Jaxon Herchak (with the puck) has already been in some big games this season, including this one with Team Sask at the Canada Winter Games. (Larry Mathewson/Canada Winter Games)

By Rob Mahon

TELUS Cup Qualifier

Trio of Raiders prospects vying for spot in TELUS Cup

Apr 5, 2023 | 5:00 PM

The biggest prize in U18 hockey in Canada is the TELUS Cup, fought for by the host team and champions from regions across the country. Three Prince Albert Raiders’ prospects are trying to punch their ticket to the big dance at the Western Regional qualifying this week in Warman.

Forward Oli Chenier of the Winnipeg Wild, defenseman Jaxon Herchak of the Warman Wildcats, and forward Liam Bursaw, also of the Wildcats, are all part of the four-team tournament. The other two teams are the Saskatoon Blazers and Thunder Bay Kings.

“It’s very good for their development, learning how to prepare for it and learning the highs and lows of big games,” said Bruno Zarrillo, director of player personnel with the Raiders. “Playing in long series, some of the kids got to play in best-of-fives right to the end, it only helps in the development when you have experiences of winning and of losing.”

While these three players are the final members of the Raiders’ 2022 draft class still playing at the U18 AAA level, the rest of the class had a successful season in Zarrillo’s eyes. This includes forwards Luke Moroz and Dayce Derkatch of the Regina Pat Canadians, who came one game away from joining the event in Warman but lost a decisive game five against Saskatoon.

“Most 15-year-olds, you start a little bit down on the totem pole,” Zarrillo said. “But as the year went on, all of our guys became contributors to their team, not just a fourth line piece. Oli Chenier is running the power play for the Wild and he’s kind of their go-to guy.”

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All three young men have had strong seasons full of development opportunities, and Herchak came up big in one of those opportunities. At the Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island, Herchak was named captain of Team Saskatchewan.

“That experience of playing against the best amongst your age group across Canada is huge in development,” Zarrillo said. “Being named captain is a huge part of development and leadership, and I think it’s been great.”

Bursaw, on the other hand, wasn’t named to Team Sask’s roster for the event but Zarrillo sees a positive in that as well. With six points in eight playoff games, it would seem Bursaw took it as motivation.

“As the year went on, he really found the speed of the game, the physical part of the game,” said Zarrillo. “He contributed. I’m really excited with his progression. I really think not making that team is going to push him to a higher level. He’s got something to prove, and he’s going to prove it.”

And then there’s Chenier, who had the best offensive season of any prospect in the Raiders organization and better than the overwhelming majority of his fellow 2007-born players. The Winnipeg product put up an incredible 60 points in 33 games in the regular season.

“He has a high, high, high hockey IQ and the skills to go with it,” said Zarrillo. “He’s an exciting player to watch and the fans in PA are really going to appreciate what he brings every day to the rink. He’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder, he’s got a bit of an aggressive side, but he also brings that high skill set.”

The qualifying tournament begins on April 6.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP

by Rob Mahon

Trio of Raiders prospects vying for spot in TELUS Cup

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