By Trevor Redden

Raiders ready for rowdy rink

Mar 27, 2018 | 10:00 AM

After a weekend split in Moose Jaw Friday and Saturday, the Prince Albert Raiders are looking forward to home ice advantage as the series shifts back to the Art Hauser Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Our guys have done a good job to work into this position, so now we want to take advantage of stealing home ice advantage, and we’re going to need the help from the crowd,” Raiders Head Coach Marc Habscheid said as the team met for practice Monday.

“We know that when this building is full, it’s a difficult place to play. We certainly could use that seventh man, for sure.”

By winning game one in Moose Jaw the Raiders put themselves in a position of strength, as they could now win the best-of-seven series without winning another road game if they’re able to win three games on home ice. While that task will certainly be tough against the WHL’s regular-season champions, Defenceman Brayden Pachal said he feels the home fans will make a big difference.

“I’m really excited, I think we all are. It’s going to be electric, and it’s going to be a lot of fun playing here,” Pachal said.

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“We know it’s going to be sold out, or close to sold out, and that’s going to help us out in games three and four,” Raider Defenceman Zack Hayes said. Hayes saw what a playoff crowd in Prince Albert looks like from the stands as a midget call-up two seasons ago, when the Raiders met the Warriors in the 2016 playoffs.

This year’s Raider team has thrived on home ice all year, with a regular season home record of 21-10-3-2, compared to 11-17-6-2 on the road. Against the Warriors, Prince Albert was 2-2-0-0 at the Art Hauser Centre.

Associate Coach Dave Manson said there’s nowhere else like the Art Hauser Centre.

“It’s going to be really good for these kids to play in front of that barn when it’s packed and noisy. There’s no better atmosphere in junior hockey so I’m looking forward to it,” Manson said.

While games three and four have been a popular purchase so far, Business Manager Michael Scissons confirmed tickets are still available at the box office for both Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden