Raiders Now

Thursday was a day full of surprises for Brendan Guhle.

Guhle and his classmates were on their way from his native Sherwood Park to a rafting field trip. Around 9 a.m., Guhle’s cell phone continued to buzz in his pocket as his family and friends were eager to let him know he was selected third overall by the Prince Albert Raiders.

“We were on the bus to the rafting place and I was getting all these texts and tweets and that’s when I kind of figured it out,” said Guhle.

The Prince Albert Raiders traded down with Prince George from second to the third overall pick, drafting defenceman Brendan Guhle third overall.

For trading down one spot, the Raiders got a third round pick in next year's draft from the Cougars in exchange.

Listed at 6', 160, Guhle had nine goals and 24 points in 32 games with the Sherwood Park Flyers of the AMBHL.

Both Mike Winther and Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders were held off the score sheet in Saturday's 4-2 Team Canada loss to the Finns at the world under-18 hockey championships.

Canada was assessed 13 of the 15 penalties in the game and couldn't hold a 2-1 second period lead. The Finns scored the winning goal on a two-man power play.

Canada's next game is Monday against the host, Czech Republic. They have one win and one loss.

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Mike Winther picked up a point in Canada's 5-4 win over the host Czechs in pre-tournament action Monday at the World U-18 Hockey Championships.

The Raider winger assisted on Canada's fourth goal. The Czechs sent the game to overtime on a goal by Regina Pat winger Dominic Volek with 1 second left in the third period.

Hockey Canada announced its U18 team that will compete at the World U18 Championships, and have included two Prince Albert Raiders in forward Mike Winther and defenceman Josh Morrissey. The World Championships will be held in Brno and Znojmo, Czech Republic, Apr. 12-22.

Prince Albert Raiders president Dale McFee announced Wednesday that the Raiders will exercise the options on general manager Bruno Campese and head coach Steve Young, keeping them on the staff for the 2012-2013 season.

But after the Raiders’ disappointing last place finish this past season and just one year to prove themselves, the pressure will be on Campese and Young to perform this year, and have a quick turn-around.

The Raider players will soon be heading home after a disappointing 2011-12 campaign. However, they were upbeat for Sunday night's awards banquet in the Ches Leach Lounge.

Captain Mark McNeill who was the final speaker of the night urged those who will be back next season to remain positive and work hard over the spring and summer.

The Saskatoon Blades took the season finale against the Prince Albert Raiders 11-5 at Credit Union Centre Tuesday night.

While the final score indicated a blow out, the Raiders were actually in this game well into the third period despite numerous defensive miscues.

Josh Morrisey's 10th of the season on the power play tied the game at five early in the third, however just minutes later the Blades would go ahead for good on a goal by Darren Dietz. 

Over the past five games, the Prince Albert Raiders have been led offensively by the increasingly dangerous 1-2 punch of Anthony Bardaro and Justin Maylan, and that was the case again Friday in a 5-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos at the Art Hauser Centre.

The Raiders came out on the wrong side of another one goal hockey game Sunday in Regina to extend their losing streak to four games.

Regina Pat's captain Brandon Davidson ripped home a point shot with just 21 seconds remaining to lift the Pats to a 4-3 win over the visiting Raiders and move them closer to clinching a playoff spot.

The two teams swapped a pair of goals in the first two periods to send it to the third tied 2-2.

Two late goals in the third period spoiled what could have been a great upset for the Prince Albert Raiders, who lost 4-3 to the Moose Jaw Warriors Friday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Warriors are the Eastern Conference’s second best team.

The Prince Albert Raiders had the Kootenay Ice right where they wanted them at various points of the game on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre, but ended losing in overtime 5-4.

After giving up the first goal just 1:37 into the game, the Raiders woke up and rallied at the midpoint of the period, scoring three goals within a 98 second span to lead 3-1 after the first period.

But the Ice dominated the second, winning the period 2-0, the shot clock 17-4 and tied the game up in the third period.