Raiders assistant captain Remy Aquilon (right) had absolutely no idea he would be a part of this pregame ceremony. (Submitted photo/Mark Peterson Media)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Unaware Aquilon

Raiders assistant captain pranked minutes before Wednesday’s win over Wheaties

Mar 31, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Even as they fight for their Western Hockey League playoff lives, the Prince Albert Raiders are still sneaking in a few laughs. If he wasn’t already aware of the shenanigans, Raiders assistant captain Remy Aquilon sure is now.

In the Raiders’ dressing room recently, Aquilon had mentioned he had never been a part of a ceremonial faceoff before. Seeing as he’s an over-ager and this will be his last WHL year, the Raiders figured they would give him one before he graduates from the league.

The only thing was, the Raiders purposely kept Aquilon in the dark.

So there was Aquilon, sitting on the bench before Wednesday’s game while the delegation representing the This Girl Can event, including Prince Albert Paralympian Brittany Hudak and Olympic referee Cianna Lieffers, approached the middle of the Art Hauser Centre ice.

He had no idea that his name would be called for the faceoff to the point where Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid laughingly ushered Aquilon onto the ice.

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“I was sitting on the bench. Nobody told me I was going to do it, so I just didn’t even hear my name. The next thing you know, Habber’s yelling at me to get out there and I was super confused,” Aquilon said. “I was just overwhelmed, I was still in shock when [Hudak] dropped the puck. I grabbed the puck and almost took it back to the bench, but I remembered to give it to her. That was pretty funny.”

He, like everybody else unaware of the plan, assumed Reece Vitelli would take care of it. After all, Vitelli is not only the team’s captain and normally handles occasions like this, but he was also actually on the ice at the time.

As Vitelli recalls, Raiders business manager Michael Scissons approached him with the idea of letting Aquilon be a part of the pregame ritual. Vitelli agreed, and when Scissons asked if anybody should inform Aquilon, Vitelli cheekily said “no.”

Vitelli said that as serious as the Raiders take their performances on the ice, especially now during the season’s crunch time, it’s still important to make it fun.

“I think it’s very key. We’re a tight group and we like to have fun around here. It can’t always be serious at the rink or you’ll go crazy,” Vitelli said. “Just keeping it loose in practices and even before games, keeping it loose and it helps us in the end.”

Although Aquilon was on the receiving end of the joke, he agrees.

“It’s really good. I was talking about this with Truey [assistant coach Jeff Truitt] the other day, it just brings us so much closer together, the coaching staff and everyone, it makes us feel like a big family,” Aquilon said. “It’s a big help for the young guys as well, just to ease them into the league and just know that everyone has their backs.”

The Raiders went on to win the game over the Brandon Wheat Kings 2-1. Both teams will meet again at the Art Hauser Centre for a rematch on Friday.

Raiders alumni at the USports University Cup

Eight former players that played for the Prince Albert Raiders are vying for a USports University Cup national championship. Five of the seven participating are represented by former Raiders. Loch Morrison of the Acadia Axemen is also from Prince Albert.

• Max Paddock, Acadia Axemen
• Jordy Stallard, Acadia Axemen
• Loch Morrison, Acadia Axemen
• Cavin Leth, Ryerson Rams
• Curtis Miske, University of Alberta Golden Bears
• Austin Glover, University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
• Carson Miller, University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
• Rylan Parenteau, University of New Brunswick REDS

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW