By Jeff D'Andrea

Leason nets first hat trick, Monty celebrates 300th game

Nov 20, 2018 | 9:48 PM

Brett Leason has already experienced a lot of new things this year.

For the first time in his career, the 19-year-old leads the WHL in goals (22), points (47), shorthanded goals (four), game winning goals (five), plus-minus (+34) and has the longest point-scoring streak by 10 games. 

But as surprising as Leason’s season may be, this stat might shock you the most. Leason’s hat trick in the Raiders’ 5-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes was the first in his career.

“I’ve been striving for it for a while, I’ve just been held back a few times. It finally feels good to get it,” Leason said.

That’s the 14^th straight win for the Raiders, who are now 21-1 on the season.

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Just 4:30 into the game, Leason scored his 20^th goal of the season, getting a cross crease pass from new linemate Parker Kelly.  

Brett 'the Reason' Leason scores his 20th goal just 4:30 into the game, extending his point scoring streak to all 22 games this season. Nice pass from Parker Kelly. 1-0 Raiders. pic.twitter.com/T83w3I9fH9

— Jeff D'Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 21, 2018

Leason then scored his WHL leading fourth shorthanded goal of the game, 7:03 into the third period.

Brett ‘the Reason’ Leason strikes again. He scores his second goal of the game, and his now WHL leading fourth shorthanded goal, to put the Raiders up 3-1 with 13 minutes left in the game. pic.twitter.com/Y1HJngfObM

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 21, 2018

Kelly found Leason again halfway through the third period, for the second of his three primary assists in the game.

The hats rain down on the ice as Brett Leason is stealing the show. He scores his hat trick goal, again 5-hole, and makes it a 4-1 game, 8:25 remaining. That’s also his 1st career hat trick. pic.twitter.com/1sxrKr93M8

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 21, 2018

He’s played with Leason and Sean Montgomery, who celebrated his 300^th game Tuesday, for the last two contests and doesn’t want to leave anytime soon.

“Lease is pretty fun to play with. He makes a lot for you of space out there and tends to bury every puck I give him,” Kelly said.

Full Monty 300

When the puck was dropped Tuesday, Sean Montgomery officially became one of four Raiders to reach the 300-game mark.

Not only that, but Montgomery appeared in 123^rd straight regular season game, or 130 consecutive games if you count the playoffs.

Montgomery has only missed 10 games in his entire career, and seven of them were in his 16-year-old rookie season in the 2014-15.

There was a brief pregame ceremony for Montgomery before the game, in which Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt presented Montgomery with a watch for the 300-game milestone.

“It was a really nice touch by the organization before the game, I really appreciated that,” Montgomery said. “At the same time, once the puck drops, it’s just another game. I’m excited and honoured to have been here this long. It’s been a blast. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

He’s been on the team so long, he’s been here longer than any player, coach and even general manager Hunt.

Marc Habscheid joined the team on Nov. 1, 2014, after Montgomery had already played his first full month with the Raiders. Habscheid recalls trying to bring in a new ‘Raider hockey culture’ and saw Montgomery buy right in.  

Habscheid recalls the last game of the year that season, Mar. 21, 2015 in a 5-1 win over the Regina Pats. It was a “nothing game” as the Raiders were already eliminated from the playoffs. But Habscheid learned that night that there’s no such thing as a “nothing game” to Montgomery.

“We threw him on the penalty kill and I think it was the last kill of the game. It went D-to-D and I remember it like it was yesterday. The guy took a one-timer and it hit Monty, it almost hit him in the face. And he wanted to, he was doing everything he could to block that,” Habscheid said. “We just looked after and said ‘we’re going to be okay, because we’re going to have him until his 20-year-old year.’

“With the attitude like that and the ability to do what it takes to win, we knew we’d be in good hands with Monty on our squad.”

Great Scott!

Before the game Tuesday, Ian Scott earned CHL Goaltender of the Week.

It was really never in doubt, as Scott scored a goal and had two shutouts in the week, a 43-save shutout against the Medicine Hat Tigers and a 26-save shutout over the Brandon Wheat Kings.

On Monday, Scott was named as the WHL Goaltender of the Week, his third such honour already this year.

Scott made 29 saves on 30 shots for his 18^th win on the season.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Brett Leason from Parker Kelly and Brayden Pachal, 4:30

Second Period

1-1, Hurricanes, Taylor Ross (unassisted), 0:28

Taylor Ross scores his 12th of the year to even the game up at 1-1. Ross went into the boards awkwardly and couldn’t celebrate as he was injured. He made it back to the bench by himself but looked a little sore. pic.twitter.com/xONj6glkT6

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 21, 2018

2-1, Raiders, Brayden Pachal from Zack Hayes and Kody McDonald, 18:55

Brayden Pachal doesn’t get maximum power on this one, but he doesn’t need it to restore the Raiders’ lead. 2-1 Raiders after 40 minutes of play. pic.twitter.com/FtoAAppQKp

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 21, 2018

Third Period

3-1, Raiders, Brett Leason (shorthanded, unassisted), 7:03

4-1, Raiders, Brett Leason from Parker Kelly and Brayden Pachal, 11:35

5-1, Raiders, Kody McDonald (shorthanded) from Parker Kelly, 17:00

Kody McDonald scores the 2nd shorthanded goal of the game for the Raiders, making it 5-1 pic.twitter.com/82EinlaNkW

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 21, 2018

Captain facing the music

Raiders captain Brayden Pachal had a very eventful game to say the least. He scored a goal and had two helpers and was +4 in the game. But 16:43 into the third period, Pachal was issued a major penalty for interference after a heavy and late collision on Hurricanes captain Jordy Bellerive.

Earlier on the play, Brayden Pachal got a 5 minute major for this hit on Jordy Bellerive. Hard to see on the video feed pic.twitter.com/2iq2A2PCuL

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 21, 2018

On the road again

The Raiders will now be on the road for seven straight games, and won’t play their next home game until Dec. 8 when they on the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Art Hauser Centre.

Before then, they’ll play the Medicine Hat Tigers Friday, the Kootenay ICE Saturday, the Red Deer Rebels Nov. 27, the Edmonton Oil Kings Nov. 28, the Regina Pats Dec. 1, the Swift Current Broncos Dec. 4 and the Brandon Wheat Kings Dec. 7.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW