Late Wheat Kings' Goal Lifts Brandon to 4-3 Win Over Raiders
December 7, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
The Prince Albert Raiders were forced to come from behind again on Wednesday night. The club tied the game in the third period after trailing 3-1, but a goal with 2:09 left in the third period lifted the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 4-3 win at the Art Hauser Centre.
After spending much of the opening start to the game in the offensive zone, the Wheat Kings opened the scoring. It was Brett Hyland who was the beneficiary of a play set up by Jake Chiasson. Hyland buried his 12th goal of the season to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead just 4:28 into the contest.
With 7:41 left in the first, that lead doubled, as Calder Anderson made it a 2-0 Brandon lead. Taking a pass from Quinn Mantei, Anderson snapped home his seventh goal of the season, wiring a shot far side past Tikhon Chaika. Midway through the opening frame, the Wheaties went up by a pair.
With under a minute to go in the first period, the Raiders started to buzz in the offensive zone. About five shots were thrown at Carson Bjarnason, who stood tall to the task, turning aside all of them, including a desperation save sprawling across the crease.
With 44 seconds to go, the Art Hauser Centre erupted in their displeasure towards the officials, after Evan Herman was sent to the penalty box along with Luke Shipley from the Wheat Kings. Shipley shoved Herman into the crease, knocking over Bjarnason. Shipley was assessed a roughing penalty on the play, while somehow, Herman was called for interference after being knocked into the goalie with nowhere else to go.
The Raiders would end up on a powerplay less than 20 seconds later after Hyland was sent to the box for tripping, but the Raiders failed to score in 25 seconds of powerplay time to wrap up the first period. With 20 minutes in the books, the Wheat Kings took a 2-0 lead into the dressing room, with tempers already starting to flare between the two clubs after one period of play.
The Raiders finally broke the goose egg on them at the 9:11 mark of the second period, and it was Niall Crocker who put Prince Albert on the board. Parked in front, Crocker was set up for the screen for an Eric Johnston point shot. As the shot came in Crocker turned to meet the puck, and deflected it past Bjarnason, bringing the Raiders back to within one goal with his third of the season which made it a 2-1 game.
Just 20 seconds after the ensuing faceoff, a near line brawl broke out near the Wheat Kings bench. Grady Martin delivered a hit in open ice that was called for a penalty, and the roughing penalties ensued as a result. Martin was sent to the box for kneeing, while four roughing penalties were called on the play, as players wrestled with each other on the ice. After all was settled, the Raiders actually ended up on the powerplay, but failed to find a goal.
Hayden Pakkala almost tied the score in the second period as well. Taking a feed up the right wall, the second year forward cut in towards the net, dodged a pokecheck attempt by Bjarnason and cut far side. Somehow, the Wheaties netminder was able to make a terrific kick save, preserving Brandon's lead at 2-1.
Bjarnason's efforts in the second period helped the Wheat Kings head into the second period with the lead, as 2-1 would be the score after 40 minutes. Prince Albert came alive offensively in that middle frame with 14 shots, as they led in the shots department 23-18 through two periods.
The Wheat Kings restored their two-goal lead at the 8:43 mark of the third period, as Nolan Ritchie sniped home his 12th goal of the season. From there, however, the Raiders mounted a comeback. Gabe Ludwig and Harrison Lodewyk scored just under two minutes apart to tie the score. Ludwig's goal was a beautiful snipe from the left circle, roofing it past Bjarnason top corner to make it 3-2. Lodewyk's equalizer was a shot from the slot, good for his fourth goal of the season. A quiet barn quickly erupted in a matter of two minutes, as the Raiders tied the score with 5:39 to go in the third.
But with 2:09 left in regulation, Brandon scored a dagger to take a 4-3 lead. Jake Chiasson delivered the final nail with his ninth goal of the season, as the Raiders were stunned.
Pulling the goalies, the Raiders tried to put together one final push, but could not find a late tying goal, as Brandon walked away with the 4-3 win.
Prince Albert falls to 10-16-2-0 with the loss, and will look to stop a three-game losing streak on Friday night when the Regina Pats come to town for teddy bear toss night. Puck drop is 7pm.
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