By Jeff D'Andrea

Without some key stars, Raiders still find a way vs. Oil Kings

Dec 12, 2018 | 9:37 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders are still undefeated at the Art Hauser Centre this year, but they received their biggest test on home ice this season on Wednesday night.

With Raiders stars Brett Leason and Ian Scott both playing for Team Canada against the USports All-Stars, and Sergei Sapego and Aliaksei Protas off with Team Belarus, the Raiders were still able to squeak by the Edmonton Oil Kings with a 6-5 overtime victory.

“Character win by the guys,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “It wasn’t perfect, but we were down some guys, new lines, everything is disjointed. We’ve been playing a lot of hockey recently, but we found a way. That’s all that matters.”

They’re now 29-2-0-1 on the season and 15-0 at home. Should they beat the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre, the Raiders would head into the holiday break with an undefeated home record. The Raiders are the only team in the WHL without a loss, regulation or otherwise, on home ice this year. Wednesday’s game was the only one the Raiders didn’t win in 60 minutes.

Cole Fonstad’s shot three minutes into the overtime frame was the last action of the game, keeping the perfect record alive. He received a long, looping saucer pass from Max Martin during the three-on-three overtime frame, cut hard up the ice and beat Oil Kings goalie Todd Scott through the five-hole.

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Crazy pass from Max Martin springs Cole Fonstad, who ends the game 3 minutes into overtime. Raiders win a wild one, 6-5 over the Oil Kings. pic.twitter.com/R1DQJ93Er3

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

“It was good to get that win out of the way,” Fonstad said. “We know we’re down a couple key players, so maybe we were second guessing ourselves a little bit tonight. But I think guys stepped up and it was good we got the win.”

In Scott’s absence between the Raiders’ pipes, Donovan Buskey stood tall at key times for the Raiders. He made this ‘save of the year quality’ stop on a 2-on-0 breakaway to stop Brett Kemp early in the third period, keeping the Oil Kings to a 4-3 lead.

Is this the Raiders’ save of the year so far? Donovan Buskey soars through the air to completely rob Brett Kemp on a 2-on-0. Huge save to keep this a one-goal game. 4-3 Oil Kings still lead. pic.twitter.com/1uBYr2goR9

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

“It was everything,” Habscheid said of Buskey’s brilliant blocker save. “He made that save, kept us in there and gave us a chance to come back. That was key, for sure.”

The Raiders outscored the Oil Kings 3-1 after that save. Buskey made 30 saves through the 63-minute game. In the Oil Kings’ goal, Scott made 26 saves. 

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Noah Gregor from Cole Fonstad, 1:49

It’s sure a weird one, but Noah Gregor won’t complain. After a great shift, Gregor gets a little fortune here with a deflection. 1-0 Raiders, just 1:39 into the game pic.twitter.com/jLp13hhf1i

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

1-1, Oil Kings, Conner McDonald from Scott Atkinson, 6:17

Conner McDonald plays the long rebound on the end boards well and sneaks it past Buskey. 1-1 game pic.twitter.com/5fi7aQdx0g

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

Second Period

2-1, Raiders, Noah Gregor from Max Martin and Parker Kelly, 6:09

Second ricochet goal of the night for Gregor, as this shot deflects off Ethan Cap and in. This comes on the power play, giving the Raiders a 2-1 lead. That’s Gregor’s 16th of the year pic.twitter.com/j2Vl5IxvrQ

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

2-2, Oil Kings, Carter Souch from David Kope and Ethan Cap (power play), 8:32

Carter Souch ties the game at 2-2 on the power play, after Raiders take a charging penalty from Hayes that the Raiders really don’t like (video doesn’t really show the hit). pic.twitter.com/6XNx9xAEtn

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

3-2, Oil Kings, Jake Neighbours from Wyatt McLeod and Scott Atkinson, 9:22

Jake Neighbours puts the Oil Kings up 3-2 after a nice, low shot. pic.twitter.com/C0eSw09B8N

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

3-3, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Noah Gregor and Cole Fonstad (power play), 11:18

Wheel, snipe, Kelly. Parker Kelly ties the game on the power play, after Noah Gregor does all the work and sets that one up on a silver platter. 3-3, 8:42 left in the second. pic.twitter.com/MwQ5IX4WnS

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

4-3, Oil Kings, David Kope from Conner McDonald and Trey Fix-Wolansky (power play), 15:34

David Kope restores the lead for the Oil Kings, again on the power play. 4-3 EOK with 4:26 left. pic.twitter.com/Qmja9qD0qt

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

Third Period

4-4, Raiders, Max Martin from Spencer Moe, 11:55

Max Martin ties this game up shortly after the Oil Kings ice the puck. 8:05 left in the game. 4-4. pic.twitter.com/ET0pzc63xx

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

5-4, Raiders, Carson Miller from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Zack Hayes, 12:28

Ozzy Wiesblatt with the absolute dangles and somehow finds Carson Miller, who tucks it in. Just like that, it’s a 5-4 Raiders lead. 7:32 left. This game has been a lot of fun to watch, that’s for sure. pic.twitter.com/Jz9gayY50q

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

5-5, Oil Kings, Vince Loschiavo from Matthew Robertson and Conner McDonald, 19:53

Vince Loschiavo ties it up with 6.6 seconds left to play, tipping in a point shot from Matthew Robertson. We’re headed to OT. 5-5. First time the Raiders haven’t won in regulation at the Art Hauser Centre this year. pic.twitter.com/zBAY9VdUgN

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

Overtime

6-5, Raiders, Cole Fonstad from Max Martin, 3:00

Rest in peace Ron

The Raiders announced the passing of director of player personnel Ron Gunville on Tuesday afternoon. Before the game, the Raiders held a moment of silence to honour Gunville, or “Gunner” as he was more commonly known as in the local hockey circles.

Habscheid talked about the contributions Gunville made to the team, since taking over as the head scout in the 2016-17 season.

“He helped assemble talent. If you don’t get good people and good players, it doesn’t matter what you do. We’re appreciative of that for sure,” Habscheid said.

Laventure’s Adventure

Tyson Laventure makes his WHL debut for the @PARaidersHockey pic.twitter.com/pp68VFS7w9

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 13, 2018

Tyson Laventure made his WHL debut Wednesday night against the Oil Kings.

Before his call up to the Raiders, Laventure put up 18 goals and 43 points in 22 games in his 15-year-old year with OHA Edmonton in CSSHL. The Raiders drafted Laventure in the second round, 31^st overall in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

Belarussian beauties

A pair of Raiders are enjoying an undefeated tournament so far at the 2019 IIHF U20 World Div. 1 A Championship in Fussen, Germany.

Aliaksei Protas got two assists as Team Belarus beat Austria 5-0 on Wednesday. That improves Belarus’ record to 3-0 on the tournament.

Protas now has a goal and three assists in three games for Belarus. Fellow Raider Sergei Sapego has a pair of power play goals in three games so far.

Stally going to school

Jordy Stallard joined the Acadia Axemen hockey team for the second half of their year. Stallard played on two ECHL teams, the Allen Americans and the Indy Fuel before going the USports route. Stallard led the Raiders last season with 91 points in 72 games. He joins former Raider and Prince Albert product Loch Morrison on the Axemen.

Quick two with Swift, then home for the holidays

The Raiders will close out their first half of the season with a home-and-home series against the Swift Current Broncos before enjoying the holiday season.

Both teams will battle at the Credit Union iPlex in Swift Current on Friday, before coming to the Art Hauser Centre for the Raiders’ Teddy Bear Toss Night.

The Raiders will be off until a home-and-home against the Saskatoon Blades Dec. 27-28.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW