Raiders pit stop home Friday before hitting road again Sunday

Friday’s game against Moose Jaw is a rematch from last Saturday, a game where the Raiders played well but ultimately lost 4-3 in a shootout. Before that, the Raiders suffered losses 5-1 to Regina, 4-2 to Medicine Hat, and 3-1 to Lethbridge, with the Raiders most recent win coming five games ago 4-1 over Red Deer.

The Raiders have not made any roster moves this week, but they’re still waiting to announce their captains yet. Off the ice, the biggest news for the Raiders this week is that 16-year-old forward Athens Shingoose will be heading to the U17 World Hockey Challenge to represent Team Canada Red.

Looking at special teams, the Raiders powerplay dropped in the rankings down to 11th in the league now at 22.2%. As for the penalty kill, it took a hit and dropped down to 71.1%, sitting second last in the league.

Ben Harvey is still sitting at the top of the Raiders scoring with 5G-5A-10P on the year. Maddix McCagherty sits second with 1G-6A-7P, and there’s now a three way tie for third between Connor Howe (4G-2A-6P), Owen Corkish (2G-4A-6P), and Brock Cripps (1G-5A-6P).

Scoring streaks:

Brandon Gorynski: two games, 0G-2A

Jonah Sivertson also has 1G-4A in his last five games despite having his streak broken in Lethbridge two games ago. Similarly, Brock Cripps has 1G-3A and Ben Harvey has 2G-2A in the last five games.

As for goaltenders, Michal Orsulak played in both games last weekend after being pulled late in the game Friday in Regina. Orsulak comes into the weekend with a record of 2-4-1, along with a 0.879 save percentage and a 3.51 goals against average. Steele Bass behind him comes into the weekend at 0-2-0, a 0.857 save percentage, and a 2.80 goals against average.

Friday vs. Moose Jaw

Before picking up the 4-3 shootout win over the Raiders on Saturday, the Warriors were coming off a Friday loss in Saskatoon 7-4. The Warriors are sitting 3-3-0 so far this season, just one point ahead of the Raiders for last in the Eastern Conference.

Since that Saturday game, the Warriors made a trade to acquire a couple draft picks from Prince George. In return, the Warriors sent away 2007 born forward Kash Andresen. Also, goaltender Dylan Mingo was named to Team Canada White at the U17 World Hockey Challenge, where he’ll play against Raiders forward Athens Shingoose.

The Raiders and Warriors will play a total of seven games against each other this season, and the Warriors currently hold the advantage. After Friday, the next time the two teams see each other is Nov. 28 in Moose Jaw.

The Warriors are still one of the top five powerplays in the league, operating at 26.1% and still not surrendering a shorthanded goal. On the penalty kill, the Warriors are right in the middle of the league at 81%.

Landen McFadden has taken the lead in the Warriors scoring race with 3G-4A-7P. Behind hime, Riley Thorpe (2G-4A-6P) and Mathieu Lajoie (1G-5A-6P) are tied for second, and Gage Nagel rounds out the top three with 3G-2A-5P.

Scoring streaks:

Riley Thorpe: four games, 2G-3A

Mathieu Lajoie: four games, 0G-4A

Landen McFadden: two games, 2G-1A

Noah Degenstein: two games, 2G-0A

Former Raider Luke Moroz had his streak broken in Saskatoon, but has 3G-0A in the last four games. McFadden has only been held pointless once this year and has 3G-4A in six games.

As for goaltending, Jordan Switzer also played both games last weekend and is 2-2-0 on the season with a 0.884 save percentage and a 4.23 goals against average. Dylan Mingo is 1-1-0 on the year, along with a 0.886 and 4.00.

Sunday @ Brandon

A day off to travel Saturday and the Raiders are back on the road Sunday for their first matchup of the season with the Brandon Wheat Kings. This year, the Wheat Kings are the top team in the Eastern Conference, and tied for top in the league, with a record of 7-2-0.

The Wheat Kings are coming off of their B.C. road swing where they went an impressive 4-1-1, finishing with a 3-2 overtime loss in Kelowna. Before that, the Wheat Kings had won four straight over Penticton, Kamloops, Vancouver, and Victoria, but lost to Prince George in the opening game of the trip. The Wheat Kings will rest Friday, but will welcome Medicine Hat on Saturday before the Raiders arrive on Sunday.

This is the first meeting of six between the Raiders and Wheat Kings this year. Last season, the Raiders went 5-1-0 against the Wheat Kings, outscoring the Wheat Kings 21-14 in that time and only one game going to overtime.

In the off ice news, the Wheat Kings made a big trade Friday morning where they gave up four draft picks in exchange for Tampa Bay Lightning fifth round pick Aiden Foster. So far, Foster has five goals in four games this season. Foster will not be available to the Wheat Kings for either of their two games this weekend after receiving a two game suspension during his last game with the Cougars.

At the U17 World Hockey Challenge, the Wheat Kings will be represented by defenceman Cruz Jim. He will also be playing for Team Canada White, against Athens Shingoose on Team Canada Red.

On special teams, the Wheat Kings are sitting ninth in the league at 23.5% on the powerplay. On the penalty kill, they sit 13th in the league at 78.6%.

As for the scoring race, there’s a tie at the top between Kris Muissu and Chase Surkan with 4G-7A-11P. Then there’s Colin Grubb in third with 3G-6A-9P, and finally Joby Baumuller rounds out the top four with 6G-2A-8P.

Scoring streaks:

Brett Wilson: two games, 0G-3A

A few Wheat Kings had their point streaks broken last game. Jaxson Jacobson was riding a four game streak with 2G-4A, Kris Muissu had 3G-6A in five games, Chase Surkan had 3G-5A in the previous five, Joby Baumuller had 5G-1A in two games, and Cruz Jim also has 0G-2A in the last three games.

Finally in goal, the Wheat Kings have been splitting time between Filip Ruzicka and Ryley Budd. For Ruzicka, he’s boasting a record of 4-1-0 so far along with a 0.933 save percentage and a 2.12 goals against average. As for Budd, he holds a record of 3-0-0, a 0.930, and a 2.63.

Both games this weekend will be broadcast live on 900 CKBI.

Friday’s home game will see the Raiders take on the Moose Jaw Warriors at 7:00 p.m., and Nick Nielsen will have the call starting at 6:30 p.m.

As for Sunday’s game, voice of the Melfort Mustangs Ben Tompkins will have the call, pregame show starting at 2:30 p.m. while puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m.

nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders pit stop home Friday before hitting road again Sunday

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