A slow start proved to be insurmountable for the Prince Albert Mintos, who fell 5-3 to the Saskatoon Blazers during pre-season action at the Art Hauser Centre Tuesday night.

Saskatoon struck early and often. After Owen Patterson was sent to the penalty box for a head contact minor penalty, the Blazer power play struck less than 20 seconds later as Lee Shurgot open the scoring with 16:04 remaining in the first.

Saskatoon would continue to score as Leo Seitz scored two goals within a minute of each other to put the Blazers up 3-0. Mintos head coach Tim Leonard says Prince Albert came out flat to start the first period.

“We didn’t start very good. We weren’t ready for the tempo. After we called a timeout we adjusted, after that it was an even game.”

After Leo Seitz scored his second goal of the period, the Mintos called a timeout trailing 3-0. Leonard says the message in the timeout was to pick up the team’s tempo.

“They just need to remember who we are and what we are. It’s a dressing room full of good kids. We can skate and shoot and pass just like they can.We just had to get out feet moving and catch up to the tempo and we were fine.”

Prince Albert would get on the board before the end of the first period as Owen Nelson fired a shot past Saskatoon goaltender Grayson Malinoski. Saskatoon outshot the Mintos 10-7 after 20 minutes of play.

Saskatoon would extend their lead with 6:11 remaining in the third period as Luke Dahlen snapped home an even strength goal to put the Blazers up 4-1. The Mintos would answer back to keep themselves within striking distance as Logan Pickford found the back of the net with 6:43 remaining in the second period to make the score 4-2. The Mintos outshot the Blazers 13-11 in the second period.

Saskatoon would restore their three goal lead a little under 12 minutes into the third period. Josh Knittig scored on the power play assisted by Lee Shurgot, the third point of the night for the Blazer forward.

Prince Albert wouldn’t go quietly as Logan Pickford would pick up his second goal of the contest with 6:43 remaining to pull the Mintos back within two at 5-3.

The Mintos were outshot 12-7 in the third period by the Blazers. The Mintos open their regular season on Sept. 24 against the Swift Current Legionnaires.

It’s not how either Prince Albert school typically begins the high school football season, but the Carlton Crusaders and the St. Mary Marauders are destined for an opening week edition of the Canadian Tire Classic coming up on Thursday night from Max Clunie Field.

St. Mary took home the Canadian Tire Cup in 2021 with a 35-14 victory in the game that also decided the tier two high school football championship.

St. Mary head coach Curtis Hundeby says the Marauders will have to limit mistakes against Carlton.

“They’re pretty talented. This is one of the best Carlton squads I’ve seen. We’ll definitely have our work cut out for us. We’re going to focus on making sure we do the little things right and force them to earn every inch and not give anything to them for free.”

After dealing with COVID-19 restrictions the last two school years, Hundeby says he is excited to get back to a normal football season.

“It’s so nice to get back out and play. After the last few years, I don’t take anything for granted. We’re going to play the best that we can and put on a show for the town.”

For some players on both sides, this year’s Canadian Tire Classic marks the beginning of their final year of high school football. Corban Taylor is a defensive end for the St. Mary Marauders in his Grade 12 season. He says it means a lot more to him as a graduating player then it has previously.

“It’s a game we look forward to all year. It’s what we prepare for. They’re our crosstown rival. It’s that community edge, we want to be better than them.”

Last season, St. Mary was led by a large group of Grade 12 players. This year, the Marauders will be relying on a younger core to step up and take the roles of graduated players from a year ago. Taylor is one of the returning starters from last year’s Marauders team and he says he has been trying to fire up his younger teammates.

“Throughout the whole week, I’ve been stressing intensity. They’re a physical team, they’re a good team this year. We don’t have as much older players as we did last year, so this year is going to be a lot about hard work and effort.”

For the crosstown Carlton Crusaders, the rivalry game is more motivation for hard work on the practice field, but a reminder to enjoy the experience.

“It’s always fun. There is always a little bit of extra energy around town and in the building.” says Crusader head coach Lindsay Strachan. “We’re going to enjoy it. We don’t feel like there is any extra pressure. We’re going to come out and work hard this week and play our best football game and have some fun in the process.”

Unlike St. Mary, Carlton is returning a lot of players from their football team last year. Strachan says the Crusaders will be mentally ready for the big game on Thursday night.

“Lots of our guys that are going to see time on Thursday, lots of them were a part of this game last year. We don’t feel like we’re going into something that we haven’t seen before. We’re happy with where we are at in terms of the mental side of things.”

Carlton running back/line backer Taz Smith Windsor says the Crusaders will have to locked in mentally during the game on Thursday night.

“Usually there’s a ton more spectators than in a regular game. We’re going to have to stay focused and stay in the game. Cancel out the distractions and play football.”

Smith-Windsor says the key for him staying calm under pressure is to hyperfocus on the task at hand.

“Just drown everything else out except what matters. Listen to your coaches, listen to what’s happening on the field. Just stay invested in the game and you won’t have to deal with anything else that’s going on.”

Kickoff for the Canadian Tire Classic is scheduled for 6:30pm on Thursday night at Max Clunie Field.

The Prince Albert Raiders nearly completed a third period comeback but camp up just a little bit short at the Art Hauser Centre on Friday.

After falling behind 3-0, the Raiders rallied for two third period goals but couldn’t catch the Regina Pats, falling 3-2 in Western Hockey League preseason action.

The Raiders outshot the Pats 18-8 in the first period, but it was Regina who held the lead heading into the first intermission. Raider goaltender Tikhon Chaika mishandled a puck behind his own net and turned the puck over to Regina’s Tye Spencer who made no mistake putting the Pats up 1-0 at the 10:50 mark of the first period.

Throughout the game, referees were constantly breaking up scrums between the Raiders and Pats as both teams brought intense physicality to the contest. Prince Albert head coach Jeff Truitt says the Raiders played that side of the game well.

“Both teams were physical here tonight. You expect that, the competition is ramping up every game that we are playing here. You have to win your battles and I thought we did some good things that way.”

Early in the second period, the Pats penalty kill capitalized on Raider mistakes as Cole Dubinsky sprung a breakaway and beat Chaika to double the Regina lead to 2-0 at the 6:08 mark. Regina would continue to outplay the Raiders in the middle frame as the Pats outshot Prince Albert 9-5 in the second period.

A quick strike for Regina began the third as Alexander Suzdalev scored barely a minute in, at 0:56 to extend the Pat lead to 3-0. Less than 4 minutes later, the Raiders finally broke through on the scoreboard. Cole Peardon redirected a point shot from Evan Herman that got through Regina goaltender Kolten Pyne to cut the Pats lead to 3-1.

“It was pretty awesome to get that first one out of the way,” Peardon said. “I tipped the puck and I was pretty surprised it went in the net but I was filled with joy after that. It was an awesome experience.”

Peardon is in his first training camp with the Raiders. The 16-year-old forward was drafted with the 13th overall selection in the 2021 WHL Prospects by Prince Albert. The draft pick used to select Peardon was acquired by the Raiders as part of the trade that sent team captain Kaiden Guhle to the eventual WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings last season. Peardon says he isn’t putting any additional pressure on himself because of who he was traded for.

“It’s at the back of my mind, but I don’t think about it too much and I don’t let it affect me in any way.”

Prince Albert would creep within one with a power play goal from defenseman Seth Tansem at the 12:41 mark of the third period. Regina outshot Prince Albert 7-6 in the third period.

With the loss, the Raiders fall to 1-1-0-0 in the WHL preseason. The next game for the Raiders is on Friday, Sept. 16 against the Saskatoon Blades. The regular season opener for the Prince Albert Raiders is Sept. 23 against the Saskatoon Blades at the Art Hauser Centre.

There is plenty of healthy competition for roster spots at training camp for the Prince Albert Raiders with several rookies looking to make an impression.

Ryder Ritchie is one such player looking to make his way on the roster. Ritchie was selected by Prince Albert with the 14th overall selection in the 2021 WHL Prospects draft. The 16-year-old says he has enjoyed his experience at training camp thus far.

“It’s been good. A lot of good players. It’s been a really good learning experience seeing the older players and see what they do and try to implement that into my game.”

Ritchie enjoyed success in B.C. U18 hockey last season, putting up 31 points in 23 games with Kelowna Rink Hockey Acedemy. However, Calgary product says training camp with the Raiders has been on another level.

“I think I need to play with more speed because the game’s quicker out here,” he said. “I’ve just got to play with more speed and make quicker decisions and it will be good.”

Having a few veterans around to help out doesn’t hurt either. Ritchie said the returning players have played a big role in helping the rookies get settled, and that’s showing dividends on the ice.

“They’re all great guys and they’ve really brought me in under their wing,” he said. “They’ve helped me out throughout camp, so it’s been good.”

There are many different paths players have taken to get to training camp. Defenceman Justice Christensen went undrafted in the WHL prospects draft but was listed by the Raiders. The product of Red Deer, Alta. says he has been getting a lot of advice from the veterans.

“Lots of older guys have been talking to me and really helping me out. They’ve been telling me a lot of what they do day-to-day and how they prepare and what they do on a day-to-day basis in the WHL.”

Like Ritchie, Christensen said Raider camp has been a step up from regular competition, but he’s embraced the challenge.

“There’s lots of good players here and the competition has been great. It’s just exciting to get started.”

The Raiders training camp concludes on Sunday with the Green vs White game at 12 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre. Admission is free, but fans are encouraged to leave a non-perishable food donation at the door.

News and notes

Former Raider captain Reece Vitelli is headed south after signing a one-year contract with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, an affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes.

Vitelli was one of five signings the Roadrunners announced on Wednesday. He attended training camp with the Coyotes prior to the 2021-22 WHL season, then returned to Prince Albert, where posted 25 goals and 51 points—both career highs—in 65 games.

Raider coach Jeff Truitt has a history of success when it comes to first year head coaching jobs, and the Prince Albert Raiders hope that history repeats itself this upcoming season.

There was no place like Kelowna in 2003 and 2004. The Rockets were coming off back-to-back appearances in the Memorial Cup after winning the President’s Cup (now known as the Ed Chynoweth Cup) in 2003, the Rockets won the 2004 Memorial Cup on home ice serving as the host team for the event.

Following the Memorial Cup win in 2004, Rockets head coach Marc Habscheid stepped down from his role in order take on a role with Canada national team. Habscheid was replaced as head coach by his assistant coach of four years, Jeff Truitt.

In his first season as Kelowna’s head coach, Truitt led the Rockets to a 45-13-12-2 record, good enough for 104 points and the top spot in the B.C division. In the playoffs, Kelowna defeated Vancouver in six games in the first round, Seattle fell in seven hard fought games in round two, the Rockets overpowered the Kootenay ICE in six games in the Western Conference final and defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings in five games to secure the third straight trip to the Memorial Cup.

Although Kelowna did not win a game in the 2005 Memorial Cup, it was still a great success for Truitt to win the WHL championship in his first season behind the Rockets’ bench.

Bruce Hamilton is the current president and general manager of the Kelowna Rockets and served in that role during the years Habscheid and Truitt coached for the Rockets. He says the duo helped shape the Rockets success.

“We were in desperate need of a total makeover and a culture change. (Habscheid) came in and it took two or three years to get it changed over and Jeff was brought in as an assistant. I’ve known them well, stayed in touch with them. They both were instrumental in the success of our team.”

Hamilton says Truitt replacing Habscheid was exactly what the Rockets’ needed at that time.

“It was exactly what we wanted. We wanted some consistency. At the time we hired Jeff, we wanted to bring in an assistant coach that was fully capable of taking over when the head coach was ready to move on. No different then our coach here today, Kris Mallette.”

