A Week and Weekend to Remember

The Raiders are coming off one of their best weeks of the season, on the ice and off — winning three of four games is a significant achievement for a team that has been battling consistency all season. Winning both road games is also a significant achievement especially the Wednesday night game in Regina that may have scuttled any hopes the Pats have at making the playoffs.

The week began Tuesday with a 4-0 win over Calgary at the Art Hauser Centre as 17-year-old rookie goaltender Eric Williams recorded his first WHL shutout. He was just as good, if not better making 16 of his 37 saves in the third period preserving P.A.'s 4-3 win. Williams has a 4-and-2 record with a goals against average of just over 3.00 and a .917 save percentage since taking over from the injured Jamie Tucker as the number one puck stopper. Eric's numbers last week are even more impressive. He was 3-and-1 with a goals against average of just over 2.50 and a save percentage of .929. Outstanding numbers for any goalie in junior hockey.

Friday's 6-3 loss to Moose Jaw on Wall of Honour night at the Art Hauser Centre was the lone hiccup. A lack of focus at the beginning of the third period with the game tied proved to be the difference, mind you Warrior Centreman Quinton Howden's four goal evening had something to do with it.

That made Saturday's wrapper of the home and home series in Moose Jaw pivotal. The outcome would make the week either mediocre or pretty darned good. The Raiders dominated the first period outshooting the Warriors 18-6 and carried a 2-0 lead into the second period which was extended to 3-0 on Jordan Rowley's eventual winner on a 4-on-4 sequence. It stayed that way until the third and you knew the home side would come out guns-a-blazing. The Warriors would score on a mid-period power play and gratuitous bounce with 6-attackers with two minutes to go. However Williams was supremely confident and the Raider defence was composed.

The first star of the night was Mark McNeill who scored once, assisted on Brandon Herrod's goal and blocked a big shot in the dying seconds. Ironically an NHL scout seen frequently around the Art Hauser Centre this year said to me before the Saturday game, that it was time for McNeill to step up his game. As for Williams, he said the rookie goalie needs to make great saves with the game on the line. Both prophetically came to be on Saturday night in the crushed can as both crushed the hopes of a rink packed with Warrior fans.

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Back in Prince Albert, fans and alumni packed the ice surface for the 40th Anniversary Gala. Front table guest included Bob Daniels, Mel Parenteau and Ray Bansley, members of the very first Prince Albert Raiders team in 1971. The night before after the home game against the Warriors, the team raised about $15, 000 from the auction of the commemorative jerseys. Williams' jersey brought in the biggest amount at $1,600.

The Raiders his the road this weekend for a Friday night tilt against the Ice in Kootenay and invade the Medicine Hat arena on Saturday. They will meet two of the best players in the WHL as Cody Eakin leads the potent Kootenay attack having come from Swift Current in a deadline blockbuster trade. On Saturday Wakaw's Linden Vey continues his quest for the WHL scoring title as his Tiger team continues its climb toward a top three ranking in the Eastern Conference.

It's a tough stretch for the Raiders that will include road games next week in Swift Current and Moose Jaw before hosting the Ice a week from Saturday. Given the schedule the three point lead for the final playoff spot is hardly iron clad. However, moving up another one or two spots in the standings isn't out of the question either, if the Raiders can once and for wall drop the “in” from their inconsistent label.

All Raider games can be heard on 900 CKBI.

dwilson@rawlco.com