Raiders goaltender Tikhon Chaika tracks a shot through a screen from Pats' Easton Armstrong. Raiders defenceman Tayem Gislason clears the way for his Belarusian goaltender. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders Hockey

Chaika finds groove, leads Raiders to third consecutive win

Dec 3, 2021 | 10:11 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders have had their growing pains and some struggles at times during the 2021-22 season.

But thanks to Raiders rookie goaltender Tikhon Chaika, now is not one of those times. The Raiders are rolling on a three-game winning streak after Chaika made 45 saves in a 5-2 win over the Regina Pats Friday at the Art Hauser Centre.

Chaika was also rock solid on the Raiders’ two-win weekend in Manitoba, making 23 saves on 24 shots in a 2-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Nov. 27, before a 33-save effort in a 4-3 overtime victory over the nearly unbeatable Winnipeg ICE.

“My team was awesome all this game. We had all the blocked shots and we were playing good defensively, so straight,” Chaika said. “It’s really good to win three in a row, and one of them was against really the best team in the CHL. So now we’re ready to go and keep winning.”

Chaika had a whole lot of offensive support in front of him, as the Raiders roared out to a 3-0 lead in the first period thanks goals from ex-Pats. After scoring the overtime winner over the ICE, Sloan Stanick showed off his slick hands to put the Raiders up 12:07 into the game, before Colonel Cale Sanders scored twice in the opening frame.

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Prince Albert’s Tanner Howe would get the Pats on the board 13:24 into the second period, firing home a one-timer on the power play from Connor Bedard. That’s Howe’s first goal since winning gold at the Capital City Challenge in Ottawa, and his eighth goal on the season.

But Evan Herman would score on a retrieval on a 2-on-1, and Keaton Sorensen’s screened shot would extend the Raiders lead to 5-1.

Then with 26 seconds left in the second period, the Pats got a gift as Chaika’s pass went off Nolan Allan’s stick and bizarrely into his own net to make it a 5-2 game after 40 minutes.

After coming from the Edmonton Oil Kings in the big Kaiden Guhle trade earlier in the week, both Carson Latimer and Eric Johnston got assists in their Raider debuts. Latimer assisted on Herman’s goal, the 4-1 goal, while Johnston set up Sanders’ first goal 15 minutes into the game.

“Obviously, there’s lots of things to think about. It kinda hit me by surprise a bit, so it’s interesting,” Latimer said. “I headed out that night, drove out to Saskatoon, stayed the night, and then right here for practice in the morning. Everybody welcomed me really well and it was great to meet the coaches and everything.”

For the Swabys

Through the TJ’s Pizza 50/50 draw, the Raiders raised $32,863 for Matt Swaby’s family. Prince Albert’s Swaby tragically lost his life in a farming accident last Saturday. He was a big hockey figure in the community, and played four years in the WHL from 2004-08 with the Tri-City Americans and the Edmonton Oil Kings. Swaby also played two years with the Prince Albert Mintos from 2002-04.

“It’s the hockey community and the community in general. When somebody’s in trouble, you try to help,” Habscheid said. “It’s nice that the community raised that money for them. It’s not going to bring him back, but hopefully, that money can help them. It’s just a tough time, I feel bad for them.”

Goals and stuff

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Sloan Stanick from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Remy Aquilon, 12:07

2-0, Raiders, Cale Sanders from Eric Johnston and Keaton Sorensen, 15:08

3-0, Raiders, Cale Sanders from Keaton Sorensen and Ozzy Wiesblatt, 19:56

Second Period

3-1, Pats, Tanner Howe from Stanislav Svozil and Connor Bedard (power play), 13:24

4-1, Raiders, Evan Herman from Carson Latimer, 14:44

5-1, Raiders, Keaton Sorensen from Nolan Allan and Remy Aquilon, 15:34

5-2, Pats, Braxton Whitehead (for dumping the puck down the ice shorthanded), 19:38

Third Period

No scoring.

Raider rest

Friday’s game was the Raiders’ only one this weekend, but will take on the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders will then take on the Pats at the Brandt Centre in Regina, before hosting the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday back at the Art Hauser Centre.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW