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(Left to right) Ben Harvey, Head Coach Ryan McDonald, Brock Cripps, and the rest of Team Canada are a perfect 3-0 to start the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. (Image Credit: Andy Devlin/Hockey Canada)
By Nick Nielsen
Summer Check-in

Raiders Catch Up: Hlinka Gretzky success, Gorzynski set to return, and more

Aug 6, 2026 | 1:31 PM

The start of training camp is closing in for the Prince Albert Raiders, and while there are still questions to be answered about what the team’s roster will look like heading into next season, two of the team’s breakout stars are already competing against the best in the world.

Thursday is an off day for 17-year-olds Ben Harvey and Brock Cripps, along with Head Coach Ryan McDonald, who are in Edmonton representing Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

With all three games played in the round robin portion of the tournament, the team McDonald is helping coach boasts a perfect 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record, good enough to secure the top spot in Group A heading into the playoff round starting on Friday. Canada has played all three games so far against other teams in Group A, winning 7-3 over Switzerland, 6-1 over Slovakia, and 7-4 over Sweden.

In three games so far, the defenceman Cripps has posted a short handed goal and three assists, while Harvey has been held off the scoresheet.

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Canada plays it’s semi-final game on Friday against Finland, who sits second in Group B with a 2-0-0-1 record. In the other semi-final, the 3-0-0-0 USA will play the 1-0-1-1 Slovakia. The winners of each game will face off on Saturday.

Gorzynski commits to return, other roster notes

After announcing his commitment to play NCAA Division I hockey back in August 2025, while still a member of the Calgary Hitmen, Brandon Gorzynski has changed his mind.

The fourth round draft pick of the Dallas Stars is going into his 19-year-old season, and he’ll be doing it as a member of the Raiders.

The Arizona born forward was slated to spend next season with the Arizona State University Sun Devils, just down the road from his hometown of Scottsdale. Gorzynski announced he was coming back to Prince Albert a few photos on Instagram from last season with the Raiders.

“Let’s do it again PA.”

Gorzynski’s return to the Raiders comes at a time where there are still lots of questions about next season’s roster because of the NCAA. Along with the three graduated 20-year-olds from last season – Aiden Oiring, Brayden Dube, and Justice Christensen – there’s a list of other names the Raiders could lose ahead of next season.

Leading the list of likely-to-lose players are Braeden Cootes, Max Heise, and Daxon Rudolph. Cootes will likely play next season in professional hockey in either the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks, or their AHL affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.

For Rudolph and Heise, it’s almost assured they won’t play for the Raiders for the next season either.

Both drafted in the NHL and with commitments to play with the University of Denver, there is still a chance that either one could return to Prince Albert if they impress their NHL clubs enough to sign an entry level deal, but not enough to stay in the NHL. Those chances are a little better with Rudolph, who’s drafted by Buffalo, because he’s only going into his 18-year-old year. For the 20-year-old Heise on the other hand, his return to the Raiders is less likely because of his eligibility to play in the AHL.

Out of the 19 players dressed during the playoffs last year that are eligible to return, nine of them have college commitments. The year of their commitment is according to Elite Prospects, and does not necessarily reflect when a player will start their college career:

  • Daxon Rudolph, University of Denver (starting 2026-27)
  • Max Heise, University of Denver (starting 2026-27)
  • Jonah Sivertson, St. Cloud University (starting 2027-28)
  • Alisher Sarkenov, Western Michigan University (starting 2027-28)
  • Brandon Gorzynski, Arizona State University (Now moved to 2027-28)
  • Evan Smith, University of Alaska-Fairbanks (starting 2026-27, but has stated is returning to Raiders for 2026-27)
  • Linden Burrett, University of Alaska-Fairbanks (starting 2026-27)
  • Owen Corkish, University of St. Thomas (starting 2028-29)
  • Hubert Clarke, Western Michigan University (starting 2026-27)

World Junior Summer Showcase

Braeden Cootes represented Canada as the team’s captain, alongside Daxon Rudolph during the final week of July. The summer showcase gives countries their first opportunity to see how their rosters matchup against other countries ahead of the World Juniors at the end of the year. A total of 28 skaters were invited along with four goaltenders.

Rudolph managed a goal in his two games, while Cootes was held pointless. Canada lost all three of their games 5-3 to Sweden, 5-3 to Finland, and 7-2 to the USA.

Saskatchewan product Cole Reschny posted four assists in the two games he played.

—

nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

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