Justice Christensen and Rilen Kovacevic line up against each other for a ceremonial puck drop during last Friday's game in Moose Jaw, before Kovacevic was acquired by the Raiders. (Nick Pettgirew/Moose Jaw Warriors)

By Nick Nielsen

2 days to deadline

Raiders trade Macias, Moroz, acquire Kovacevic from Moose Jaw, Burrett from Seattle

Jan 7, 2025 | 12:19 PM

With the Prince Albert Raiders leaving for a three-game road swing through Alberta, they will have a new face joining them to try and help bolster their scoring.

The Raiders acquired 20-year-old forward Rilen Kovacevic from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for 20-year-old forward Krzysztof Macias, 17-year-old forward Luke Moroz, and a fourth-round pick in 2027.

In a separate deal the day before, the Raiders also acquired 18-year-old defenceman Linden Burrett from the Seattle Thunderbirds for a sixth-round pick in 2025.

Kovacevic has been operating at over a point per game pace as an assistant captain with the Moose Jaw Warriors with 21G-19A-40P in 33 games. Last year, Kovacevic was acquired by the Warriors from the Edmonton Oil Kings as part of the Warriors’ run to the WHL Championships, where he posted 4G-11A-15P in 20 playoff games.

Raiders fans may remember Kovacevic from the Raiders most recent matchup with the Warriors where Kovacevic dropped the gloves with 6’5, 235lbs Matteo Fabrizi, and that speaks to the style of play he brings. Listed at 5’11, 181 lbs, Kovacevic is not afraid of anyone on the ice and will attack no matter who has the puck or where on the ice it may be.

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Kovacevic played five games with the Kelowna Rockets in his 15-year-old year, another three at 16, before finding a regular spot in the lineup with them at 17 in 2021-22. Between the Rockets, Oil Kings, and Warriors, Kovacevic has played a total of 198 regular season games in the WHL with 54G-55A-109P.

As for Burrett, he was moved to Seattle from Calgary as part of the trade for Sawyer Mynio, and never actually played a game with Seattle. This year Burrett played just nine games with the Calgary Hitmen, earning an assist in that time. To start the year, he played 15 games in the BCHL with the Cowichan Valley Capitals where he had 3G-6A-9P in that time. Before that in his seventeen year old year, he played a full season with the Vernon Vipers in the BCHL.

As for the pieces moving out, the Raiders will say goodbye to the ‘Polish Prince’ Krzysztof Macias. The 20-year-old forward missed time at the start of the year as he went to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers camp, but since then put up 8G-14A-22P in the 22 games since his return. He’s also missed the last six games for the Raiders, all since the Christmas break, after sustaining a lower body injury during a game against the Calgary Hitmen, and there still is no time table on when he will return.

Luke Moroz was playing in his second full season and third overall with the Raiders, having played two games as a 15-year-old in 2022-23. Last year he posted 3G-8A-11P in 41 games, and his production this year has gone up to 4G-11A-15P in just 34 games.