Terrell Goldsmith carries the puck out while fending off a Saskatoon attacker on Dec. 10, 2022. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Logan Lehmann

Gameday Preview

Rivalry renewed: Raiders square off with ‘Bananas’ to kickoff home-and-home

Jan 20, 2023 | 12:16 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders (15-24-3-0) are hoping to avoid a split this weekend as they are set to take on the Saskatoon Bananas (27-9-3-1) in game one of a home-and-home weekend.

Although we all know them as the Blades, tonight Saskatoon flips the script and will become the Bananas for the contest. This is the second time Saskatoon has changed their identity as they were the Bananas for one game last season as a part of an April Fools Day gag.

The Bananas enter tonight having dropped their last two games with both losses coming against Moose Jaw in a home-and-home they had earlier in the week. Saskatoon has also been on a bit of a skid as of late, where the former fourth-ranked team in the nation has a past ten games record of 2-4-3-1, the worst stretch of games so far this season.

The Raiders fell in their last matchup against the CHL-best Winnipeg ICE and now are hoping to take advantage of a not-so-ripe Saskatoon club where they come into tonight looking to get back into the win column. Unlike the Bananas, the Raiders are winners in four of their last ten games which include victories over Regina, Red Deer, Brandon, and Edmonton. So far, Saskatoon leads the season series 4-0 and the two teams will play three more times after tonight’s contest.

Game two of the home-and-home weekend is slated for tomorrow where the Raiders host the Blades at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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An updated look at the East Division standing going into the game.

Who to Watch

Forward Hayden Pakkala had the lone marker in last game’s loss to Winnipeg, boosting his season totals to 12 points (5G, 7A) in 40 games played this year. The Okotoks, AB product also has a goal against Saskatoon this season, scoring the lone tally in a 2-1 overtime loss on the road. The 2004-born center is on pace to break his career high of 18 points which he achieved in 64 games last season.

Left winger Sloan Stanick is nearing the century mark in points and will look to hit that milestone tonight against the Bananas. The pride of Rapid City, MB has 98 points in his WHL career and lead the team in points this season with 39 (16G, 23A). The 19-year-old has also seen a bit of success against Saskatoon this year, netting a pair of assists in four games played.

Like Stanick, rookie Ryder Ritchie also has a pair of assists against Saskatoon while also being one of the Raiders’ leading scorers. So far in his first season, the Calgary product has 12 goals and 15 assists in his rookie campaign. Prior to the loss to Winnipeg, the 16-year-old was on a three-game point streak while netting five points over that span.

How you can listen to tonight’s game.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann