Wheat Kings centreman Dominik Petr wins a draw against Raiders centre Evan Smith as the Wheat Kings take the top spot in the East Division. (Scramble Studio/Brandon Wheat Kings)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders lose 5-2

Raiders fall out of first in East Division after loss in Brandon

Feb 18, 2025 | 11:51 PM

In the only game in the WHL on Tuesday night, the Prince Albert Raiders were in Brandon to take on the Wheat Kings for the final time this season. Both teams were playing their fourth game in five nights and their fifth game in seven, and with first place in the East Division on the line, but the Wheat Kings were the ones that stayed fresh until the end of the game and came away with a 5-2 win over the Raiders.

There was no scoring in the first period, but one powerplay a side that crossed over for some 4-on-4 for a brief period. Once the Wheat Kings penalty ended, Dominik Petr fired a shot off the cross bar. Brayden Dube would do the same for the Raiders in a tight checking first period.

After 1: Raiders 0 – 0 Wheat Kings, shots 9-8 Wheat Kings

Early in the second period, Aiden Oiring would bust down the ice on a breakaway but was slashed as he tried to shoot, sending him to centre for a penalty shot. Oiring missed wide, and play would continue.

At the 5:14 mark, the Raiders finally cracked open the scoring. After a breakout pass from Oli Chenier, Dayce Derkatch would speed down the left wall and try to pass to the middle of the ice. The puck hit a defender’s skate and fell backward to Evan Smith, and Smith sent the puck behind the net before Derkatch found the back of the net for his third of the season on a wraparound.

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Then at the 14:34 mark, the Raiders would score again. This time on the entry from centre, Riley Boychuk would come down the right wall and drop the puck back for Ty Meunier, and he’d take the puck down the wall before dropping back a second time for Lukas Dragicevic. He’d fire wide side for his 13th of the year.

From there, the Wheat Kings would take control of the momentum. At 15:22, they get a 2-on-1 rush where Matteo Michels would send the puck across the crease for a backdoor feed for Jordan Gavin, and he’d tap it in.

After 2: Raiders 2 – 1 Wheat Kings, shots 14-8 Wheat Kings, 23-16 Wheat Kings overall

The Wheat Kings would finally score on the powerplay at the 2:47 mark of the third on their fourth attempt of the game. They’d cycle the puck well and Nicholas Johnson in the corner would centre it for Marcus Nguyen, but his onetimer was stopped. The rebound came right to Nolan Flammand, and he’d try a pass through the middle that hit a defender and into the back of the net.

At the 8:38 mark, the Wheat Kings would get a block at their own blueline that created a 2-on-1 with Dominik Petr carrying the puck down the right wall, and he’d rip a wrist shot on to score the go ahead goal.

Later at 16:36, a Raider defenceman was carrying the puck into his own corner when he fell, and that opened up a loose puck for Brady Turko. He’d centre it out of the right corner for Nolan Flammand, and he’d onetime it into the back of the net.

With the Raiders pulling the goalie with a little under three minutes left, the Wheat Kings would get the puck to captain Quinn Mantei at centre and he’d his the middle of the net at 18:44 to end this one.

FINAL: Raiders 2 – 5 Wheat Kings, shots 15-13 Wheat Kings, 38-29 Wheat Kings overall

The loss snaps a three game winning streak for the Raiders. It also means that the Raiders fall out of first place in the East Division, dropping them down to fifth in the Eastern Conference. If the playoffs were to start today, the Raiders would have a first round matchup with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

For the first time this season, Aiden Oiring has gone two games in a row without a point. His whole line with Tomas Mrsic and Brayden Dube was held off the scoresheet in both Moose Jaw and Brandon, although they both generated a lot of chances.

The Raiders are off Wednesday and Thursday before they get back into action on Friday when they play host to the Moose Jaw Warriors, before heading on the road to play the Regina Pats on Saturday.