Turn the clock ahead to 2022. After Habscheid resigned to coach professionally in Europe, the Prince Albert Raiders needed a new head coach to take over. It was an easy decision for the new bench boss in Hockeytown North, none other than Habscheid’s former assistant coach with the Raiders, Jeff Truitt.

Truitt says he is looking forward to keeping the winning ways in Prince Albert, exactly like what he did in Kelowna.

“We want to continue our championship mentality. We want to win no matter what the roster looks like. We expect to win here. We want our team to compete hard and the building blocks here are going to stay the same. My expectations for this team is we are going to work hard, we’re going to work through the highs and lows. (We’re) going to represent the logo and our city the right way.”

After his time with the Rockets, Truitt moved onto to coach in the American Hockey League with the Springfield Falcons, San Antonio Rampage and Texas Stars. Truitt has also served as an assistant coach with the Red Deer Rebels from 2013-2014 through 2017-2018, the Lethbridge Hurricanes from 1993-1994 through 1996-1996 and served as the director of hockey operations for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2009-2010 season.

The Raiders open the season with Truitt behind the bench on Sept. 23 when the Saskatoon Blades will visit the Art Hauser Centre.

After a 0-2 start, the Prince Albert Prairie Dogs rebounded to take two of three in Saskatchewan Field Lacrosse League play last weekend.

Prince Albert secured a 9-5 win over the Saskatoon Plainsmen, a 15-5 win over Sturgis before falling 8-6 in the final game of the weekend to the Moose Jaw Tommy Gun’s.

Prairie Dogs head coach Matt Robin says he felt the team had a nice bounce back weekend after a tough start.

“The first weekend in Saskatoon we fell short of getting a win. We came out of the weekend two of three and the one loss was just at the end of the day. It’s tough playing those three games and trying to get that third win. But it was a close game and we fought hard.”

Robin says he felt the Prairie Dogs were solid in their own end and that lead to the weekend success.

“Defensively we were really strong, we were still missing some of our big defenders. It was nice to stop them from scoring and clearing the ball and getting transition opportunities that turned into goals.

The Prairie Dogs will enjoy a league wide bye week for the Labour Day long weekend, before getting back in action in Moose Jaw on September 10th. The Prairie Dogs will enjoy a bye week before championship weekend in Sturgis.

As the summertime begins to wind down and the fall begins, the stirring of hockey season begins at the Art Hauser Centre.

Thursday, Sept 1 marks the start of training camp for the Prince Albert Raiders. The team will look to build off the success of last season which saw the Raiders scratch and claw their way into the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but only to fall in five games to the top seeded Winnipeg ICE.

There will be a familiar, yet fresh face behind the bench this season for the Raiders. Jeff Truitt, an assistant last season under Marc Habscheid will take over the head coaching role after Habscheid resigned to take a job in the professional ranks in Europe.
Truitt says the opening day of training camp will be all about incorporating players in the team culture and identity.

“We’re going to do a lot of things, we are going to do presentations to the players, parents are going to get to toured around. We’re going to give them a real good feel about the Prince Albert Raider community, and our expectations for our club and what our value and culture entails.”

Heading into training camp, the Raiders will look build from the net out. Returning goaltenders Tikhon Chaika and Max Hildebrand compliment a returning defensive core of Nolan Allan, Eric Johnston, Terrell Goldsmith, Trevor Thurston, Landon Kosior and Tayem Gislason.

Truitt says the Raiders are going to expect a lot from older, returning veterans this season.

“They’re going to have to lead the charge, lead the pace and lead the compete factor. They’ve got to lead through training camp and prove that they want to be a leader and an impact player.”

Raiders training camp will run from Sept. 1 through Sept. 4 and the Raiders open the pre season on Tuesday, Sept 6 against the Saskatoon Blades in Big River First Nation Arena.

Camp Schedule

September 1:

• 10 am registration

• 11am orientation

• 1pm photos

• 2:15 team 1 ice session

• 3:30 team 2 ice session

• 4:45 team 3 ice session

• 6pm team 4 ice session

September 2:

• 8:45 am Team 1 vs Team 2

• 10:30 am Team 3 vs Team 4

• 5:15 pm Team 1 vs Team 3

• 5pm Team 2 vs Team 4

September 3:

• 8:45 am Team 2 vs Team 3

• 10:30 am Team 1 vs Team 4

• 5:15 pm consolation game

• 7:15pm Championship Game

September 4:

• 12pm Green vs White game

Registration is just around the corner and the Prince Albert Sharks swim club are ready to get back into the water.

The Sharks are hosting registration on Thursday Sept. 1 from 5-7pm at Frank J. Dunn pool. Prince Albert Sharks head coach Hazem Hussein said the club appeals to all demographics.

“We are a competitive club, but we have different programs for all categories,” he explained. “We have swim schools, or swim lessons, we have competitive, high performance, masters, we have something for everyone.”

The Sharks have programs that range from Cadets, which runs 3x a week and is aimed at swimmers trying to learn new skills through group activities and games to the Great Whites which is focused for youth swimmers trying to compete at a provincial or national level.

Hussein says he is excited to see the growth the club has sustained over the last season.

“The club for last season was successful. It was growing, we had swimmers qualify for the westerns and the nationals. We are very optimistic and confident for the season to start.”

Swimmers interested in joining the club can attend the in-person registration on Thursday, or sign up online on the sharks website.

With the season just around the corner, there will be some fresh faces with the Prince Albert Mintos.

The Mintos announced some changes to their coaching and operations staff for the upcoming season adding former Raider and Minto Dane Byers as an assistant. Byers enjoyed a long professional career as a player after being a second-round pick of the New York Rangers, 48th overall, in 2004. Byers appeared in the American Hockey League, the Finnish Liiga, the DEL in Germany, the EIHL in England and the National Hockey League.

Mintos head coach Tim Leonard says he is hoping Byer’s work ethic will rub off on the Mintos team.

“We’re excited to get Dane on board. The guy is an example of what hard work will get you. The guy earned everything he got. He was a professional hockey player and has lots of experience to hand down and he is excited about it. I’m excited to bring him aboard.”

Also joining the Mintos staff is Aaron Bergey as the team’s athletic therapist, Kim Jackson will take over as the associate manager of operations and Doug Padget has taken over the role as director of player personnel.

The Prince Albert Mintos have two home exhibition dates scheduled for the month of September. On Sept. 10 at 7 p.m., the Mintos welcome the Warman Wildcats and on Sept. 13, the Mintos take on the Saskatoon Blazers at 1:30pm. Both games take place at the Art Hauser Centre.

The Mintos open their season on Sept 24 at home against the Swift Current Legionnaires.

It was a great experience at the Canada Summer Games for Prince Albert’s Seanna Trumier.

The St. Mary alumnus was a member of the Saskatchewan women’s volleyball team at the Canada Summer Games in Niagara, Ontario. Trumier says it representing her home province at the national level was a great experience.

“It was super cool. There was a core group of us working towards that goal for a long time. To be able to go and get to compete with each other was so cool.”

The Team Sask women’s volleyball team fell just short of the podium in Niagara, as they fell in four sets to eventual silver medalist Alberta and dropped the bronze medal match in three sets to BC. However, Saskatchewan would have never been in that position without a thrilling five set quarterfinal victory over Ontario. Trumier says that win is a memory she will remember for life.

“We had lost to them in Canada Cup in five sets a few weeks before. This time when we played them again, we beat them, and nobody expected us to win. Just coming in as the underdogs and really going for it that game. It was super fun, and the atmosphere was really good. It was definitely something I will remember.”

Throughout the Canada Summer Games, athletes from across the country would get a chance to interact with each other and would often cheer on their provincial teammates in other events. Trumier says she enjoyed the encouragement and the chance to meet many new people.

“It was super sweet. In Team Sask, we were able to stay on the bus and we would be able to chat with a few other athletes and learn stuff about each others sports. It was cool to see them later watching our games or we watched a few of the other Team Sask games. It was super cool to cheer each other on.”

Trumier is entering her second season with the Lakeland College Rustlers of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).