The opening faceoff of what would prove to be a lopsided contest between the Raiders and Winnipeg ICE. (Rob Mahon/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Raiders Routed In Winnipeg

ICE build snowman on Raiders in Winnipeg

Oct 9, 2021 | 10:59 PM

After some minor progress in the loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings, the Prince Albert Raiders suffered a setback at the hands of an even more highly-skilled opponent. The Winnipeg ICE hammered the Raiders 8-0 at Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg to bring the brief Manitoba road trip to an unceremonious end.

Jakin Smallwood scored twice and Connor McClennon was credited with a hat trick in the rout. Connor Geekie, Mikey Milne, and Zach Benson also scored.

The play was heavily tilted to the Raiders’ zone in the opening frame, with the shots 12-3 after 20 minutes for Winnipeg. Smallwood opened the scoring when he was left alone in the high slot and fired a turnaround shot through the legs of Ronin Geraghty. On a power play just over six and a half minutes later, Benson fed Milne on a two-on-one and Milne made no mistake.

Smallwood tapped in his second after a great rush from Geekie to end the first period. Physical play, at times excesses of it dominated the middle frame, but before it got out of hand. Owen Pedersen stepped right out of the penalty box and into the rush, feeding McClennon on a partial break as he finished on the backhand.

After another McClennon goal, this one a one-timer on the power play, things turned nasty. Evan Herman got into a spirited fight with Owen Boucher, switching hands on the less experienced defenceman to land several hard blows. Then, Karter Prosofsky threw a high, hard hit on Bryce Warkentine before Warkentine had ever touched the puck, leading to another fight with Remy Aquilon. Minor skirmishes and pushing matches dominated the rest of the game.

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

12h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

18h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

Dec 13, 2024

On the scoreboard, as the game turned to the third period, Geekie scored a beautiful goal, finishing off an end-to-end rush by dangling through the Raiders’ defence off the rush and snapping a shot low-blocker on Geraghty. The score was already beyond salvaging, but the ICE tacked on two more for good measure, with McClennon completing the hat trick on a redirection of a shot from Matthew Savoie.

The Raiders fall to 0-4 on the campaign and will not have long to regroup as they travel to Moose Jaw to face the Warriors on Wednesday evening. That game will air at 7 p.m. on 900 CKBI.

—-

rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP