Keaton Sorensen lets a shot go from in close against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Dec. 7, 2022. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Logan Lehmann

Brandon downs PA

Wheaties defuse Raiders late surge, score late to win 4-3

Dec 7, 2022 | 10:50 PM

PRINCE ALBERT, SK – The Prince Albert Raiders nearly stole a win against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday night, falling just short at the Art Hauser Centre.

The Raiders entered the final period down 2-1 before going down 3-1 early in the third. But midway through, PA picked up steam and managed to tie it up with less than three minutes to go. However, Jake Chiasson crashed the party and scored just under a minute later to lift Brandon over the Raiders.

When asked about the Raiders play tonight, head coach Jeff Truitt expressed some displeasure with his team’s overall performance against Brandon.

“When you come back from five games on the road and you come back here in the first period like that, you got to work,” he said. “I thought we turned over a lot of pucks, we didn’t win a lot of faceoffs, we were scrambly at times, and sometimes our battle level wasn’t high enough. They were the better team early on and in the second we got going a little and in the third, the battle was on. We get to 3-3 and now you got to ask your team to clutch up and win a small portion of the game. When you get to 3-3 and (to lose) it like that, its pretty demoralizing. But again, give this group a lot of credit for the character of coming back even though we’re down and things aren’t going as well as you want them to, they find a way to at least get us even and now all we got to do is get over that hump.”

Along with Chaisson, Brett Hyland, Nolan Ritchie, and Calder Anderson also scored while Chaisson, Anderson, Nate Danielson, and Quinn Mantei each collected helpers.

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

8h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

14h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

Dec 13, 2024

Niall Crocker, Gabe Ludwig, and Harrison Lodewyk each scored for PA in the contest while Eric Johnston, Terrell Goldsmith, Easton Kovacs, Landon Kosior, Owen Boucher gathered assists.

Tikhon Chaika 25 saves in the loss where the Raiders fall to 10-16-2-0 on the campaign.

Carson Bjarnason was stellar between the pipes for Brandon, making 25 stops to help the Wheat Kings improve to 11-15-3-0 on the year.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

Brandon came out of the box hot to start the game with Hyland finding the back of the net less than five minutes in. Things went from bad to worse for PA when a bad line change gifted Anderson the chance to walk in almost uncontested where he capitalized on the opportunity to give the away team a 2-0 lead.

The Raiders however picked up their game towards the end of the period where they outshot Brandon 6-1 in the final five minutes. PA also went into the second period with a 4-on-3 man advantage.

Prince Albert came in the second looking like almost a completely different team. Not only did they more than double up Brandon in shots, they also managed to get past a near-lockdown Bjarnason. Goldsmith found Johnston on the blueline where he let a shot go. His shot was tipped in front by Crocker for his third of the season to make it 2-1 Wheaties going into the final frame.

Ritchie added another for the Wheat Kings mid way through the period to put Brandon up by two.

Then all of a sudden, tides quickly shifted. With seven minutes to go, the Raiders capitalized on a turnover and quickly moved the puck. Kovacs sprung Ludwig who made no mistake scoring his first in the Green and Gold. Just two minutes later, Boucher connected with Lodewyk for his fourth of the year to tie it late in the game.

With 2:09 remaining, Chiasson played the mind game with Chiaka to help put Brandon back in front. PA pulled the goalie for the extra attacker but couldn’t convert as the Wheaties win 4-3.

The Raiders now have a few days rest before welcoming Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats to the Art Hauser Centre on Friday night.

—

logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann