The youngest player and the second-oldest player on the Prince Albert Raiders roster have both been honoured by the club as part of their year-end awards.
Blueliner Terrell Goldsmith received the George Cowie Award for Rookie of the Year on Thursday, while overage forward Justin Nachbaur took home the Players Choice Award.
Goldsmith, who is from Fort St. John, B.C. and turned 16 years old last Thursday, was called up by the Raiders on March 24 and made his debut for the team five days later against the Saskatoon Blades.
The 15th overall selection in last year’s WHL Draft had two goals in 14 games and was a physical force on the blueline as soon as he joined the lineup.
“It was a big change making the transition to the WHL, but the Raiders organization helped and supported me through that,” Goldsmith said in a video that was posted on the Raiders website. “I’m very grateful for being invited to the hub (in Regina) and having this opportunity.”
Goldsmith is the first blueliner to earn the rookie of the year accolade since Kaiden Guhle shared the honors with Ozzy Wiesblatt in 2019.
Tomas Andrlik was the last defenceman to win the award prior to Guhle in 2014.
Nachbaur is the third overager in a row to receive the Player’s Choice accolade, which is voted on by the team and given to the player that best exemplifies what it means to be a Raider.
Zack Hayes and Sean Montgomery had won the award during the final seasons with the club.
“I’d like to say thank you to all of my teammates who voted for me to get this award,” Nachbaur said.
“It’s a privilege to be a Prince Albert Raider. You have to have a winning mentality, do anything for your teammates and do the things that no one else is willing to do.”
Nachbaur had 15 points in 22 games for the Raiders in the 2020-21 campaign and also led the league in penalty minutes with 62.
The Raiders will conclude their year-end awards on Friday as they’ll announce the winner of the Jim Neilson Award for defenceman of the year and the Orland Kurtenbach Award for most valuable player.
