By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders’ prospect Meger wins Midget AAA provincials, leads league in everything

Mar 31, 2015 | 7:30 AM

Curtis Meger started this season as the 16-year-old undrafted goaltender with the Regina Pat Canadians.

He ended it with a provincial championship and a WHL contract with the Prince Albert Raiders.

On Saturday, Meger stopped 28 of 29 shots for the Pat Canadians to pick up the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League championship victory over the Battlefords Stars, winning the final series in four games.

“Words cannot describe it, honestly. I didn’t even know what was happening the last couple seconds, everything was just a blur,” said Meger. “I didn’t even hear the buzzer go, everybody was just going nuts. Next thing I knew, I was under a pile of 19 teenagers. I couldn’t see anything, I couldn’t breathe. You just soak it all in—it’s an unreal experience.

“When everybody gets off of you, you just look up and think ‘wow that actually just happened.’ That feeling is truly indescribable.”

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A few days before the championship winning game, the Raiders signed Meger to a standard WHL player contract, along with Ty Prefontaine on March 25.

Meger was listed by the Raiders in the offseason as they knew he’d have a good opportunity with the Pat Cs. He took full advantage of it as he led the SMAAAAHL regular season in just about every goaltending category.

He was the only goaltender to post a save percentage above .930 (at .934) and a goals against average below 2.00 (at 1.91).

He was also tied for the league lead with three shutouts and two assists by goaltenders.

With the help of head coach Brad Herauf, the rest of the Pat C’s coaching staff and Meger’s father, he had all the determination he needed to keep pushing forward.

“Coach said, if I keep working hard, good things will happen. When I got that call from P.A., it kinda took a weight off my shoulders and made everything real, that the work I had put in made all my dreams come true,” said Meger. “When that happened, everything became so real. I’m so thankful my coach kept hacking me, he kept on me. My dad kept telling me to work hard.

“After it was all said and done, I was proud of myself.”

Of course, the Pat Canadians aren’t done yet as they’ll head to Dauphin, Man. from April 2-5 to play in the Telus Cup Western Regionals. They will be taking on the Manitoba Midget AAA champion Pembina Valley Hawks, the Northwestern Ontario champion Kenora Thistles and the hosting Parkland Rangers.

Although he’s already accomplished so much as a 16-year-old in the Midget AAA ranks, it’s no guarantee that Meger will be a Raider next season.

They already have a logjam in goal with Rylan Parenteau ready to play his 19-year-old season and Nick McBride to return to play his 18-year-old year next season. The Raider also have Ian Scott, who’s eligible to play his first full WHL season at the age of 16. The Raiders picked Scott ninth overall in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, the highest pick used on a goaltender since the Tri-City Americans picked Carey Price seventh overall.

“It’s going to be tough going into camp, but I know if I have the right mindsight and show what I can do to the best of my abilities, then maybe there’s a possibility of cracking a spot,” said Meger, who also made an appearance for the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL last year. “I’m having a ton of confidence coming off the season with the Pat Canadians.

“Going to camp with the mindset that I have the chance of making the team could really give me a good shot at making it.”

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea