The Raiders used just one of their three picks in this year's CHL European Draft to select Latvian defenceman Oskars Luks. (Image Credit: Prince Albert Raiders/supplied)

By Nick Nielsen

Pen to paper

Raiders sign Latvian import Luks for 2026-27

Jul 27, 2026 | 5:21 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders have officially signed their latest European draft pick, Latvian defenceman Oskars Luks.

The team announced on Monday that the 6’5, 209 pound blueliner from Riga, Latvia, signed his WHL Scholarship and Development agreement, meaning he has officially committed to coming to Prince Albert for the 2026-27 campaign.

With an upcoming birthday in October, Luks will enter the WHL during his 18-year-old season.

“Oskars is a big, mobile defenceman,” Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt said in a release. “He has great mobility, great reach and attention to detail. We feel he can step right in and support the group we have. We’re excited to see him get to Prince Albert and watch his game grow.”

Last season with the Jukurit U18 program, Luks posted 4G-20A-24P in 39 games, and he also posted 39 penalty minutes in the Mestis League, Finland’s second highest level of pro hockey.

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With Luks now signed, that means the Raiders lineup will continue to see a bit of a shakeup. Luks will likely take the place of Czechian defencemen Matyas Man, who will not be returning to the team for his 20-year-old season.

The other two European players the Raiders will take into next season are the Kazakhstan born forward Alisher Sarkenov, and the Czechian born goaltender Michal Orsulak.

The WHL preseason is just over a month away with the Raiders set to play their first game on the road in Saskatoon on Tuesday, Sep. 1 against the Blades.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders sign Latvian import Luks for 2026-27

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