Vladislav Shilo celebrates his first WHL career goal, his first of a hat trick on Wednesday against the Red Deer Rebels. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders).

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raider rookie Shilo breaks out with hat trick in barnburning defeat to Rebels

Dec 30, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Vladislav Shilo scored his first three WHL career goals all in Wednesday’s game for the Prince Albert Raiders, and Sloan Stanick scored two goals in a gritty, all-around performance.

But it still wasn’t enough to beat the Red Deer Rebels, who won an absolute barnburner in an 8-6 affair.

Rookie forward Shilo came into the game without a goal in his first 20 games, but certainly made up for lost time on Wednesday. He scored 16:12 into the second period after Tyson Laventure won the puck and set up Shilo in the slot, who confidently put the puck on his backhand to beat Rebels goaltender Chase Wutzke and open his campaign. Landon Kosior, who got the secondary assist on the play, went to get Shilo the puck.

Shilo then scored the final two goals of the game late, banking one off the Wutzke from a sharp angle, before tipping in a pass in front from Carson Latimer on the power play with 1:22 remaining in the game to make it 8-6. That’s as close as the Raiders would come.

Blake Stevenson had two goals and two assists to earn the first star for the Rebels. He scored 25 seconds into the game before a game-changing third period. Stevenson set up Liam Keeler and Carter Anderson, before scoring the insurance goal all within a four-minute span to turn a 5-4 game into an 8-4 affair.

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Cole Tisdale made his Raider debut, but was pulled 30 minutes into the game after surrendering five goals on 19 shots. While the Raiders were on the power play, the Rebels clearing attempt bounced to Tisdale’s goal. He stood up to look for the puck, and Rebels forward Jace Isley found it first and made it a 5-2 game.

Tikhon Chaika then came in relief, making 12 saves on 15 shots. Rebels’ Wutzke, who hails from Debden, Sask., got his second WHL career win in his second appearance, making 35 saves on 41 shots.

The Raiders will hope to get back into the winner’s circle Thursday as they will head down to Saskatoon to take on the Blades. The Raiders have a 3-2 advantage in the season series over the Blades, but the Blades beat the Raiders 4-1 on Monday at the Art Hauser Centre in the last meeting.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW