Riley Boychuk (right) saw some pre-season action with the Raiders last September. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nolan Kowal

Blue chip prospect

Prospect watch: Playmaker Boychuk enjoying strong AAA season, relishing future with Raiders

Mar 13, 2024 | 3:31 PM

While Prince Albert Raiders fans are anticipating a return to the playoffs for their beloved WHL team this spring, a number of the team’s top prospects continue to progress on their journeys toward playing major junior hockey.

One of those prospects is playmaking forward Riley Boychuk, who is enjoying an excellent season with the U18 AAA Northern Alberta Xtreme.

“It’s been a really great year for all the boys on the team and the coaches,” said Boychuk, who was drafted by the Raiders second overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. “It’s been really successful from the start…we decided to buy in and we knew we had a pretty special team coming in so we’ve been playing really good through out the season.”

Individually, Boychuk finished the regular season with 62 points in just 27 games, including 46 assists.

“I’ve been feeling good… I’ve had great teammates around me that have helped me, my linemates have been really great, I’ve found a lot of chemistry with my linemates and all my teammates,” he said.

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“It makes it way easier when we’re such a tight group in the room and you’re having fun out there and you’re playing with your friends,” he continued.

The 16-year-old Boychuk said that playmaking is his top attribute right now as a hockey player.

“I think I tend to see the ice pretty well, and I do my best to set up my teammates and put the puck where they are and the best spot for them to make their next play,” he said.

Boychuk was in training camp with the Raiders last fall, and if everything goes to plan he’ll have an opportunity to earn a spot with the team again in camp later this year. He said it’s an honour to be a part of a deep prospect pool with the Raiders alongside fellow prospects Ty Meunier, current teammate Daxon Rudolph, and others.

“The Raiders have had so much history and so many good teams in the past…we’re looking forward in future years to have really strong teams,” Boychuk said. “It’s pretty special because the other prospects and the other young guys, they’re awesome players but even better people which is really important in the room and for the team. I’m looking forward to it and it’s pretty special to be a part of it.”

The Northern Alberta Xtreme finished first overall and the team begins the playoffs on Wednesday night. Boychuk said the playoff run is his immediate focus, although he’s looking forward to the rest of 2024 as well.

“I’ll be training all summer, all spring, mostly in the gym but I’ll be on the ice working on a lot of things,” he said. “My main focus is to be in the gym and get in the best shape I can and get as strong as I can for the upcoming training camp and to compete in camp for a spot on the team.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com