Raiders defenceman Nolan Allan answered the bell after being challenged by Rebels forward Arshdeep Bains. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders Hockey

Rusty Raiders rally but rejected by Rebels

Feb 4, 2022 | 10:09 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders may have been rusty after having last played on Jan. 25. They were also unable to have a full-team practice under Thursday, the night before facing one of the best teams in the conference in the Red Deer Rebels.

The Rebels were able to squeak by the Raiders with a tight 2-1 score, improving their record to 4-1 over the Raiders this year.

“I liked our guys, really. The only thing I didn’t like was the final score. The first goal was seeing-eye, the second goal was off a turnover, but other than that I thought we played really well,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “We probably deserved a bit of a better fate. If we could have cashed in on the five-minute power play, that would have helped. if we could have scored first, that would have helped. But being off for the time that we were, I thought the guys played really well.”

“They’re not excuses, they’re reasons. They’re factual,” Habscheid added about all the time off and the quick turnaround. “I liked our guys’ try. They could have thrown their sticks out, but they didn’t. They worked.”

Raiders’ forward Ozzy Wiesblatt was forced to miss even more time, as he missed four games before the Raiders’ had six more of their players enter COVID-19 protocols and had both of their games postponed last week.

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Despite having barely skated for the past three weeks, Wiesblatt scored the Raiders’ lone goal in his return to the lineup, his ninth of the season.

“It is what it is,” Wiesblatt said. “Everybody has little problems and nicks they have to deal with. I’ve been playing hockey my whole life, so it’s second nature. It’s too bad we didn’t get the win. Guys competed and it was a tough game, but I know we’re going to bounce back tomorrow.”

Wiesblatt missed the four games after taking a hit from Rebels’ defenceman Christoffer Sedoff back on Jan. 17. Sedoff was given a game misconduct for the major interference penalty and was suspended for another.

Also in that game, Trevor Thurston got a two-game suspension after hitting Rebels’ Frantisek Formanek with a knee, earning himself a five-minute major as well.

That major penalty spree between the two sides continued on Friday, as Rebels’ Jace Isley was ejected late in the first period, after taking Raiders’ defenceman Eric Johnston into the end boards. Johnson needed help to get to the bench and dressing room and was visibly shaken up on the play. Johnston returned for the second period and finished the game.

Chaika’s Crease

Raiders goaltender Tikhon Chaika has appeared in each of the last 22 games for the Raiders, dating back to Nov. 24. His current streak is one off the WHL internet era record, set by Rejean Beauchemin back in the 2003-04 season when he played the first 23 games of that year.

Chaika made 27 saves on 29 shots.

Game Summary

The game was scoreless until Hunter Mayo opened the scoring with a long-range shot that beat Chaika low on the glove side, 11:34 into the second period. Ben King made it 2-0 shortly after the Raiders turned it over at their own blueline, 15:23 into the second period. That was King’s WHL-leading 34^th goal of the season, and sixth against the Raiders in five games this year.

After a four-game absence to injury, Wiesblatt returned to the ice and to the scoresheet as well. He got the Raiders on the board and back into the game with 2:02 remaining in the second period. Sloan Stanick fed him back door for the tally on the power play, Wiesblatt’s ninth of the season.

First Period

No scoring.

Second Period

1-0, Rebels, Hunter Mayo from Kalan Lind, 11:34

2-0, Rebels, Ben King from Dallon Melin, 15:23

2-1, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Sloan Stanick and Keaton Sorensen (power play), 17:58

Third Period

No scoring.

Up next

The Raiders will take on the Edmonton Oil Kings and former Raider captain Kaiden Guhle on Saturday, 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre. Of course, Wiesblatt won the 2019 WHL Championship with Guhle as the two were 16-year-old rookies on that side.

“It’s going to be cool, but it’s just another game,” Wiesblatt said on facing Guhle as an opponent. “They’re a really good team so we’re going to have to bring our A-game.”

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW