ago

BODY-WORN CAMERAS

RCMP body cameras aim to build trust, but expert says can be "problematic"

Jan 17, 2025

The Wheat Kings may have been looking to pad their stats at the end of the game. As time was winding down after a Raider clear, and a 6-1 game, the Wheat Kings barreled up the ice quickly to score with 2.9 seconds left.

“We never did that when we had the other teams like that. We never ran up scores,” Habscheid said. “If they decide to run up scores, that’s what they do. But the Raiders never have done that, and we don’t want to do that.”

The Raiders signed and added draft choice and Prince Albert Minto Dallyn Peekeekoot. He made his WHL debut on Tuesday. Matthew Culling scored the lone Raider goal.

McCartney and Perepeluk both had Gordie Howe hat tricks for the Wheaties. Ty Thorpe, Riley Ginnell, Ridly Greig, Lynden McCallum, and Vinny Iorio all had goals. Wheat Kings captain and Prince Albert’s Braden Schneider had an assist in the contest and was +2.

Logan Linklater

As of the start of the game, the WHL did not announce that Linklater was going to be suspended for his butt-end hit on Colton Dach in the third period of Monday’s game, but Linklater was scratched for the game anyway. Raider head coach Marc Habscheid said he was going to bench Linklater for the incident, whether or not there was going to be a suspension.

Hayeser with a laser signs ELC with Golden Knights

Former Raiders captain Zack Hayes will stay with the Golden Knights organization. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Las Vegas Golden Knights that will start in the 2021-22 season. Hayes signed a one-year AHL deal this year with the Golden Knights’ farm team, the Henderson Silver Knights. He has a goal and four assists in 17 games with the Silver Knights.

Hayes joins fellow ex-Raider captain Brayden Pachal as players to sign entry-level contracts.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Wheat Kings, Ridly Greig from Ben McCartney and Jake Chiasson, 0:22

2-0, Wheat Kings, Ben McCartney from Nolan Ritchie and Ridly Greig (power play), 9:35

Second Period

3-0, Wheat Kings, Reid Perepeluk from Neithan Salame, 2:18

4-0, Wheat Kings, Lynden McCallum from Brett Hyland, 18:25

Third Period

4-1, Raiders, Matthew Culling from Spencer Moe and Michael Horon (power play), 9:56

5-1, Wheat Kings, Vinny Iorio (power play, unassisted), 11:34

6-1, Wheat Kings, Ty Thorpe from Chad Nychuk and Braden Schneider (power play), 17:05

7-1, Wheat Kings, Riley Ginnell from Reid Perepeluk (power play), 19:57

Up next

The Raiders will take on the Winnipeg ICE on Friday at 4 p.m. for their next contest.

–

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW