Cole Peardon. (Puck Preps)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raider Hockey

Raiders kick off 2021 Prospects draft with Peardon and Ritchie

Dec 9, 2021 | 12:48 PM

For the first time in franchise history, the Prince Albert Raiders made back-to-back picks in the opening round of the WHL Prospects Draft Thursday. They used those picks to select a pair of forwards in Outlook’s Cole Peardon 13^th overall, and Kelowna, B.C.’s Ryder Ritchie with the 14^th pick.

“Character number one, work ethic and commitment to the team and our program, we feel these guys check all these boxes. We’re really excited to have these guys,” Raiders director of player personnel Bruno Zarillo said during his interview on the WHL’s draft livestream.

The Raiders got to see Peardon quite a bit, as he plays in the Saskatoon area. Peardon has four goals and 16 points in 18 games played with the Saskatoon Blazers this year in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League, after five goals and 10 points in just four Sask U15 AA games last year with the Saskatoon Bandits.

“He’s a big strong power forward, plays the 200-foot game and he fits right into the team we want to build here, and regroup for the future, and try to win more championships,” Zarillo said of Peardon. “The number one thing we’re looking for is character, and we believe we’ve got that, the work ethic, we believe we’ve got that. We’re really excited about our culture to help develop these kids and make them into proud Raiders.”

Ryder Ritchie. (Puck Preps)

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Ryder Ritchie has some NHL bloodlines as his father is Byron Ritchie. Ryder has only appeared in three games this year due to injury, and has scored a goal and three points in those games for the Rink Hockey Academy in Kelowna’s U18 squad. Despite his injury-shortened season so far, Zarillo said he’s seen more than enough this year and in the past to be thrilled to select him.

“His eyes are so focused and so determined, and I see a kid that’s just going to be a player,” Zarillo said. “What I saw in the summer and what I saw on video from past years, we’re really excited to have him. I really feel there’s a strong upside with him.”

Here are the rest of the Raider picks.

Round 2

Grady Martin, 32^nd overall, F, Oyen, Alta., 6’3, 166

Lethbridge Hurricanes U18 AAA, 20 games, 5 goals, 2 assists, 7 points

Seth Tansem, 43^rd overall, RD, Kelowna, B.C., 5’11, 160

Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U18, 13 games, 1 goal, 17 assists, 18 points

Round 3

Max Heise, 55^th overall, RW, Calgary, Alta., 6’1, 130

Calgary Flames U16AAA, 14 games, 9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points, U18 AAA, 3 games, 1 assist

Round 4

Landon Cowper, 69^th overall, LD, Whitehorse, Yukon, 5’9, 155

Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna, 13 games, 5 assists, 5 points

Evhan Allan, 88^th overall, F, Davidson, Sask., 6’2, 165

Prairie Hockey Academy U16 Prep, 15 games, 1 goal, 7 assists, 8 points

Round 6

Ty Gordon, 121^st overall, F, St. Albert, Alta., 5’6, 140

OHA Edmonton U16 Prep, 11 games, 14 goals, 10 assists, 24 points, U18 Prep, 2 games, 1 goal, 1 assist

Round 7

Owen Wallace, 138^th overall, RD, Brandon, Man., 5’11, 187

Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA, 24 games, 1 goal, 7 assists, 8 points

Connor Baumbach, 143^rd overall, G, Red Deer, Alta.,

Red Deer North Star Chiefs U16 AAA, .918 save %, 2.98 goals against average

Round 9

Tyrone Sobry, 187^th overall, LD, Saskatoon, Sask., 6’2, 170

Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA, 18 games, 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points, U18 AAA Contacts, 10 games, 0 pts

History

This is the first time in franchise history the Raiders had back-to-back picks in the first round of the draft, and the third time in franchise history the Raiders have had two first-round picks. The first came in 2015 when the Raiders picked Cole Fonstad fifth overall and Carson Miller 21^st overall. The Raiders then picked Kaiden Guhle first overall in 2017, before taking Cohner Saleski 17^th overall.

During the last 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, the Raiders drafted three players that are in their current roster in Terrell Goldsmith in the first round, Harrison Lodewyk in the second round, and Zach Wilson in the fifth.

And on Wednesday in the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, the Raiders selected Dmitri Toporowski, the son of former Raider great Shayne Toporowski 21^st overall, as well as AJ Ulrich 24^th overall.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW