Raiders forward Evan Herman scores his first of the game, chipping the puck over Pats goaltender Spencer Welke. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D’Andrea

Back in the Hauser

Raiders beat the Pats to begin preseason, Sorensen and Sanders show what they can do

Sep 17, 2021 | 10:10 PM

Last year in the shortened WHL season, Keaton Sorensen had no goals and two assists in 23 games with the Red Deer Rebels.

It took him one preseason game to match that total with his new club, as Sorensen and the Raiders beat the Regina Pats 8-6 Friday in their first preseason game. The Pats are 1-1-0-1 in the preseason thus far.

While under pressure, Sorensen set up overager Michael Horon in the first period. In the second, Sorensen cut in front of the net on his backhand, leading to Dallyn Peekeekoot potting in a loose puck.

“It was awesome. I couldn’t have done it without my linemates. They were supporting me all along the ice and I was supporting them,” Sorensen said. “We connected there quick and I thought it was all awesome. I like the atmosphere that all the boys show— the winning culture.”

Sorensen didn’t experience much winning last year with the struggling Rebels, who won four games. The 2002-born forward was then traded to the Raiders in the offseason for a conditional pick.

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“Everybody wants to win, it’s about the guys that come together the quickest, who all buy into the team. That’s what really makes it work,” Sorensen said. “All the younger guys are all growing really fast and we’re treating everybody the same, whether you’re a rookie or a vet.”

Raiders forward Keaton Sorensen winds the puck up the ice. Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff

Caleonel Sanders

Cale Sanders had a pair of goals for the Raiders, in his first game back in the WHL. Sanders played 34 games for the Pats in the 2019-20 season, after appearing in three games the year before.

But last year, Sanders found himself in the Albert Junior Hockey League last year, scoring three goals and five points in seven games with the Okotoks Oilers.

After signing with the Raiders earlier this week, the 2002-born forward is happy to have ended up as a Prince Albert Raider.

“It’s still preseason, but it still feels pretty good to show them [the Pats] what they’re missing out on. I’m playing for a better franchise,” Sanders said.

Raiders forward Cale Sanders had a pair of goals in the contest for the Raiders. Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff

Raiders forward Evan Herman scored a pair of goals as well to help the Raiders along.

Prince Albert’s Tanner Howe scored for the Regina Pats, receiving a loud ovation at the announcement of his goal call. The exceptional Connor Bedard had two goals, hitting the post while attempting to get a hat trick in the third period.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Eric Pearce from Terrell Goldsmith and Tyson Laventure, 0:51

1-1, Pats, Borya Valis from Cole Dubinsky, 1:13

2-1, Raiders, Michael Horon from Keaton Sorensen (shorthanded), 4:20

3-1, Raiders, Evan Herman from Tre Fouquette and Tayem Gislason, 15:29

4-1, Raiders, Cale Sanders from Ethan Ironside (shorthanded), 16:53

4-2, Pats, Cole Carrier, (shorthanded, unassisted) 19:04

Second Period

4-3, Pats, Tom Cadieux from Parker Berge and Sloan Stanick, 2:12

4-4, Pats, Connor Bedard from Leyton Feist, 5:38

5-4, Raiders, Evan Herman from Eric Pearce and Tyson Laventure, 6:11

6-4, Raiders, Adam McNutt (power play, unassisted), 14:04

7-4, Raiders, Dallyn Peekeekoot from Michael Horon, Keaton Sorensen, 16:21

Third Period

8-4, Raiders, Cale Sanders from Dallyn Peekeekoot and Tyson Laventure, 4:10

8-5, Pats, Tanner Howe from Easton Armstrong, 4:35

8-6, Pats, Connor Bedard from Layton Feist and Cole Dubinsky (power play), 9:43

Happy campers

The Raiders have six players off to NHL camps and rookie tournaments in Kaiden Guhle (Montreal), Nolan Allan (Chicago), Ozzy Wiesblatt (San Jose), Landon Kosior (Los Angeles), Carter Serhyenko (Calgary), and Reece Vitelli (Arizona).

Off camping for the Pats are Stanislav Svozil (Columbus), Zack Stringer (Minnesota), Logan Nijhoff (Anaheim), Ryker Evans (Seattle), and Drew Englot (Edmonton).

Coming up

The Raiders will have a rematch against the Pats in Regina on Saturday at 7 p.m. Then next week, the Raiders will wrap up their preseason with a pair of games against the Saskatoon Blades, on Sept. 24 at the Art Hauser Centre and on Sept. 25 at the Legends Centre in Warman.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW