The Prince Albert Raiders swept the Red Deer Rebels in four games. Submitted photo, Rob Wallator/rawimpressions.ca.

By Jeff D'Andrea

Sweeping up

Leason’s return huge as Raiders reverse the curse and sweep Rebels

Mar 27, 2019 | 10:44 PM

Heading into this season, the Prince Albert Raiders hadn’t won a playoff series in the past 15 years. The 2004-05 Raiders club stood up as the last team in franchise history to win a series—but not anymore.

This year’s edition of the Raiders made sure that streak was well and properly broken, as they won 4-1 on Wednesday at the Western Park Centrium in Red Deer to complete the four-game sweep.

“Oh, we’re happy for sure. I’m happy for the guys, I’m happy for the city, for the organization,” Raiders head coach March Habscheid said. “It’s been a while. No matter what, it’s hanging around but now that’s gone. Guys can just play. It’s good. We’re going to get some rest for the next series. We’re looking forward for that.”

A huge factor in Game 4 was Brett Leason, who scored twice in the game, including the game-winning goal and the insurance marker on the power play. Leason was fresh off his one-game suspension for checking Cameron Hausinger from behind in Game 2.

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“He was a guy that was well rested after the little suspension there, so we needed him to come back,” Habscheid said. “Again, it took him a bit to get going, but once he got going, that goal early in the third made the difference for us.”

Both of Leason’s goals weren’t too far away from Ethan Anders’ crease. The first was jamming one in after Sean Montgomery was stopped on a wrap-around attempt, and Anders couldn’t locate the puck. The second was on the power play in the third period, as Leason backhanded one into the top shelf from the bottom of the circle, after Parker Kelly set him up.

“Just being around the net, that’s how it is. Grabbing the puck and shooting on net. That’s pretty much it,” Leason said.

“That’s what we wanted coming in. Making it a sweep, that’s what everyone wants but it was nice,” Leason said. “They battled hard. They tried to bring it to us in different ways, but we just responded.”

No bad blood

After both teams shook hands to conclude the series, Leason and Hausinger found each other. Despite the collision between the two in Game 2, the chat did not appear to be hostile in anyway, in fact, it seemed like a friendly chat.

“He just said he lost an edge as I pushed him. It happens in hockey, and he just apologized for that,” Leason said of the conversation the two had. “It’s an unlucky play and he lost an edge. I got a game for it, but oh well.”

Domination

Out of the four hours of stick puck the two teams played, the Raiders led for most of it. They had at least a one-goal lead for 2:49:03 of the series. The Rebels had one lead all series, which lasted 9:18. That came in Game 4 on Wednesday when Jeff De Wit scored to end the first period.

But despite the numbers, the Rebels threatened the Raiders at different points in the series.

“It was a sweep, but it was a push. They pushed us, and we knew they would,” Habscheid said. “That’s probably what we needed. We needed to be pushed, especially in the first period here. I thought we were tip-toeing around a little bit. They pushed us, and then we got better as the game went on.”

Crazy train

For a team with skilled forwards like Brett Leason, Noah Gregor, Dante Hannoun, Parker Kelly, Cole Fonstad etc., it was a rookie playing in his 16-year-old season that led the Raiders in goals for the series.

Ozzy Wiesblatt scored three goals in the series, but none was bigger for him than his goal on Wednesday. He tied up the game at 1-1, erasing what ended up being the Rebels’ only lead of the series.

The Rebels took issue with the goal, as they weren’t allowed to make a change after a scrum ensued from both teams. Wiesblatt scored immediately after the faceoff.

But controversy or not, Wiesblatt will sure take it.

“He’s 16, but he sure doesn’t play like it,” Habscheid said. “He’s a competitive little guy, he’s skilled. But he gets involved. He goes to the front of the net, he’ll take hits to score goals. He was important for us.”

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Rebels, Jeff De Wit from Brandon Hagel and Reese Johnson, 19:50

Second Period

1-1, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Cole Fonstad and Noah Gregor, 9:08

Third Period

2-1, Raiders, Brett Leason from Sean Montgomery, 0:58

3-1, Raiders, Brett Leason from Parker Kelly and Cole Fonstad (power play), 11:27

4-1, Raiders, Cole Fonstad (empty net), 16:26

Raids and Blades

Like the Raiders did, the Saskatoon Blades enjoyed an opening round sweep. They beat the Moose Jaw Warriors in four straight games. Norwegian Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen ended the series when he scored in overtime on Wednesday to give the Blades the 4-3 OT victory and their fourth win of the series.

That will set up a Prince Albert Raiders, Saskatoon Blades matchup in the second round of the WHL post-season.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW