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Raiders’ Stewart scores the goal he’s been dreaming about; Wild sign Warner

Sep 23, 2014 | 4:59 PM

Ever since he drafted by the Prince Albert Raiders back on May 3, 2012, Dylan Stewart has been wondering how he would score his first WHL goal.

He doesn’t have to wonder anymore.

Stewart’s first goal was the game-winner in the Raiders’ 5-3 over the Saskatoon Blades on Friday in the Raiders’ home opener at the Art Hauser Centre.

Just 2:30 into the third period, Raiders defenceman Brennan Riddle kept the puck in at the blueline and funneled it towards the net. Stewart corralled the puck on his forehand with has back to the net, then spun and fired a wrist shot past the blocker of Blades goaltender Troy Trombley.

“It means a lot. I’ve been waiting for that since the day I was drafted,” said Stewart, who played his second career game Friday after appearing in a game in his 15-year-old season. “I spent a lot of nights this summer wondering how it was going to happen. It’s nice to get it done.

“That was really cool. My parents were here, too.”

It was a big night for Stewart’s linemate Sean Montgomery as well.

Montgomery received his first WHL career point on the play in his first ever game in the WHL. Montgomery won the offensive zone faceoff, then kept the play alive by carrying the puck to the blueline and handing it to Riddle.

“It felt really good to get that first one out of the way,” said Montgomery, 16-year-old forward from Calgary. “Hopefully there’s more to come.”

“It was really good. It was the first time I’ve played in front of a really big crowd, so that was really fun.”

Although Riddle passed the puck to Stewart, he wasn’t officially awarded a point on the play. Should that be amended on a later date it will be his first point.

Simon Stransky also got his first point in his first WHL career game, an assist on Reid Gardiner’s second goal of the game.

Wild’s Warner

The Minnesota Wild announced Tuesday they signed Raiders defenceman Hunter Warner to a three-year, entry level contract. Warner, who entered the Wild’s training camp as an undrafted invitee, is still with the Wild this preseason.

The 19-year-old Warner hails from Eden Prairie, Minn., about a 40 minute drive from St. Paul, Minn., where the Wild are based. He signed with the Prince Albert Raiders as a free agent back on Aug. 6.

Raiders getting watched

Three Raiders made the NHL Central Scouting Service 2015 Players to Watch List, which was released on Tuesday.

Reid Gardiner was given a B rating, while Matteo Gennaro and Nick McBride were both given C ratings.

Duck Lake’s Ryan Pilon, who plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings, is a B rated defenceman for this year’s draft.

The grades given on the Watch List are projections for which round players could get drafted in: an A Rating signifies a first round projection, a B rating indicates a second/third round projection and a C rating predicts a fourth/fifth or sixth round selection.

Gardiner was passed on last year’s draft as a 17-year-old, but is eligible again for this year’s draft.

Also eligible for the Raiders are defencemen Brendan Guhle, Brennan Riddle and Dylan Stewart.

Summing up the Saskatoon sweep

The Raiders swept the Blades in a home-and-home series, with a 5-3 win Friday at the Art Hauser Centre, and a 3-1 victory Saturday at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon.

Reid Gardiner had three goals on the weekend, including a two-goal effort in Friday’s contest.

Goaltender Nick McBride picked up both wins and now boasts a 2.00 goals against average and .913 save percentage.

The Raiders are preparing this week for Saturday’s home game against the Regina Pats (0-2), who lost both of their opening games to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

With a home-and-home sweep already under their belts, Stewart is hungry to keep their early winning streak alive.

“It’s huge to get the four points and have a perfect season so far,” said Stewart. “We’re looking to get the next two versus Regina. To be 3-0, that would be really nice.”

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea