WHL Prince Albert Raiders

Raiders Drop Game 1 in Winnipeg

Published on April 22, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release


Winnipeg, Man. - The Prince Albert Raiders opened their run in the 2022 WHL Playoffs with a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg ICE in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series on Friday night at Wayne Fleming Arena.

Winnipeg now leads the best-of-seven series 1-0.

Reece Vitelli scored the lone goal of the game for the Raiders in the third period. Remy Aquilon and Sloan Stanick drew the assists on the goal.

Winnipeg struck first with 7:57 to play in the first period. Cole Muir took a pass behind the Raiders net. He backhanded a pass into the slot for Jakin Smallwood who lifted his shot over an outstretched Tikhon Chaika to make it 1-0.

Early in the second, Evan Herman nearly scored twice but found the post twice. First, he beat Daniel Hauser but not the right post. Then, he found the crossbar on a five-on-three power play.

Shortly after Winnipeg killed off the penalties, Owen Pederson scored a power-play goal for the ICE. He was able to get Chaika to open up at the left post and slid the puck through the Raiders netminder to give Winnipeg a 2-0 advantage.

Vitelli got the Raiders back within one 1:45 into the final frame. He won the faceoff in the offensive zone to Aquilon at the point. Aquilon fed it to Stanick who put a shot on goal from the top of the right faceoff circle. Vitelli was able to make a jumping deflection in front of Hauser to give the Raiders captain his first goal of the WHL Playoffs, making it a 2-1 contest.

Winnipeg responded quickly with their second power-play marker of the contest. Jack Finley made a tip pass from the slot to Connor McClennon to the left of the net. McClennon was able to one-time it past Chaika to restore their two-goal lead at 3-1.

The Raiders kept pressing for the equalizer through the third period. They had two power-play chances in the final 10 minutes of the contest, but were unable to solve Hauser for a second time.

Chaika finished the game with 27 saves in the loss. Hauser stopped 19 shots to pick up the win.

The Raiders will try to even the series in Game 2 on Saturday night at Wayne Fleming Arena. Game time is 6 p.m. CST. Catch the game on 900 CKBI with Rob Mahon, watch on WHL Live on CHL TV, or head to The Rock and Iron or Original Joe's to take in the action.

The Raiders return to the Art Hauser Centre for Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-seven series on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Puck drop is 7 p.m. CST. Tickets are available at SaskTix.ca.

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