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P.A.’s Pesky pest on fitting in with Team WHL

Nov 8, 2018 | 4:00 PM

There’s a good reason former voice of the Prince Albert Raiders Drew Wilson gave Parker Kelly the nickname “Pesky.”

Though far from the biggest player on the ice, Kelly earned a reputation around the league as a premier pest. He hounds the puck and the opponents carrying it, during play and after the whistle.

But Monday and Tuesday, that pest had to make friends with a room full of guys that he purposely tried to get under their skin.

Kelly, along with fellow Raiders Brett Leason and Ian Scott, played with Team WHL at the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series, winning 2-1 Monday in Kamloops and falling 3-1 in Vancouver on Tuesday.

“There’s a lot of guys there that might have been on my bad side, but it’s all about making new friends and making new teammates,” Kelly said. “We weren’t on our club teams at that event, we were Team WHL. You’re forced to come together and learn about a guy. It was good. It was also fun meeting guys that you’re battling with.”

In Team WHL’s victory on Monday, Scott played the full game and made 27 stops on 28 saves for the victory. He did not participate in Team WHL’s defeat on Tuesday.

“He played great. There were lots of times they had us on the ropes and Scotty had to make a good first save and even a rebound save, as well,” Kelly said. “He played great and there was a lot of eyes there watching him and there’s going to be a lot of opportunity coming his way.”

Speaking on opportunities coming his way, Brett Leason has proved himself.

He got a primary assist on the game-winning goal on Monday, scored by Jordy Bellerive of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Leason scored in all 17 games he played before, ranking him first in the CHL in points with 39.

Kelly, Leason, Scott and the rest of the Prince Albert Raiders will take their CHL leading 16-1 record into Friday’s contest against the Swift Current Broncos. The Broncos are currently sitting last in the WHL with a 3-14-0-1 record but have recorded points in all three of their last games with overtime victories over the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oil Kings.

 

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW