Raiders land biggest fish in Cootes before trade deadline

-

January 10, 2026

Raiders land biggest fish in Cootes before trade deadline

Curtis Hunt went deep like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. when it came to this year’s WHL trade deadline.

The WHL trade deadline is passed on Thursday at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time. A total of nine deals were made on the deadline day itself, and pretty much all those transactions equate to a team sending a player to another team in hopes of getting more ice time and a restart.

On Tuesday, the Raiders executed their final deal before the deadline and it was a blockbuster. They landed Seattle Thunderbirds captain in 18-year-old centre Braeden Cootes. Cootes just finished helping Canada win bronze at the world juniors that wrapped up on Monday in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Cootes started the campaign playing three regular season games with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks selected the Sherwood Park, Alta., product in the first round and 15^th overall in the NHL Entry Draft held last June. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks on July 9, 2025.

After being returned to the Thunderbirds, Cootes appeared in 17 regular season games posting 10 goals, 13 assists and a plus-three rating in the plus-minus department before departing to join Canada’s squad for world juniors. He had a pair of goals in seven games for Canada at world juniors.

Last season, Cootes, who stands 6-feet and weighs 183 pounds, became one of the youngest captains in the history of the Thunderbirds as a 17-year-old sophomore. He appeared in 60 regular season games posting 26 goals, 37 assists and a plus-five rating. The Thunderbirds fell in six games in a best-of-seven first round series in the WHL Playoffs to the Everett Silvertips, and Cootes had two goals and six assists in that series.

The arrival of Cootes in “Hockey Town North” was a big addition for Hunt, who is the Raiders long time astute general manager. The deal to land Cootes saw 12 pieces get moved between the Raiders and Thunderbirds.

Cootes went to Prince Albert along with a fourth and sixth round selections in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft and a conditional second round selection in the 2028 Prospects Draft. The Raiders sent centre Ethan Bibeau, who turned 19-years-old on January 1, to Seattle along with 16-year-old prospect forward Knox Burton, 16-year-old prospect defenceman Diego Gutierrez and 15-year-old prospect forward Tripp Fischer.

The Thunderbirds also received a quartet of Prospects Draft picks from the Raiders including first round selections in 2026 and 2028, a second round selection in 2026 and a third round selection in 2027.

Bibeau, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 191 pounds, battled injuries early in the campaign appearing in 15 regular season games with the Raiders posting one goal, four assists and a minus-two rating. He made his debut with the Thunderbirds on Wednesday recording one goal, one assist and a plus-two rating in a 6-3 victory over the Hurricanes in Lethbridge.

Outside of the trade to get Cootes, the Raiders sent 18-year-old left-winger Oli Chenier to the Hurricanes on Monday for a fourth round selection in the 2026 Prospects Draft. Chenier had three goals, 10 assists and a plus-seven rating in 30 regular season games in the current campaign with the Raiders before being dealt.

On Wednesday, the Raiders reassigned 19-year-old netminder Dimitri Fortin to a team to be determined. Fortin posted a 13-2-1 record, a 2.99 goals against average, a .883 save percentage and one shutout in 17 regular season games in the current campaign with the Raiders.

The Raiders elected to keep rookie Steele Bass, who turned 18-years-old last Sunday, as the backup to 18-year-old import rookie Michal Orsulak, who helped Czechia win silver at world juniors along with Raiders defenceman Matyas Man. Bass started the campaign with the Battlefords North Stars in Junior A and has won all four of his starts with the Raiders entering play Friday posting a 1.75 goals against average, a .916 save percentage and one shutout.

Entering play on Friday, the Raiders sat first in the WHL’s East Division with a 27-5-4 mark, were tied with the Edmonton Oil Kings (27-7-3-1) for third in the overall WHL standings and were rated third in the latest CHL Top 10 Rankings that were released on Tuesday. The addition of Cootes shows the Raiders believe they can compete for a WHL title this season and are hoping the skilled centre will be the piece that further cements an already strong lineup.

Prince Albert’s trade for Cootes was by far the biggest deal that occurred heading towards the WHL trade deadline. This is also the first season the trade deadline has passed in the current era of the WHL which all teams are still getting a feel for after a number of potential returning players jumped to the NCAA this past summer.

It felt like teams weren’t as anxious to pull the trigger on a blockbuster type deal like has happened in the past. On the trade deadline that passed on January 10, 2018 as part of the 2017-18 campaign where the Regina Pats hosted the CHL championship tournament – the Memorial Cup, a total of 17 trades were made on the deadline day itself, and it was easy to lose count of how many blockbuster moves were made between January 1 to January 10 of that year.

It seems like teams in the WHL are well aware they can’t do roster projections for three years out like they did in the past and that reloads could occur more quickly in the current day. The caution that you might not be able to have players for three or four seasons like you did in the past likely put a freeze on making blockbuster moves resulting in most deals seeing a player get moved for a Prospects Draft selection or two in the hopes of getting more ice time.

Still, there were some blockbuster moves. On Monday, the Vancouver Giants dealt 18-year-old high-scoring right-winger Cameron Schmidt to the Thunderbirds in exchange for 18-year-old defenceman Kaleb Hartmann, a first round selection in the 2026 Prospects Draft, second and fifth round picks in the 2027 Prospects Draft and first and fourth round selections in the 2028 Prospects Draft.

In the Eastern Conference that the Raiders play out of, arguably the biggest high-profile deal outside of the Cootes trade was the Oil Kings getting 20-year-old star offensive-defenceman Carter Sotheran from the Portland Winterhawks. Edmonton sent Seattle 20-year-old defenceman Niko Tsakumis, a first round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft and a fourth round selection in the 2028 Prospects Draft in return.

On Wednesday, the Medicine Hat Tigers, who entered play Friday with a slim lead in the WHL’s Eastern Conference, acquired breakout 19-year-old high scoring right-winger Luke Cozens and a conditional fourth round selection in the 2028 Prospects Draft for 18-year-old defenceman Kyle Heger and a conditional fourth round pick in the 2028 Prospects Draft. That move was the Tigers offensive counter to the Raiders adding Cootes.

Also on Wednesday, the Swift Current Broncos dealt 17-year-old breakout star import centre Noah Kosick to the Thunderbirds for 17-year-old left-winger Brendan Rudolph, a first round pick in the 2026 Prospects Draft and a fourth round selection in the 2027 Prospects Draft.

While you could say about four other deals were significant, action leading to this year’s trade deadline was a lot quieter on the blockbuster front outside of the Raiders move to get Cootes. Now, the Raiders will look to have some luck in factors they can’t control like the injury bug, and it looks like Prince Albert is in for an exciting time for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.

Darren Steinke is a Saskatoon-based freelance sportswriter and photographer with more than 25 years of experience covering the WHL. He blogs frequently at stankssermon.blogspot.com.

Raiders hope to find next Hannoun

Darren Steinke

-

January 7, 2026

0

The Prince Albert Raiders would love to relive the Dante Hannoun trade and the moments that came in the months after it.

Way back on January 3, 2019, the Raiders sat on top of the entire WHL standings and were looking for a way to slightly tweak their roster without throwing any wrenches into the chemistry that had been built. On that day, they acquired 20-year-old centre Dante Hannoun, a fourth round pick and an eighth round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft from the Victoria Royals in exchange for 20-year-old centre Kody McDonald, 18-year-old centre Carson Miller and a third round selection in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. The deal came seven days before that season’s WHL trade deadline.

Hannoun, who stands 5-foot-6 and weighs 160 pounds, had been a high-scoring career WHL member of the Royals until coming to “Hockey Town North.” In just a little over five months as a member of the Raiders before exhausting his WHL eligibility, Hannoun appeared in 28 regular season games with the club posting 10 goals, 21 assists and a plus-16 rating in the plus-minus department. Prince Albert topped the WHL’s overall standings with a 54-10-2-2 record.

Hannoun skated in all 23 contests the Raiders played in the 2019 WHL Playoffs recording 14 goals, 10 assists and a plus-11 rating. He tied for the team high in game-winning goals at four with Brett Leason and Noah Gregor, but everyone who lives in Prince Albert knows one of Hannoun’s winners overshadowed all the others.

On May 13, 2019, the Raiders hosted Game 7 of the WHL Championship Series against the Vancouver Giants in front of a sellout crowd of 3,289 spectators at the storied and historic 2,580-seat Art Hauser Centre. Locked in a 2-2 with 1:35 remaining in overtime, Hannoun tapped home a backdoor feed at the right side of the Giants net that came from Gregor to deliver the Raiders to a 3-2 victory in the game and a 4-3 win in the series.

The Raiders became WHL champions for the second time in team history capturing the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Hannoun became one of the all-time heroes in the history of the franchise scoring what is still the most memorable goal in the history of the Hauser. While he was in Prince Albert for a relatively short time in his WHL career, it can be argued that Hannoun is most remembered for being a member of the Raiders over being a member of the Royals.

On top of fitting in on the ice, the Delta, B.C., product fit in well inside the Raiders dressing room and into the community of Prince Albert and surrounding area. It felt like he had been a career member of the Raiders, and he only spent a relatively short amount of time in Prince Albert.

In the current 2025-26 campaign, the Raiders top the WHL’s East Division with a 27-5-4 mark and sit third overall in the league. The top four teams in the WHL are tightly packed together with the Everett Silvertips leading the way with a 29-5-2-1 mark. They sit two points ahead of the Medicine Hat Tigers (27-6-3-2), three points up on the Raiders and five points in front of the Edmonton Oil Kings (26-7-3-1).

In the latest CHL Top 10 Rankings that were released on Tuesday, the Silvertips were rated second, while the Raiders were third, the Oil Kings were sixth and the Tigers came in at eighth.

It feels like the Raiders have really good chemistry again this season. If they could find someone that brought the on ice package and all the intangibles like Hannoun did in the 2018-19 campaign, that could be the add that pushes them on to some special things.

There are those out there that believe that teams near the top of the WHL standings need to make multiple moves to push their team to new heights. A lot of times, the quality of making one good move is better than making three or four moves.

Of course, it is hard to go out to find and make a deal to get all-around quality guys like Hannoun. It is possible the Raiders might have already done that.

In December, they made deals to acquire left-winger Maddix McCagherty and Brandon Gorzynski from the Wenatchee Wild and Calgary Hitmen respectively. McCagherty, who is 19-years-old, has recorded five goals, 10 assists and a plus-12 rating in 12 games in his new surroundings with the Raiders. That has been by far the best 12-game stretch in his WHL career.

Gorzynski, who is 18-years-old, has recorded four goals, seven assists and a plus-five rating in his first six games with the Raiders. He is building off a solid 17-year-old season in 2024-25 with the Hitmen where he appeared in all the team’s 68 regular season contests posting 17 goals, 25 assists and a plus-27 rating.

Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt has always been good at getting deals done in the months leading up to the WHL trade deadline. WHL general managers are always smarter to do things in that manner, because the price to acquire good players gets that much more steep the closer you get to the trade deadline.

The WHL trade deadline is slated for Thursday at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time. The Raiders are sitting in a good place, but if they can find maybe one more piece that adds to the mix they have, it would make for a sweet development.

McKenna debate heats up after world juniors, other notes

He got 14 points and was a plus-seven in seven games at world juniors, but the debate about if Gavin McKenna will go first overall in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft is still up in the air.

After Canada fell 6-4 to Czechia in a semifinal on Sunday in Saint Paul, Minnesota, I wrote a post on various social media platforms that said, “Gavin McKenna is a good player. He was an outstanding player when he was coached by Willie Desjardins and played for the Medicine Hat Tigers. I know this may hurt some feelings, but sorry, not sorry.”

Watching broadcasts of games at world juniors up to that point, it felt like McKenna proved his media critics that watched the skilled left-winger play the first half of the 2025-26 campaign with the NCAA’s Penn State University Nittany Lions right. That played out sharply in the loss to Czechia, where McKenna had one assist and took some bad penalties inside the last six minutes of the third period.

On the eye test, McKenna didn’t look good during five-on-five play and made business decisions bowing away from spots where he had to compete and battle for the puck. The fact he lost his cool after Czechia’s empty-net goal inside the final 30 seconds of that game where he got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a 10-minute misconduct didn’t help things.

There were media staffers in Canada and lots of people chiming in on various social media lines basically echoing what media staffers that cover NCAA hockey have been saying for about the last two month-and-a-half months. Again, ESPN reported last July that McKenna’s Name Image and Likeness money for attending Penn State is “in the ballpark” of US$700,000. That development makes him full game for criticism as he is basically a professional at this point, because the money says he is.

With that said, there are visible above and beyond prospects like a Macklin Celebrini or a Connor Bedard in this coming NHL Entry Draft to be held this coming June 26 to 27 at a location to be determined. McKenna, who turned 18-years-old on December 20, 2025, might still be the first overall pick based on the potential of his incredible offensive skill.

Keaton Verhoeff, who plays for the NCAA’s University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, is a 17-year-old defenceman that is phenomenal on the back end and has been viewed as someone who can overtake McKenna as the first overall pick. Verhoeff played for Canada at world juniors, and it felt like the Canadian coaches gave him minutes of a young guy they were trying to protect before letting him play more as the event went on. He collected four assists and a plus-four rating at world juniors.

Ivar Stenberg, who is a skilled 18-year-old forward, played a key role in helping Sweden win gold at world juniors with a 7-0 record. In seven games, Stenberg collected four goals, six assists and a plus-five rating. He had two assists and the empty-net goal in Sweden’s 4-2 gold medal game win over Czechia on Monday in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Stenberg has been tabbed as potentially being a first overall selection. He made gains with his play especially in the gold medal game to help increase the debate of the first overall pick.

One also wonders if McKenna heard the noise. In Canada’s 6-3 bronze medal win over Finland on Monday in Saint Paul, he looked a lot more dialed in when it came to playing a strong game at both ends of the ice. He finished with one goal and three assists to be named the game MVP for Canada.

When he rejoins the Nittany Lions, the question becomes will we see the McKenna from the first half of the current campaign or the McKenna that was outstanding for the Tigers playing under the team’s legendary head coach and general manager in Desjardins?

It feels like McKenna will ultimately be like Mitch Marner being a solid point a game player in the NHL, but he will not be a bus driver like Connor McDavid, Raiders alum Leon Draisaitl, Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin that wills a team to victory.

It looks like NHL scouting staffs are going to engage in some lively debates over the next six months.

On Tuesday, the Portland Winterhawks dealt 20-year-old defenceman Carter Sotheran to the Oil Kings for 20-year-old defenceman Niko Tsakumis, a first round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft and a fourth round selection in the 2028 Prospects Draft. Sotheran, who is a long time star offensive-defenceman, has six goals and 31 assists in 37 games with the Winterhawks this season.
On Tuesday, the Memorial Cup hosting Kelowna Rockets dealt 18-year-old defenceman William Sharpe to the Vancouver Giants for centre and team captain Ty Halaburda and second and fourth round selections in the 2028 Prospects Draft. Sharpe is a solid defender, while Halaburda can put up points as a forward.
On Tuesday, the Oil Kings shipped 19-year-old defenceman Parker Alcos, a third round pick in the 2026 Prospects Draft and a seventh round selection in the 2028 Prospects draft to the Rockets for a first round pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, a third round pick in the 2026 Prospects Draft and a second round selection in the 2027 Prospects Draft. Alcos, who was drafted in 2024 by the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, has been a solid defensive defenceman.

Darren Steinke is a Saskatoon-based freelance sportswriter and photographer with more than 20 years of experience covering the WHL. He blogs frequently at stankssermon.blogspot.com.

Last dance underway for Grassick with Huskies

Darren Steinke

-

January 1, 2026

0

Last dance underway for Grassick with Huskies

SASKATOON, Sask. – The last time is now Gage Grassick, when it comes to her career with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Basketball Team.

Entering the current 2025-26 campaign, the 23-year-old fifth-year point guard has cemented herself as one of the all-time greats in the history of the Huskies program. The Prince Albert product is playing her final U Sports season and is living up to the lofty heights she established in the past.

In helping the Huskies get out to a 10-0 start in regular season play, Grassick is averaging 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. Her points per game total ranks second in the Canada West Conference, and her assists per game total tops the conference.

The Huskies regular season resumes on January 9, 2026, when they travel to Edmonton to face the U of Alberta Pandas (10-0). If the Huskies make it back to the U Sports title game looking to repeat as champs, that contest will be played on March 8, 2026 at the Universite Laval in Quebec City. Grassick’s time as an active player with the Huskies is limited to about two-and-a-half months, and that reality is in the back of her mind.

“It is so special being able to play on a team like this for five years,” said Grassick. “I was a COVID kid, so this is my sixth year on the team.

“It is just so special. Something like this you never want to give up. This team, this culture, the atmosphere, the coaches just make you better every single game (and) every single practice.

“Now that it is kind of nearing the end, it is one of those things that you don’t really think about, but you’re just so grateful for every moment.”

Grassick officially joined the Huskies in the fall of 2020 after graduating from Carlton Comprehensive High School in June of that same year. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world, she started taking the court for the Huskies when all of U Sports was allowed to return to action in the 2021-22 campaign.

Last season, Grassick had a dream campaign. On March 16, Grassick fired home a game high 35 points to go with seven assists, seven rebounds and three steals in an 85-66 victory over the Carleton University Ravens in the U Sports title game held at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, B.C. She was named the MVP of the U Sports Championship Tournament and a tournament all-star.

That alone could have been the highlight of the season, but Grassick seemingly won every individual award she could on the campaign. She was named a Canada West first team all-star, the Canada West player of the year, a U Sports first team all-Canadian all-star, the Nan Copp Award winner as the U Sports player of the year, the Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy winner as the Huskies female athlete of the year, and the Lois Mitchell Award winner as the overall U Sports female athlete of the year.

“It was special, but none of that would have been possible without my teammates,” said Grassick, who stands 5-foot-8. “I will say this every time every credit and every award I won is not an individual award.

Photo by Darren Steinke
Gage Grassick makes a pass transitioning the ball up the court for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Basketball Team in a U Sports regular season contest on November 22 at the Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon. Grassick has one semester to play in her storied career with the Huskies.

“It is a team award, and you can’t win those personal accolades without your team. We were so special last year that there were 10 people on the team that could have won every single one of those awards as well. At the end of the day, that is why we were ending up with that Bronze Baby in our hands, and that is just what made us so incredible.”

With all that Grassick has accomplished in her career, legendary Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis is trying to block out the fact the star guard is about to start her final semester with the team to begin a stretch run that ends her career.

“I don’t want to think about that at all,” said Thomaidis. “She has been an absolutely incredible athlete, player, but probably most important and most valuable for us is her leadership.

“Just her positivity, she makes everyone else better. Her impact on this team over the course of her career has been immense. She is the engine that drives our team.”

Thomaidis said Grassick is building off what she accomplished a season ago in the current campaign.

“Last year, she really peaked at the end of the season,” said Thomaidis. “She was absolutely outstanding in the Can-West Championship and National Championship and played at another level.

“Earlier in the (2024-25) season, she was obviously very good, but at the end, she was incredible. I do think she has picked up where she has left off. She shot the ball really well.

“Again, she is just so smart like the passes that she delivers right on people’s hands when they need it (and) where they need it. She just contributes in so many different ways at both ends of the court. It is just seldom that you ever see a player have so many ways that she can hurt (the opponent).”

Grassick did experience heartbreak the first time she went to a U Sports title game with the Huskies. On March 10, 2024 at the Saville Centre in Edmonton, the Huskies dropped a 70-67 decision to the Ravens in the U Sports final. That loss made the Huskies victory a year later in a rematch between those two squads feel that much sweeter.

“That is what every athlete dreams of when that buzzer hits, zeroes (on the clock) and you get to see that trophy walk out,” said Grassick, who is studying in U of S’s College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. “It is all the work that has paid off.

“You see your teammates every single day in the gym working not only in the basketball gym, but in the weight room and mentally and physically. It is just all those things that people don’t see behind closed doors that athletes do work towards. It has just been so special just to see that.

“Last year, we were so grateful to win that and hoping to put in that work to hopefully see the same outcome. (We are) just focusing each day on getting better.”

While playing for the Huskies, Grassick said the players strive to grow as people and be positive members of the community. She hopes what she has been able to do will help inspire the communities she has lived in and the players that are coming up in the game.

Away from the Huskies, Grassick represented Canada for the first time this past summer on the international stage. She helped Canada’s women’s team win bronze at the FIBA U23 3×3 Nations League competition played in Chile in July. On August 17, Grassick was a member of Canada’s women’s 3×3 team that beat Mexico 18-13 to win gold at the Junior Pan American Games in Luque, Paraguay.

Photo by Darren Steinke
Gage Grassick hits an inside jumper for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Basketball Team in a U Sports regular season contest on November 22 at the Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon. Grassick has one semester to play in her storied career with the Huskies.

With those experiences under her belt, Grassick has had people ask her about turning professional once her Huskies days are done. For now, she is focusing on the present.

“To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it much,” said Grassick. “(I am) kind of just trying to keep this year in the vision and not look too far ahead.

“(I am) soaking up every moment and never regretting looking in the future. Everyone kind of asks me, and at the moment, I really don’t have an answer, which is unfortunate. (I am) just taking it one day at a time, and then afterwards just seeing what opportunities present themselves.”

Darren Steinke is a Saskatoon-based freelance sportswriter and photographer. He blogs frequently at stankssermon.blogspot.com.

USask centre Pillar reflects fondly on his Mintos days

Darren Steinke

-

December 25, 2025

0

USask centre Pillar reflects fondly on his Mintos days

Centre aims to catch fire again with Huskies

SASKATOON, Sask. – Josh Pillar will always crack a smile when someone brings up his one full season stand with the Prince Albert Mintos Under-18 AAA Team.

In the current day, Pillar is a 23-year-old veteran centre playing out his third season with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The Warman product played a key role for the Huskies in the 2024-25 campaign culminating in the squad’s 19^th Canada West Conference championship win this past March.

Pillar is no stranger to lengthy post-season runs. During his 15-year-old season in 2017-18, he experienced one of those in “Hockey Town North.”

After suiting up with the Mintos as an associate player call up for two games in the 2016-17 season, Pillar joined the Mintos on a full-time basis for the following campaign. He helped the Mintos finish third overall in the SMAAAHL regular season standings with 32 wins, nine losses and three extra time losses.

In the 2018 post-season, the Mintos proceeded to sweep their archrivals the Saskatoon Contacts 3-0 in a best-of-five SMAAAHL quarter-final series. Prince Albert pulled the booms out again to sweep away the Regina Pat Canadians 3-0 in a best-of-five SMAAAHL semifinal series.

The Mintos run came to an end in the best-of-five SMAAAHL Championship Series where they were swept 3-0 by the Notre Dame Hounds. All three of those contests were tightly contested with the Hounds pulling off respective victories of 3-1, 3-2 and 3-2.

The Hounds would advance on to win the Telus Cup as under-18 AAA national champions. At the moment, 2018 marks the last time the Mintos made the SMAAAHL final.

“I just remember we had a really good team,” said Pillar. “We were deep.

“There were a bunch of guys that I didn’t really know, and I thought we came together well. We all got along, and I remember my linemates were really good. (We had) good goaltending.

“I think it all just kind of clicked, and we played well.”

Individually, Pillar topped the Mintos in scoring with 50 points coming off 21 goals and 29 assists appearing in all of the club’s 44 regular season outings. He picked up nine points coming off two goals and seven assists in the nine contests the Mintos played in the SMAAAHL playoffs. The talented forward remembers his self-belief was really high during his time in Prince Albert.

“I think just kind of coming out of my second year at bantam I kind of gained some confidence from that year,” said Pillar, who stands 6-feet and weighs 180 pounds. “I was just kind of able to play with more confidence, and I think just playing with really skilled players helps too.”

Looking back on those days, Pillar thought it was pretty cool the Mintos had their own solid following in Prince Albert. He enjoyed attending classes at Carlton Comprehensive High School and just having to walk next door to the neighbouring Art Hauser Centre for practices and games. While he wasn’t in Prince Albert for the longest time, Pillar will always speak highly of the time that he spent there.

“I really liked it,” said Pillar. “You had like pretty decent fans like for midget.

“I liked the high school that I went to. I was used to going to the little kind of high school in Warman, so it was cool kind of just going to a bigger school with a bunch of people I didn’t know. I really enjoyed my time in P.A.”

Following that one season with the Mintos, Pillar moved on to play five complete seasons in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers and Saskatoon Blades. He had been selected by the Blazers in the first round and 14^th overall in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.

Pillar played well enough that after his third full season with the Blazers he was selected in the fourth round and 127^th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2021-22 campaign before the WHL’s trade deadline that season on January 17, 2022, Pillar was dealt by the Blazers to the Blades to be closer to home and his family to recover from a private medical situation.

He dressed for 46 regular season games played between the Blazers and Blades in 2021-22 and missed 40 of the Blades regular season games due to injuries and ailments in 2022-23. Pillar did play 17 of the Blades 18 outings in the 2023 WHL Playoffs as they advanced to the WHL Eastern Conference Championship Series and were swept by the Winnipeg Ice.

When his WHL days concluded, Pillar elected to join the Huskies, because he felt it was still best for him to be closer to his family.

“I knew I was going to kind of go to U Sports after the WHL,” said Pillar. “A couple of schools reached out, but I think it was best for me to kind of just be at home around my family.

“A few buddies I knew played on the team, and I knew they had like a good culture and a lot of success. I did want to come here. I think I was still definitely battling some things when I made my decision.

“I think just being around family was a big thing for me, and I think it was good for my mental state and just good for me overall. I was comfortable here. That is kind of why I decided to do that.”

During his rookie season with the Huskies in 2023-24, Pillar appeared in 16 regular season games collecting five goals and nine assists. In the Huskies Canada West title winning campaign last season, Pillar suited up for all of the team’s 28 regular season contests recording seven goals and 17 assists. Huskies head coach Brandin Cote said Pillar played a major part in that conference championship winning season.

“He was huge to have him play the role that he did and contribute offensively,” said Cote. “He plays physical.

“He plays hard. I’ve been happy with his play for the most part throughout the year. If you look at his stats, that is one indicator of it, but I don’t really think that paints the whole picture, especially lately.

“He has been playing really well. (It is) good for him to get going and get some mojo, because that is going to be important for him to have confidence.”

This season, Pillar had one goal in his first nine outings with the Huskies, but he recorded three goals in his last three games before the club went on its Christmas break. Cote said Pillar has been bringing a strong effort out onto the ice this season but has been snakebitten around the net.

“He (Pillar) has been playing really well,” said Cote. “He has been competing.

“He is making really good plays with the puck. He has had some really good chances, so for him, it is nice to see him start to get rewarded, because he is a fantastic player for us. He is going to be an important guy coming down the stretch, so it is good to see him get a little confidence there with that.”

Cote has continued to show faith in Pillar during the slow start, which has included continuing to give the skilled centre minutes on the power play. Pillar knows he could have been pulled off of that unit, and he cherishes those opportunities.

“I really appreciate kind of Coder (Cote) sticking with me and believing in me,” said Pillar. “I can’t thank him enough for doing that.

“I hope I can keep kind of producing for him and the team. It would be good for everybody including myself.”

Pillar’s biggest memory with the Huskies came on March 9, when they blanked the Mount Royal University Cougars 3-0 in a series deciding Game 3 of the Canada West Championship Series before a record crowd of 3,013 spectators at Merlis Belsher Place. The Huskies currently sit fourth overall in the Canada West standings with an 11-4-0-1 record and will resume their regular season when they travel to Winnipeg to play the University of Manitoba Bisons on January 9.

As the campaign continues on, Pillar would love to see the Huskies win the Canada West title again and maybe move on to help the program capture a second U Sports championship, with the first coming back in 1983.

“I think we definitely have the squad to do it,” said Pillar. “We didn’t really lose like a whole lot of pieces from last year.

“I think a lot of guys we brought in are really good and guys have stepped up. I think there is a chance we can do it this year for sure. I think we just have to kind of play how we can and just kind of go from there.”

Darren Steinke is a Saskatoon-based freelance sportswriter and photographer. He blogs frequently at stankssermon.blogspot.com.

Hauser gets well-deserved nod as toughest road building in WHL player poll

News
Sports

Darren Steinke

-

December 24, 2025

0

Hauser gets well-deserved nod as toughest road building in WHL player poll

The faithful of the Prince Albert Raiders got an early Christmas gift courtesy of the WHL.

On Monday, the WHL released the results of a midseason player survey with regards to the question of what is the most difficult building to play in as the road team. More than 300 players from all of the WHL’s 23 clubs cast votes and the Prince Albert Raiders legendary home in the Art Hauser Centre came away with the title as the toughest building for the road team to play in at 22.9 per centre. The Hauser just edged the Everett Silvertips home barn in the Angel of the Winds Arena, which came in second at 22.2 per cent.

The WHL has made it a habit to do these midseason player surveys where the results of the various questions asked to the players are released during the circuit’s Christmas break. Last season, the Hauser came in second on that exact same question as 15.6 per cent of players said it was the toughest road building to play in. The Angel of the Winds Arena topped last year’s survey with 25.4 per cent of the votes.

It should be noted the Silvertips really do have an outstanding home ice advantage in their rink. If you are a junior hockey fan, getting to Everett to see a Silvertips game is a bucket list item.

If you want a recent example of how good Everett’s home rink is, all you have to do is check out video of their home win last Friday, where they scored twice in the last 71 seconds of the third period and again in overtime to rally for a 3-2 victory over the Prince George Cougars. The 6,073 spectators at that contest nearly blew the roof of the Angel of the Winds Arena.

With that said, you know the fans of the Raiders are going to love the fact their home rink topped a player survey as the WHL’s toughest road rink to play in. It adds reinforcement to Raiders supporters in “Hockey Town North” that they are making a difference with their support in helping their team win games.

Currently, the Raiders top the WHL’s Eastern Conference and sit second in the circuit’s overall standings with a 23-5-4 mark. They are 10-1-2 at the Art Hauser Centre for the league’s second best home winning percentage at .846.

You can almost imagine someone in the Saskatoon Blades office saying, “Please don’t let Raiders fans know they are having a positive impact on their team during games.”

Truth be told, the Hauser has become one of the storied shrines for junior hockey being the home of a Raiders club that is a legacy franchise. The four Centennial Cup wins as national champions from the club’s junior A days and two WHL titles and one Memorial Cup triumph as CHL champions reinforces the legacy franchise title.

Kevin Jordan, who is a fan of the OHL’s London Knights and is from London, Ont., made it his life mission to see a game in every CHL venue starting in 2003. The only rink he hasn’t seen a game in out of the 61 CHL venues is the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, B.C., which is home to the Vees. The Vees are currently playing their first season in the WHL after leaving the junior A ranks.

Out of the 60 venues he has visited in the CHL, Jordan rated the Hauser as the fourth best rink to see a game in and the top building in the WHL to see a contest in. He gave high marks for how well he was treated by the Raiders faithful during his stop in Prince Albert.

Dayton Reimer from The Hockey Writers site also gave the Hauser high praise for being a great venue to watch a game from.

During my travels through the WHL circuit, I’ve run into numerous media members who have come to work in Saskatchewan for a short stay, and they often tell me one of their bucket list things is to attend a Raiders game as a ticket buyer at the Hauser. For junior fans, the Hauser has become a tourist rink stop where you have to go see a Raiders game in.

On top of the Raiders having many great moments at the Hauser, it has become well-known for having an atmosphere that is second to none. You step into the Hauser, and it feels like you are in a true junior hockey facility. The concessions always get high praise, and it is common for coaches from visiting teams to stack up on orders of burgers, fries and hot dogs as part of a pre-game routine.

Just hearing things like “The Song in Prince Albert is Go Raiders Go” echoing through the Hauser’s rafters in its traditional form by Russ Gurr or in its rock cut by Barry Mihilewicz adds to the uniqueness of the experience of going to a Raiders game. From that aspect, you get reminded the Raiders are more than just a hockey team to Prince Albert and the surrounding area.

Plus, how many memories have been made at post-game gatherings inside the Ches Leach Lounge. Those gatherings allow for further community connection.

Attending games at the Hauser also brings back memories and the ghost images of players who have suited up for the Raiders since they first took the ice in 1971. When you step into the Hauser, it feels like you can still see the likes of Alvin Moore, Theran Welsh, Dan Hodgson, Dave Pasin, Dave Manson, Mike Modano, Kyle Chipchura, Leon Draisaitl, Josh Morrissey, Parker Kelly, Sean Montgomery and Max Hildebrand out there playing.

It feels like you can still see Terry Simpson and Marc Habscheid working behind the Raiders bench coaching.

It is a blessing to have the Hauser in Prince Albert and everyone from the Raiders, the Prince Albert Mintos under-18 AAA squad, the Prince Albert Northern Bears female under-18 AAA club and everyone in Prince Albert and surrounding area contributed to making it a revered rink. For as long as the Hauser continues to exist, here is hoping all who visit the storied facility keep the good times rolling and treasure new memories that will be made there.

Murray nails review in Saskatoon, other notes

Cianna (Lieffers) Murray crushed one of her biggest moments for the games she has officiated in the WHL.

On Wednesday, December 17, Cianna along with her husband Troy Murray were referees that worked the WHL regular season clash between the host Sasktoon Blades and the Kelowna Rockets at the SaskTel Centre. With the Blades holding a 2-1 lead, the Rockets appeared to score the equalizer with 1:58 remaining in the third during a net scramble, where the Blades goal was dislodged.

Cianna was the referee positioned behind the Saskatoon net, and she blew the play down when the net came off and initially ruled no goal. With everything happening so fast, the play went to a video review.

After a lengthy review, it was determined the puck had just gone into the Saskatoon net before the net itself came fully off its posts resulting in a good goal. Rockets offensive-defenceman Will Sharpe was given credit for scoring the equalizer.

Also in that situation, officials are allowed leeway in that case to rule a goal being good, if they determined the puck was on its way into the net and it would have been a good goal even if the net was dislodged before the puck crossed the goal-line. On the replay, it was easy to see the puck was finding its way comfortably into the Saskatoon net no matter if the net was dislodged or not.

Since Cianna was the referee who had the best view of the play, she worked the phone with the video officials to work on the ultimate outcome of that call. In that case, she would have had sizable input in helping overturn her own original call and ruling the goal as a good one. Ultimately, that was the correct call in that instance.

The Rockets proceeded to win that contest 3-2 after a tiebreaking shootout

On Monday, the WHL also released the result of a midseason player survey question of who would win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL rookie of the year. Kamloops Blazers 17-year-old right-winger J.P. Hurlbert claimed top spot in that survey with 44.6 per cent of the vote. Hurlbert leads the WHL in scoring with 55 points coming off 22 goals and 33 assists to go with a plus-10 rating in the plus-minus department appearing in all of the Blazers 33 games to date.
In two games since being acquired in a trade with the Calgary Hitmen on December 15, 18-year-old left-winger Brandon Gorzynski has three goals and three assists in two games with the Raiders. It looks like he is going to be a big addition via the trade route.
In eight games since being acquired in a trade with the Wenatchee Wild on December 3, 19-year-old left-winger Maddix McCagherty has three goals and six assists for the Raiders. Noting his career high for points in one season is 38, he might be a surprise big addition via the trade route.
One of the surprise teams in the WHL might be the Cougars, who top the B.C. Division with a 22-9-1 record. After graduating stars like Riley Heidt, Borya Valis, Ben Riche, Koehn Zimmer and Viliam Kmec at the end of last season, the Cougars looked like they were on the road to a big reload.
The WHL trade deadline is slated for Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time.

Darren Steinke is a Saskatoon-based freelance sportswriter and photographer with more than 20 years of experience covering the WHL. He blogs frequently at stankssermon.blogspot.com.

Stanks on Sports: Hauser gets well-deserved nod as toughest road building in WHL player poll

Darren Steinke

-

December 24, 2025

0

Stanks on Sports: Hauser gets well-deserved nod as toughest road building in WHL player poll