The Raiders' winners as their annual banquet (from left to right): Tikhon Chaika, Reece Vitelli, Evan Herman, Harrison Lodewyk, Tayem Gislason, Remy Aquilon, Sloan Stanick, Landon Kosior and Nolan Allan. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders' Awards

Herman exemplifies ‘Raider hockey’, wins Players Choice and Hardest Working Player at Awards Banquet

Apr 14, 2022 | 11:14 AM

“Prince Albert Raider hockey” is something that head coach Marc Habscheid makes sure all of his players know about before they put on the Raider jersey.

General manager Curtis Hunt makes sure he chooses players that can fit into the brash, in-your-face style of hockey that combines the old school worth ethic with new school speed and intensity.

Each year, the Raiders players themselves choose a guy that best describes what “Raider hockey” is all about. Somebody with character, commitment, work ethic and integrity as Hunt pointed out at Wednesday’s banquet in Ches Leach Lounge.

Raiders veteran Evan Herman got that honour this year as he was given the Players Choice Award.

In typical “Raider hockey” fashion, not only did Herman also win the Lionel Diehl Memorial Hardest Working Player Award, but he also immediately deflected the conversation to the rest of the team.

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“I’m super honoured to win that award, but I think it comes down to our group. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ll never say a negative thing about anybody in that room. I know there’s lots of other guys in the room deserving of the award,” Herman said. “Habby talks about it all the time; we’re such a tight-knit group, we’re all together and it’s a band of brothers. He’s exactly right, that’s what it is in the room. I look forward to getting up in the morning every day and getting to the rink with my brothers.”

As Herman points out, he wasn’t the only one in the running for the award as the team is full of players that have shown their dedication to the team.

Raider captain Reece Vitelli was visibly emotional during Wednesday’s banquet, especially during his captain’s speech.

Vitelli took the time to thank every member of the team’s staff individually, before saying his five years of playing in the Western Hockey League has been the “best time of his life.”

“Coming into today, playing the sport I love and being with the guys I love, it’s just been tremendous. Every single day, we’re making memories, we’re making jokes, laughing. It’s truly something I’ll never forget.”

Herman sees how much the Raiders mean to Vitelli and the rest of the team each day.

“When a guy like that does a speech and breaks down like he does, it really hits home. It’s just unbelievable to be here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Herman said. “I think that reiterates what it means to be a Raider. Reece is a true Raider, one of my best friends, along with everyone else on the team. When you see a brother break down, it’s hard not to break down yourself. With that said, our group is a bunch of amazing guys.”

Here is the complete list of Raiders’ award winners from this year’s banquet:

Belle Merrell & Calla Grasley Scholastic Player of the Year: Harrison Lodewyk

Lionel Diehl Memorial Hardest Working Player: Evan Herman

Three Stars Awards: 3rd Star— Evan Herman, 2nd Star— Reece Vitelli, 1st Star— Tikhon Chaika

Best Conditioned Raider: Remy Aquilon

Ches Leach Most Improved Player: Tayem Gislason

Best Defensive Forward: Sloan Stanick

George Cowie Rookie of the Year: Tikhon Chaika

Jim Neilson Most Valuable Defenceman: Landon Kosior

Players Choice Award: Evan Herman

Orland Kurtenbach Most Valuable Player: Nolan Allan

The Raiders will wrap up their regular season this weekend, taking on the Swift Current Broncos on Friday on the road before taking on the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday.

As he always does, voice of the Raiders Rob Mahon will have the calls of the game on CKBI, starting at 6:30 p.m. each day. The Raiders will also present their Leading Scorer award after the Wheat Kings’ game on Saturday.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW