Raiders forward Sloan Stanick leads the team with 35 points and is on pace for a career year. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nolan Kowal

Stan the Man

Stanick a standout in final WHL season

Dec 7, 2023 | 6:00 AM

Sloan Stanick is saving the best for last in his fifth and final Western Hockey League (WHL) season.

The 20-year-old Prince Albert Raiders’ forward leads the team with 35 points (10g, 25a) through 30 games, and is on pace for his best statistical major junior season yet.

Still, Stanick is still heaping most of the praise onto his teammates.

“I think our team’s been doing really well this year…playing with (Ryder) Ritchie and (Aiden) Oiring, they’re definitely both really good players that have come a long way in this league and it’s fun playing with them,” said Stanick, who is in his second full season with the Raiders.

“And sometimes we mix the lines up too, and (Harrison) Lodewyck and (Brayden) Dube are also good to play with, so kudos to my linemates for giving me that time and space and putting it in the net,” he said.

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

4h ago

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

8h ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

12h ago

After being drafted by the Everett Silvertips and spending parts of three seasons in Regina with the Pats, Stanick said Prince Albert has been a great fit.

“Kudos to Regina for giving me the opportunity when I was 16 as a young kid just coming into the league not really knowing anything, so obviously loved it in Regina but I’ve always found a place here since I was 18,” he said.

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here…I love it here.”

After being around past Raiders leaders such as Kaiden Guhle, Nolan Allan, and Reece Vitelli, Stanick, who is one of the Raiders alternate captains this season, said he’s focused on being the best leader that he can be.

“Obviously I want to lead by example and obviously a big voice in the room, so I just want to keep helping the team win and have everyone have success this year,” Stanick said.

Although he’s still laser-focused on this season, Stanick admits that he’s talked with his agent, the Raiders coaches, and General Manager Curtis Hunt about his aspirations of playing pro hockey next year once he ages out of major junior.

“They all want me to succeed, and that’s the main goal is to play professional hockey next year,” he said. “Just focused on this year right now, but obviously there is a goal in mind.”

The Raiders will play four more home games at the Art Hauser Centre prior to the WHL Christmas break. Stanick, who is from Rapid City, Man., said he’ll be heading east to see family during the break.

“I’ll go home and I’m taking (Oli) Chenier (who is from Winnipeg) with me so it’ll be a good drive home, and it’s obviously a really exciting time of year for my family and I, so I can’t wait to get home and see everybody,” Stanick said.

—

nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com