Raiders return from Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with gold

“Just an incredible opportunity to represent your country, to be able to do it with Brock and with Ben was truly special, and to be able to do it with some of the guys from our U17 team that we won gold just a few months ago as well too, a lot of familiar faces in that room. To have an opportunity to go represent your country is just something truly special.”

Harvey did not record a point in Canada’s five games at the tournament, but McDonald said the forward made an impact in other areas of the game.

“A great 200-foot game. Ben did a great job on a forecheck, his details within his game were fantastic. He did a great job for us on the penalty kill.”

Cripps, meanwhile, finished the tournament with a goal and five assists, including a shorthanded goal.

The Raiders defenceman was also paired at times with Everett Silvertips defenceman Landon DuPont, putting the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from the 2024 WHL Draft together on the ice.

“Brock played his game. We see it day in and day out here in Prince Albert, and his ability to play on the offensive side of the puck and mesmerize you, but also when he gets on the defensive side, he is extremely, extremely effective and did a tremendous job for us. Being able to have an opportunity to put him and DuPont out in some offensive situations. They just wreaked havoc on the other team.”

After coaching at the international level and winning gold for three straight seasons, McDonald said he continues to take something from each experience, particularly from the coaches and players he gets to work with.

“These short-term tournaments, they’re a little bit of a different beast, but it’s just a great opportunity to work with coaches from across the CHL. When you get into that coach’s office and guys got their computers out, you just sit there and watch video, break stuff down and just have those hockey conversations that, you continue to pick stuff up from every time you go to an event like that. So just truly blessed to be around some great staff. Again, being able to work with some extremely elite players from across Canada.”

Now the focus shifts to getting ready for the upcoming season, with training camp starting in less than a month.

While the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup gold medal is fresh in their minds, McDonald is also looking forward to getting back to the Art Hauser Centre and continuing preparations for the season.

“Get back to town, I’m trying to get my bearings a little bit. I’ve been on the road for a couple weeks here, so make sure you get some laundry done and again, get into the rink. The prep has started long ago with how you continue to keep building throughout the summer for into the first bit of the season, but really excited to get the staff back and get the guys in the rink and get the Art Hauser Centre rocking again.”

The Raiders play their first preseason game against the Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders return from Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with gold

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