Raiders goaltender Tikhon Chaika stares down a Brandon Wheat King during the game on March 30. (Submitted Photo/Mark Peterson Media)

By Rob Mahon

Chaika Earns League Honour

Strong three-game stretch earns Chaika WHL goalie of the week

Apr 4, 2022 | 2:11 PM

When the Prince Albert Raiders have been at their hottest this season, their goaltender has been among those leading the charge. Now that the games matter more than ever, Tikhon Chaika has shone his brightest of the season.

The rest of the WHL has clearly started to notice as the league awarded Chaika their goaltender of the week honours for the last week. In three games, he posted two wins and one loss, put up a GAA of just 1.34, and had a sterling .949 save percentage.

The week started out on Wednesday night for Chaika, with his best statistical performance. Facing the Brandon Wheat Kings, Chaika stopped 34 of 35 shots in a 2-1 win and was named the game’s second star. The 18-year-old Belarussian wasn’t beaten by a direct shot all night, as the only puck that got past him bounced in off the skate of a Raiders defender.

After a tough loss to Brandon on Friday night, in which he surrendered two goals on 17 shots before the Wheat Kings added a pair into the empty net, Chaika and his team alike bounced back in dramatic fashion on Saturday night against Regina. Chaika did his part with 25 saves on 26 shots as the Raiders trounced the Pats 6-1.

Chaika earned his share of Raiders history earlier this season, setting a new record in the internet era for most consecutive appearances by a goalie, breaking the record of 23 straight previously held by Rejean Beauchemin. Beauchemin set the record in 2003-04.

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The workload hasn’t gotten any easier for Chaika in the weeks since, but he’s been up to it. He leads all WHL goaltenders in minutes played (1,736) since January 1 and is tied for third in the League in shutouts during that time with three.

His first shutout as a Raider was on February 23 against the Calgary Hitmen in Calgary. Since then, he’s shut out the Lethbridge Hurricanes on home ice and the Saskatoon Blades in Saskatoon.

Originally an import draft pick, a first-rounder in 2021, Chaika and fellow Belarussian Vladislav Shilo arrived partway through the season. Chaika began as backup to Carter Serhyenko but has since taken full control of the crease, starting nine of the Raiders last ten games.

The next outing for Chaika and the Raiders is on the road in Saskatoon on Friday, April 8. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. Saskatchewan time, and you can catch that game on 900 CKBI.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP