(File photo/Jeff D'Andrea, paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

From the grassroots

Raiders get accolades from The Hockey News on player development

Aug 25, 2021 | 4:41 PM

The word “community” means a lot to the Prince Albert Raiders because it has to. It would be quite difficult to be one of the few community-owned teams in the Western Hockey League without it.

Prince Albert Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt believes that sense of togetherness the team has created with its fanbase and community has helped them on and off the ice.

On Tuesday, Ryan Kennedy and The Hockey News ranked the best developmental hockey programs in North America. The Raiders were ranked in the top five in the Western Hockey League, and were one of two Canadian teams on that list, with the other being the Vancouver Giants who the Raiders defeated in the 2019 WHL Championship series.

Hunt believes how entwined the Raiders are to the rest of the city and the area is a big reason why they are able to produce the type of players that they have.

“Our community is not just ourselves on the inside, but our community as a whole, and the care and pride that our entire fanbase and city take in our club. I think that creates a nurturing environment where players can grow and develop,” Hunt said, “not only as players as we’ve seen our fair share of players get that opportunity at the next level, but as people as well.

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“I see them slowly come back to P.A., come into the office and say ‘hello,’ and share the fortunes of their own story with us.”

The Raiders’ NHL draft record speaks for itself. In just the past two years, the Raiders have produced three first-round picks in Nolan Allan (32^nd overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, 2021), Kaiden Guhle (16^th overall to the Montreal Canadiens, 2020), and Ozzy Wiesblatt (31^st overall to the San Jose Sharks).

The Raiders are also on an 11-year streak of having at least one player get selected in the draft dating back to 2011 — with 16 players being picked in that span.

Leon Draisaitl (third overall in 2014) and Josh Morrisey (lucky 13^th overall in 2013) are also standouts in that time.

Inside the dressing room, there is that strong sense of community as well, especially since Marc Habscheid joined the Raiders as their head coach midway through the 2014 season. Since that time, Raiders from every year have said the team is the most tightly-knit group they have ever been a part of, even when the Raiders have had an off-year.

Hunt largely credits Habscheid and the rest of the coaching staff for creating that environment year after year.

“[The coaches] work with our group to be able to feel safe in that room, to be able to communicate how they feel in that room, and to create an environment of accountability that isn’t threatening peer-to-peer. I think that’s what Marc does a really good job of; him and his coaching staff, is empowering those players,” Hunt said.

Hunt said in all, the acknowledgment for being one of the top developmental teams in the league is due to the hard work of everyone in the team and in the crowd.

“I think it reflects on the people throughout our organization and every facet of our organization, starting with our scouts who do the groundwork to get us our players, that our coaching staff works with and develops, as well as the business and front office staff to develop off-ice,” Hunt said. “Whether it’s how to handle media or community events to give back and those kinds of things. I think it belongs to the community. It’s a great honour and a nice feather in our cap.”

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW