Prince Albert Raiders fans will get a chance to see one of their future players Wednesday night.
Evan Herman, who signed a Western Hockey League standard player agreement with the team Tuesday, will make his Raiders debut at the Art Hauser Centre as the East Division champions will take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 7 p.m.
A third round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, Herman has spent the last three years with the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg and was a one-time teammate of current Raiders forward Jakob Brook.
The 16-year-old from Winnipeg had 26 points in 30 games this year with Rink’s prep program and had seven points in seven games with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s OCN Blizzard.
“Evan will quickly become a fan favourite in Prince Albert,” Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt said in a statement.
“He’s a tenacious player with great speed. He has skill and plays the game with an edge.”
The 49-8-1-2 Raiders, who are currently on a three-game win streak, will be without the services of Parker Kelly until a home game against the Swift Current Broncos next Tuesday night.
The Ottawa Senators prospect has been handed a three-game suspension for a boarding major and game misconduct penalty he received for a hit on Brandon Wheat Kings forward Marcus Sekundiak during the third period of Saturday’s 7-1 win for the Raiders.
In addition to Wednesday’s contest with the Hurricanes, Kelly will not be in the lineup for Friday’s home matchup with the Red Deer Rebels and Saturday’s road game against the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Pre-Game Notes
The Raiders have won all three head-to-head meetings with the Hurricanes so far this year and have a chance to sweep the season series for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.
Blueliner Max Martin is still listed as day-to-day heading into Wednesday’s game as he’s missed three games since being hit in the head by a puck in a road game against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday, Feb. 16
As a result of a 6-3 loss to the Saskatoon Blades at SaskTel Centre Tuesday night, the 32-18-5-5 Hurricanes saw a three-game win streak come to an end and are now four points back of the Edmonton Oil Kings for the top spot in the WHL’s Central Division.
Jake Elmer and Dylan Cozens have been the hottest players for the Hurricanes as the forwards are on 10 and eight game point streaks respectively.
Former Prince Albert Mintos forward Logan Barlage, who is ranked 211th by NHL Central Scouting for June’s draft in Vancouver, has 33 points in 60 games in his sophomore campaign in the WHL.
Wednesday’s Schedule
- Swift Current vs. Calgary – 12 p.m.
- Lethbridge vs. Prince Albert – 7 p.m.
- Red Deer vs. Regina – 7 p.m.
- Tri-City vs. Kamloops – 9 p.m.
- Spokane vs. Prince George – 9 p.m.
Tuesday’s Scores
- Edmonton 11 Swift Current 1 (Andrew Fyten – Two Goals and Two Assists)
- Red Deer 7 Moose Jaw 3 (Brandon Hagel – Two Goals and Three Assists)
- Saskatoon 6 Lethbridge 4 (Ryan Hughes – Two Goals and Two Assists)
- Spokane 4 Prince George 3 (Jaret Anderson-Dolan Overtime Winner – Rhett Rhinehart – One Goal and One Assist)
Sunday’s Scores
- Moose Jaw 5 Kootenay 1 (Justin Almeida – One Goal and Three Assists)
- Vancouver 2 Victoria 1 (Bowen Byram Overtime Winner – Davis Koch – Two Assists)
