Ethan Bibeau battles for a faceoff against the Red Deer Rebels. (Taylor Lachance/Red Deer Rebels)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders win 3-0

Raiders finish Alberta road swing with shutout in Red Deer

Jan 11, 2025 | 11:59 PM

After losing three straight for the first time since early October, the Prince Albert Raiders looked to finish their three games in four nights stretch through Alberta with a win in Red Deer. The Raiders put together a perfect road win, choking out any offensive danger from the Rebels while pouring on shots in the offensive zone, and the Raiders took a 3-0 win out of Red Deer.

After some rough starts in Medicine Hat and Edmonton, the Raiders came out firing when they earned a powerplay in the first minute. On the man advantage, Aiden Oiring won a puck battle at the side of the net and scored his 17th of the season and his 50th of his WHL career on an unassisted effort.

At the 10:14 of the first, the Raiders struck again. Niall Crocker picked up an assist as he worked the puck to the point for Daxon Rudolph, and Rudolph threw the puck towards a pile in front hoping for a tip in. Rilen Kovacevic found the puck, and he put it into the net for his first as a Raider and his 22nd of the season.

Before the end of the period, Rilen Kovacevic would also drop the gloves with Jack Bousquet after Bousquet gave a couple extra whacks to Kovacevic at centre. Kovacevic threw one punch, a left hook that landed hard, then pulled Bousquet to the ice with his other hand and wiped his hands clean as he headed to the box.

After 1: Raiders 2 – 0 Rebels, shots 14-5 Raiders

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In the second period, the Raiders added another goal at the 8:36 mark. Jackson Kostiuk earned his first point as a Raider when he sent the puck back to the point for Rudolph, and he set the puck up on a tee for Justice Christensen blasted a slap shot from the left point to score his 12th of the season in his home town rink.

The Raiders killed off one penalty in the first and two in the second, only allowing two shots in total between the two powerplays.

After 2: Raiders 3 – 0 Rebels, shots 13-8 Raiders, 27-13 Raiders overall

The Raiders put the chokehold on the Rebels the rest of the way. The powerplay for the Raiders went 1/4 on the night but poured on shots at every opportunity, while their penalty kill hardly allowed a shot all night.

Near the end of the game, Nishaan Parmar drove the Raiders net and because of some contact from Matteo Fabrizi he bowled over Max Hildebrand in net, but Fabrizi took the penalty. The Raiders killed it off, and the Raiders took the win.

FINAL: Raiders 3 – 0 Rebels, shots 9-4 Raiders, 36-17 Raiders overall

Max Hildebrand didn’t face anything too dangerous throughout the night, but he made the stops he needed and earned his second shutout of the season.

Daxon Rudolph’s two assists give him five points in the last two games for the Raiders.

The Raiders play next at home on Tuesday against the Portland Winterhawks at the Art Hauser Centre.