Raiders prepare for upcoming WHL championship

(Courtesy: Prince Albert Raiders)

After winning the Eastern Conference final over the weekend, the Prince Albert Raiders are preparing for the WHL championship which kicks off Friday against the Everett Silvertips.

The Raiders returned to Prince Albert victorious after defeating the Medicine Hat Tigers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final. Players took a moment for high fives and photos with some of the younger fans upon the bus’s return.

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“It’s good to celebrate with everybody and give each other hugs and hold the trophy, look at the trophy,” said forward Riley Boychuk. “But then at the end of the day, once we were out of the room, we knew the job wasn’t finished and we’re not done.”

Boychuk helped push the Raiders to the win, scoring twice in game 6 including the game winner. His second and third goals of the playoffs.

“Got the last one there… for us to get the momentum back,” he said. “That’s everybody. That wasn’t just me… glad those two goals came.”

After less than two days in town, the Raiders will head out again Wednesday to face the Everett Silvertips for Game 1.

During the regular season the teams only met once, with the game going to the Raiders 4-1. The Prince Albert team has seen some changes to the lineup since, with additions like Braeden Cootes and Brandon Gorzynski.

“We only see each other once a year,” said Head Coach Ryan McDonald. “You put stock in the video and in previous games that were played, and we did see them once at the start of the season. So, you know, looking at that tape. But again, these are two teams that have changed from that date that we did play.”

The regular season ended with the Raiders trailing the top ranked Silvertips by seven points. For the first time in this playoff run the Raiders will be the underdog - needing to win at least one game on the road for a chance at the Ed Chenoweth Cup.

The last time the Raiders won the cup was 2019.