2017-18: 32-27-9-4, 77 points. Fourth in the East Division and second wild-card seed.
-The Prince Albert Raiders took a huge step forward as they went form 49 points to 77 in one season and got back into the playoffs after missing in 2016-17. Then they nearly pulled off a huge upset in taking the Scotty Munro trophy winning Moose Jaw Warriors to seven games before bowing out.
The Raiders fan base is starved for a postseason run as they have either missed the playoffs altogether or been bounced out in the first round every year since 2005.
Offseason departures: Their 1997-born group that has now aged out of the league was a strong one. Forwards Jordy Stallard (91 points), Curtis Miske (64 points) and Regan Nagy (21 points in 31 games with the Raiders) all provided key offense in key moments.
1998-born import defenseman Vojtech Budik returned to play professionally in the Czech Republic after the Buffalo Sabres declined to sign him and let him become a free agent.
Newcomers: The Raiders used their open import spot to bring in 2001-born center Aliaksei Protas. The Raiders also have a trio of 2017 WHL Bantam Draft picks taken in the top-40 in first overall pick, defenseman Kaiden Guhle and second round picks Ozzy Wiesblatt and Jakob Brook trying to earn ice time as rookies. Lane Kirk (00) is also trying for a spot after playing three games with the Raiders last year.
2000-born goalie Donovan Buskey was brought in from Spokane, giving the Raiders another quality netminder.
Overage situation: Kody McDonald, who they brought in from the Prince George Cougars last year is a lock, as is center Sean Montgomery who has missed just 10 games over four seasons with the Raiders coming into 2018-19. That leaves backup goalie Curtis Meger who played well while Ian Scott was injured last year, but historically seems ill placed as an overage backup goalie.
(Photo: Christoper Kelsall, Victoria Sports News)
However, those are the only three in camp right now and while Noah Gregor, whose rights were acquired from Victoria in the offseason, is a possibility to return, he is signed by the San Jose Sharks and could play in the AHL.
Import situation: Sergei Sapego is an incredible play-maker from the blue line and he comes back for what he’s hoping is a full and healthy season. He is joined by Protas who had four assists in five preseason games.
Returning scorers:
| Pts rank | Player | GP | G | A | Pts |
| 43 | Cole Fonstad | 72 | 21 | 52 | 73 |
| 68 | Kody McDonald | 68 | 34 | 32 | 66 |
| 75 | Parker Kelly | 69 | 29 | 30 | 59 |
| 171 | Brett Leason | 66 | 16 | 17 | 33 |
| 182 | Max Martin | 72 | 8 | 24 | 32 |
| 196 | Sean Montgomery | 72 | 12 | 17 | 29 |
Returning goalies
| Player | GP | GAA | Sv % | Record |
| Ian Scott | 50 | 3.10 | 0.897 | 24-16-3-3 |
| Curtis Meger | 27 | 3.43 | 0.886 | 8-10-5-1 |
Forwards:
-Despite the losses, there is a whole lot of play-making and proven production in Prince Albert. Cole Fonstad reads the ice better than anyone in the WHL probably outside of Portland’s Cody Glass. He should improve upon the 52 assists he had a season ago especially with proven strikes like Kody McDonald and Parker Kelly in the Raiders lineup.
Dealing for McDonald had a lot to do with the possibility of his blistering right-handed wrist shot coming back for an overage year and that has now happened. He is now a candidate to reach 50 goals.
Kelly again impressed at Ottawa Senators development camp and is a dark horse candidate to get a taste of the NHL, but not many signed free agents get looks at 19, so that is still against the odds. His hard-work will fit right in on the top-six for P.A. and his production should have an uptick as well.
Leason was a surprise for the Raiders as the large forward found his legs after being dealt over from Tri-City and pitched in 33 points. He, Sean Montgomery and Justin Nachbaur should all figure in the top-six as well. Leason and Nachbaur were great in the preseason with seven points apiece.
Also nabbing seven in the preseason was former second round pick, 2000-born center Spencer Moe. The 5-foot-6 play-maker has yet to find consistency in production but if he and fellow high 2015 draft pick Carson Miller do, this Raiders team gets a whole lot more dangerous.
Protas, Nikita Krivokrasov and the 16-year-olds Brook and Wiesblatt all figure in there somewhere as well.
Defense:
-They were an oft overlooked unit last year. While Budik did a lot for them and is now gone, like Swift Current a year ago, there is a whole lot of familiarity in this group and that has to be a large key to success for them. Martin and Zack Hayes have played with each other off and on for several seasons and Hayes plays the shutdown role extremely well, while Martin is free to jump up and crate.
Brayden Pachal, the new team captain has a lot of raw potential and found it in the postseason. He was someone the Warriors were game planning for by the midpoint of the series. He even found himself getting some NHL interest after the season ended.
Sapego also creates offense and he could be a difference maker as he gets the puck to a skilled forward group in opportune situations.
Konrad Belcourt and Jeremy Masella provide some depth, as do the rookies Guhle and Kirk.
Goalies:
-Scott is getting all kinds of talk as a potential WHL goalie of the year. He had a late start to last year and still stole quite a few games for the Raiders. Last postseason was also a learning experience for him as he gave up five goals to the impressive Warriors attack in the series-deciding seventh game.
Sometimes losses like that are stepping stones to better performances in situations like that in later years. Scott could well have that opportunity this year.
The recently acquired Buskey is still in camp, complicating the Meger as an overage backup storyline. Buskey has played plenty of games in the WHL to play the backup role on a contender, making Meger expendable if Gregor or another overage option comes along.
Outlook:
-The offense, defense and goaltending are there for the Raiders to have a shot at 40-plus wins and more importantly get past the first round for the first time in 14 years. They are helped by how much the Regina Pats, Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos went for it all a season ago and how much they are depleted now.
If Gregor does come back to the WHL, head coach Marc Habscheid could have the firepower to make a deep run like he did with the Kelowna Rockets.
The Raiders are an interesting combination of some high-end talent, some older players who have found their legs with the team and some high-end 16-year-olds.
While there is still some danger in the East Division in the Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades, neither has quite the breadth of talent across all three areas of the team that the Raiders sport.
This could very well be a season to remember at the Art Hauser Centre.
