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For the first time since 1985, the Prince Albert Raiders are champions of the Western Hockey League.
3-2 in overtime win against the Vancouver Giants in the seventh Rogers WHL 2019 game on Monday, the Raiders were crowned the WHL's best team for the second time since joining the league in anticipation of the WHL's regular season 1982-1983. Season.
Sitting fast at the top and staying on the spot, the Raiders set the tone at the opening night of the WHL 2018-19 regular season, beating the Regina Pats to end a run of 15 defeats against one of their provincial rivals. This marked the beginning of a series of 17 consecutive home wins for the Raiders, which will last until December 28, 2018. Taking into account their games away from the Art Hauser Center, the Raiders were equally strong , providing the right conditions for a series of 19 wins. from early October to early December.
Led by captain Brayden Pachal on the blue line, the Raiders lost only seven times in the 2019 League playoffs.
Matched against the Red Deer Rebels in the first round, the Raiders quickly pushed back their opponents from the Central Division by sweeping the series. The Raiders found themselves in a 2-2 draw against their rivals in the Saskatoon Blades in the second round. They went on to win decisive victories at Games 5 and 6. The Raiders were faced with a similar situation at the Edmonton Oil Kings, but Aliaksei Protas, a candidate for the NHL Entry Draft in 2019, will attempt to win tricks. from hat back to back during the fifth and sixth critical heats.
Since he's been named general manager prior to the 2015-16 WHL regular season, Curtis Hunt has overseen the construction of the championship's talent-filled lineup at every position.
Goalkeeper Ian Scott, who started his fourth full season with the Raiders, has reached another level. Calgary, Alta. The product was already a team prospect when Hunt took over, but after three long seasons, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has reached the peak of his career in his junior career to date.
Scott had 38 wins, an average of 1.83 goals, a save percentage of 0.932 and eight shutouts. Ranking second in the Western League for the first three categories, Scott led the league in the shutout while the Raiders allowed 156 goals, the second total in the league. He would add to his team's goal differential by scoring the first goal of his career in the WHL on Friday, Nov. 16, against the Americans in the Tri-City. Scott's determination and strength of play earned him the ultimate honor of the season, being named West League Goalkeeper of the Year.
Hunt, WHL's 2019 WHL Executive of the Year, has also taken a number of smart steps to strengthen his team's lineup.
In October 2017, the Raiders were taken over by forward Brett Leason. Considered a deep movement to give to Calgary, Alberta. more ice time, the 20-year-old has become one of the Canadian Hockey League's top talent in the NHL draft of 2019 this season. Leason scored 89 points (36G-53A) in 55 regular season games, adding 25 points (10G-15A) in 22 games of the Western League playoffs.
In July 2018, the Raiders acquired Noah Gregor striker Victoria Royals. I do not know if the Beaumont, Alta. product would make the leap into the ranks of professional hockey with the organization of San Jose Sharks or return to the WHL, the latter has turned out to be true. Gregor would have the best statistical season of his career in the WHL, with 88 points (43G-45A) in 63 games.
As the WHL deadline approached in January 2019, Hunt entered into another agreement with the Royals, acquiring attacker Dage Hannoun. From January 3, 2019 to the end of the regular season, the Delta, BC product would score 31 points (10G-21A) in 28 games. He also reportedly added 24 points (14G-10A) in 23 games of the WHL playoffs, which led the league in goals scored in the second season.
Behind the bench, WHL year coach Marc Habscheid, guided alignment through the ups and downs to get to this point. The league title is Habscheid's second career in the WHL after winning in 2003 with the Kelowna Rockets. As part of the Raiders' good season, Habscheid became the eighth coach in WHL history to record 500 coaching victories, achieving this feat in February 2019.
The fans of the Raiders had to wait 34 years for this feeling of jubilation in the championship is repeated. During the regular season WHL 1984-1985, their third in the history of the team, the Raiders scored 58-11-3 during the season of 72 games, then 12-1 to win their first and only WHL Championship to date. Shortly after their victory, they would add the perfect summit to their achievements by winning the Memorial Cup that year as well.
Their 119 points this season have never been matched by any Raiders team in the history of the WHL. The version of this year's Raiders recorded a record of 54-10-2-2, the highest number of team wins in a regular season of 68 games in WHL history, and seven points less than the total Raiders from 1984-1985.
With another WHL championship now in their possession, the Raiders will be in pursuit of another Memorial Cup. As WHL champions, the Raiders were admitted to the 2019 Memorial Cup presented by Kia in Halifax, NS, May 17-26.
Prince Albert's 1985 team was memorable with captain Dan Hodgson scoring 36 points (10G-26A) to lead all playoff players. Defender Manny Viveiros, a Western league champion with the Broncos of Swift Current last season, led the Raiders on the blue line. Team rookie, Hunt contributed to the team's ice-hockey victory in 1985 before being behind this year's lineup.
In addition to winning their first Western League championship in the Western League since 1985, they have secured two consecutive victories in the league championship of the Saskatchewan League based teams. in Saskatchewan with Swift Current's win last season.
Previous WHL Champions
2018 – Fast current broncos
2017 – Seattle Thunderbirds
2016 – The Brandon Wheat Kings
2015 – The Kelowna Rockets
2014 – Edmonton Oil Kings *
2013 – Portland Winterhawks
2012 – Edmonton Oil Kings
2011 – Kootenay ICE
2010 – Calgary Hitmen
2009 – Kelowna rockets
2008 – Spokane Chefs *
2007 – Medicine Hat Tigers
2006 – The Vancouver Giants
2005 – Kelowna rockets
2004 – Medicine Hat Tigers
2003 – Kelowna rockets
2002 – Kootenay ICE *
2001 – The Red Deer Rebels *
2000 – Kootenay ICE
1999 – Calgary Hitmen
1998 – Portland Winterhawks *
1997 – Lethbridge Hurricanes
1996 – The Brandon Wheat Kings
1995 – Kamloops Blazers *
1994 – Kamloops Blazers *
1993 – Broncos with fast current
1992 – Kamloops Blazers *
1991 – Spokane chefs *
1990 – Kamloops Blazers
1989 – Broncos with fast current *
1988 – Medicine Hat Tigers *
1987 – Medicine Hat Tigers *
1986 – The Kamloops blazers
1985 – Prince Albert Raiders *
1984 – Kamloops Junior Oilers
1983 – Broncos of Lethbridge
1982 – Portland Winterhawks
1981 – Victoria Cougars
1980 – Regina Pats
1979 – The Brandon Wheat Kings
1978 – New Westminster Bruins *
1977 – New Westminster Bruins *
1976 – Bruins of New Westminster
1975 – Bruins of New Westminster
1974 – Regina Pats *
1973 – Medicine Hat Tigers
1972 – Edmonton Oil Kings
1971 – Edmonton Oil Kings
1970 – The bombers of Flin Flon
1969 – Flin Flon bombers
1968 – Estevan Bruins
1967 – Moose Jaw Canucks
* Winner of the Memorial Cup
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