Gabe Ludwig harasses a Regina Pats player with a puck the last time these teams met on Dec. 9, 2022. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Logan Lehmann

Gameday Preview

Raiders to don special jerseys against Pats for final game of 2022

Dec 30, 2022 | 12:20 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders (11-20-2-0) look to close out 2022 on a high note against the Regina Pats (17-16-1-1) in the Children’s Miracle Network’s charity game.

The Pats enter tonight having dropped four of their last five games with their most recent loss coming at home against the Brandon Wheat Kings, 4-0. Much like Regina, the Raiders have been struggling as of late too where they have dropped seven of their last eight games with the most recent loss coming on Tuesday night in Saskatoon, 3-1.

Regina will also be without 17-year-old superstar Connor Bedard tonight as he’s in Halifax for the 2023 World Junior Tournament. However, the Pats will have Prince Albert’s own Tanner Howe in the lineup, where he currently sits tied for third in league scoring with 47 points (21G, 26A). Howe enters tonight having scored a point in 12 of his last 13 games, where he’s scored a total of 21 points over that span.

Now in the back half of the season, the Raiders will gear up for a tough slate in the coming weeks where they’ll be playing seven times in the next two weeks, which includes matchups against Red Deer, Portland, and Seattle. Until then though, the Raiders will be preparing for a New Year’s Day matchup against the same Regina Pats team at the Brandt Centre.

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Who to Watch

Forward Carter Anderson had the lone goal in Tuesday’s contest for the Raiders. The Thompson, Manitoba, product managed to break the scoreless drought against the Blades in the dying minutes when he scored off the rush to round out the scoring in a 3-1 defeat. So far, the 18-year-old has five goals this season split between Prince Albert and Red Deer.

Rookie Ryder Ritchie will look to build on his impressive totals so far this season. To date, the Calgary product has six goals and 11 assists in 22 games this season, which includes an assist against Saskatoon earlier in the week. The speedster also had a goal against the Pats earlier this year.

Prince Albert’s Carson Latimer will look to get back on the scoresheet tonight as he inches closer to the century mark in points. The Raiders’ alternate captain has 26 points this year to boost his career total to 83 points (33G, 50A). In his last few games, the Ottawa Senators prospect has three points which includes an assist against the Tigers on Dec. 12 and a two-point performance against the Chiefs on Dec. 17.

How you can listen to tonight’s game.

Rounding out the Year in Style

For this game only, the Raiders will be wearing custom Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle jerseys which will then be auctioned off online (auction started on Dec. 21). The proceeds from the auction will go to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation where they will then match the total amount raised from the jersey auctions and donate it to Victoria Hospital Foundation.

In addition, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive scratch cards for their chance to win various prizes including a team-autographed jersey, autographed pucks, prize packages from the Raiders and Re/Max, and various discounts to the Raiders Team Store.

Continuing with the theme of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, there will also be pizza specials available at the concessions and a Karate demonstration in the Ches Leach Lounge in the first intermission. Throughout the game, fans will have the chance to prove their knowledge of the Ninja Turtles and compete in both in stand and in on-ice contests during intermissions.

(WHL)

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann