Raiders defenceman Kaiden Guhle takes the puck up ice during a training camp scrimmage Friday night. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Trevor Redden

Sophomore Season

Raider sophomores return with “championship mentality”

Sep 1, 2019 | 12:38 PM

As if a WHL Championship and a trip to the Memorial Cup weren’t enough to accomplish in one year, the accolades continued for Kaiden Guhle and Ozzy Wiesblatt this summer as they represented Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup held in Slovakia and the Czech Republic in early August.

Along with teammate Jakob Brook, the two were invited to selection camp in Calgary in late July for an opportunity to skate with Canada’s best under-18 players. Unfortunately for Brook, an injury cut his camp short, and that injury continues to keep him off the ice as the Raiders opened training camp this weekend. Both Guhle and Wiesblatt were able to earn a spot on the final 22-man roster.

“Yeah it was awesome, had a lot of fun out there. Obviously, every time you get to put on the Canadian jersey it’s an honour and a privilege,” Guhle said of the experience, where he served as an alternate captain throughout the tournament.

Following an impressive 39-point rookie campaign, Wiesblatt made Hockey Canada brass take notice at selection camp, finding himself overseas for the first time among the best players in his age group.

“Anytime you get to play for Team Canada, it’s super special to see all the guys your age that are the top in the world,” Wiesblatt said, before touching on this spring’s trip to Halifax. “Even in the Memorial Cup you see guys from all leagues and how good they are, how they prepare themselves.”

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In addition, Wiesblatt touched on the priceless experience of sharing a locker room with the likes of Ian Scott, Brett Leason, Ian Scott, and others to learn what it takes to reach the next level.

Team Canada finished with a silver medal after a championship game loss to Russia, a game in which Russian netminder Yaroslav Askarov stole the show with a 35-save performance in a 3-2 victory.

Now back in Prince Albert, Guhle and Wiesblatt are back on the ice for their third training camp with the Raiders, and find themselves transitioning from the role of rookie to that of mentor.

“As a 16-year-old in the league, it can be tough at times so being a little bit older now and maybe having a bit of a younger team this year, I think the 16-year-olds coming in will have some guys to look up to with Ozzy, me, and Jakob. This is a big year for all of us,” Guhle said.

“I remember coming in as a 15 and 16-year-old, kind of scared to talk to some of the guys. I want to be a guy that the younger guys can talk to about anything. Just want to be a guy that they can look up to,” Wiesblatt echoed.

Not only are Guhle, Wiesblatt, and Brook returning with a full year of experience, but they have something that no other second-year players around the league have: a championship ring.

“We want to take that championship mentality and share it with all the new guys coming in, so I’m just excited for my second season and can’t wait to get it started,” Guhle said.

Training camp concludes on Monday with the annual Green and White game at 1 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden