Members of Team Pachal get in a stretch at the end of practice on Friday at the Art Hauser Centre. (Nick Nielsen/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Gone camping

Raiders training camp kicks off this weekend

Aug 30, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders are set to hit the ice for training camp this weekend, officially marking the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.

72 of the club’s players and prospects are in Hockeytown North for the camp that includes a series of inter-squad games and practices. Four inter-squad games will be played on both Saturday and Sunday before camp wraps up with the annual Green vs White game on Monday morning.

All games are open to the public with the inter-squad games having free admission, while spectators for the Green vs White game will have to make a donation to the Prince Albert Food Bank to get in.

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The 72 players in town for camp will be split into four teams, those being named after former Raiders and current NHLers in Team Pachal, Team Morrissey, Team Guhle, and Team Draisaitl.

Team Pachal and Team Morrissey each have 19 players while Team Guhle and Team Draisaitl have 17 players. Of the participants this weekend, most were born in 2009 with 24 players, followed by 22 in 2008, 11 in 2007, six in both 2005 and 2006, and three over-agers in 2004.

A list of the 72 players vying for a spot on this year’s Prince Albert Raiders squad. (Prince Albert Raiders/Facebook)

Who to Watch

Many new faces will don the Green and Gold at this year’s camp, including newly acquired defenceman Lukas Dragicevic and forward Tomas Mrsic along with top 2024 Draft WHL picks Brock Cripps (second overall) and Ben Harvey (fourth overall).

Looking to make the cut this year are the Raiders picks from the 2023 WHL Draft, including first overall pick Daxon Rudolph, second overall pick Riley Boychuk, and seventh overall pick Ty Muenier.

Lots of familiar faces are also returning this year including the three over-agers the team will start with in forwards Niall Crocker and Polish import Krzysztof Macias, and goaltender Max Hildebrand. Also returning from last year’s team includes forwards Brayden Dube, Harrison Lodewyk, and Aiden Oiring, and defencemen Justice Christensen, Doogan Pederson, and Tyrone Sobry to name a few.

Additionally, the Prince Albert area will be well represented at the camp with a few local products taking part in Will Whitter, Connor Howe, Declan Borthwick, and Staiden Parenteau. A couple of well-known last names will also be present at camp with Kieran Sobry, brother of current defenceman Tyrone Sobry, and Evhan Allan, brother of former defenceman Nolan Allan.

They are just some of the many Saskatchewan players taking part that includes Saskatoon’s Eric Grandberg and Miller Robson, along with Regina’s Dayce Derkatch and Jonah Siverston. Other Sask. products include:

Liam Myhre – Nipawin

Jaden Blanchette – Unity

Brady Silvernagle – Warman

Aidan Mohan – Weyburn

Ryland McConnell – Martensville

Koston Baliski – Grasswood

Jack Robinson – Moosomin

Ryland Molde – Mortlach

A couple of returning players from last season also hail from the Prairies in Luke Moroz (Grand Coulee) and Cole Peardon (Outlook).

A Look Ahead

With training camp wrapping up on Monday, the Raiders first preseason game will quickly follow a couple of days later.

The Raiders first of five preseason contests is set for Wednesday in Prince Albert against their rival Saskatoon Blades before a speedy turnaround will see the Green and Gold head south to Swift Current to face the Broncos on Thursday. The Raiders will begin the regular season at home against the Regina Pats on Sept. 20.

A full preseason schedule can be found by clicking here, while a full regular season schedule can be found by clicking here.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com