Oli Chenier celebrates after his screen helped Daxon Rudolph's point shot find the back of the net for what would be the game winner over Moose Jaw. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders Win 3-1

Raiders cruise past Moose Jaw for third straight win

Mar 19, 2025 | 6:09 AM

With the Saskatoon Blade and Brandon Wheat Kings set to play each other on Wednesday, the Prince Albert Raiders needed to win on Tuesday night against the Moose Jaw Warriors if they are going to keep pace until the end of the season for the top spot in the East Division. The Raiders got out to a lead early and never looked back despite a hot goaltender at the other end, and the Raiders would take a 3-1 win for their third straight.

The Raiders only needed 1:27 to get on the board after Vojtech Vochvest gave Lukas Dragicevic the puck in his own zone. Dragicevic would take the puck over the right side of centre and dish it to Niall Crocker on the wall at the opposing blueline, and Crocker would feed it right back to Dragicevic as he took the puck in on the rush and roofed it for his 17th of the season.

Both goaltenders put on a show for the rest of the period. For the Raiders, Max Hildebrand had the save of the night in the first period when a bouncing puck came to former Raider Luke Moroz on the goal line without a stick. Moroz would centre the puck with his skate for a Dominik Pavlik onetimer the Hildebrand had to be sharp on to make the pad save. At the other end, Josh Banini was under fire constantly from the Raiders defence, dealing with screens and onetimers all period, but nothing else snuck by.

After 1: Raiders 1 – 0 Warriors, shots 12-11 Raiders

The Raiders dominated the second period and it started early with a onetimer chance from Ethan Bibeau that was denied. A short moment later at the 4:12 mark, Justice Christensen would dump the puck behind the net and Oli Chenier would pick it up. He’d send it back to the point for Daxon Rudolph, and he’d back up across the blueline from left to right before firing a shot through traffic and squeaking it past the elbow of Banini for Rudolph’s seventh of the year.

Season Crossover

Pines PSM: Get out and ride!

1h ago

Students Vote

PACI hosts student vote ahead of Federal Election

2h ago

How Can Potholes Damage Your Vehicle and Tires?

8h ago

From there it was all Raiders. Tomas Mrsic hit a post, Justice Christensen had a wide open net on a onetimer but hit teammate Jackson Kostiuk trying to screen in front, and Brayden Dube was denied on a breakaway. The Raiders had their first of two unsuccessful powerplays on the night, but still poured on the offence.

After 2: Raiders 2 – 0 Warriors, shots 14-3 Raiders, 26-14 Raiders overall

The third period saw the Raiders kick up the offence even more, but it would be the Warriors that would capitalize on a Raiders mistake. The Raiders would get a little sloppy with their breakout at the 7:19 mark, and former Raider Luke Moroz would go on the attack and take the puck away behind the Raider goal. Moroz would head for the right wing corner, but he’d send the puck into the slot for Casey Brown to fire home the onetimer in tight.

That woke the Raiders up for the rest of the period, and they would continue to dominate. After the rest of the period was controlled by the Raiders, they still couldn’t score the insurance marker until the Warriors net was empty. At 18:54, Aiden Oiring put the puck off the glass for Tomas Mrsic streaking through centre, and he ripped home his 33rd of the season from two feet in front of the crease.

FINAL: Raiders 3 – 1 Warriors, shots 17-9 Raiders, 34-21 Raiders overall

The win means the Raiders keep pace with the Saskatoon Blades and Brandon Wheat Kings for first place in the East Division. Right now the Raiders have the lead by a single point, but Saskatoon and Brandon play each other on Wednesday, so one of the two teams will pas the Raiders after that action.

Brandon finishes the season against the Regina Pats on Friday and Saturday, while the Raiders will play for the East Division title against the Saskatoon Blades starting in Sasaktoon on Friday.