Fans cheered every single Prince Albert Raider goal during their 5-4 shootout loss to Saskatoon on Sept. 3, but the second one got the biggest.
It wasn’t the prettiest goal, or the most important, but it was the first in a Raider uniform for local product Connor Howe.
“I had a lot of family and friends come out to the game,” Howe said with a smile when asked if he had any idea why fans might be so excited for a pre-season power play goal with 1:09 to go in the first period. “It was awesome having their support. It was good.”
The WHL didn’t provide attendance figures for the exhibition opener, but it’s safe to say a sizeable chunk were there to see Howe’s debut. After spending last season with the Prince Albert Mintos and the two before that with the Prince Albert U15 AA Pirates, the 16-year-old from Prince Albert looks to jump to the city’s biggest and most widely followed club.
If he does, he’ll follow in the footsteps of former Raiders like Dave Manson, Reid Gardiner, Denis Pederson, and current head coach Ryan McDonald. So far, Howe’s not thinking about that. He’s just enjoying the moment.
“I was just happy I scored,” Howe said with another smile. “It was awesome.”
Forty years ago, WHL rosters were stocked with local players. That trend has changed as the Prospects Draft and expanded NCAA eligibility have players on the move more than ever.
If Howe makes the Raider roster, he’ll be one of the few Prince Albert players to do so in recent years, even though he’ll be one of many local products to play in the WHL.
Howe said his goal is to make the team this season, and he’s got a big believer in his corner: older brother Tanner. The former Regina Pat and current Pittsburgh Penguins product’s advice to his younger brother? Work hard.
“He told me just do whatever to try and make the team,” Howe said. “Just work hard and play your game and things will come.”
So far, Howe has impressed this pre-season. He followed up his power play goal on Sept. 3 with another, more spectacular goal in the rematch on Sept. 5. While the goals may be more glamorous, McDonald said it’s Howe’s work ethic that’s drawn the most attention.
“(He has) great work ethic, and you saw it on full display here with his goal,” McDonald said after Howe and the Raiders beat Saskatoon 7-1 on Sept. 5. “He’s got a great release and a great shot (and) gets one in back-to-back games. He’s a player who goes out there and competes hard every single shift.”
The WHL regular season doesn’t begin until Sept. 19. While there’s no guarantee Howe’s name will be on the Raider roster at that time, McDonald said the Prince Albert product is doing everything he can.
“You want players who make you make tough decisions,” McDonald said. “He’s a player who goes out there and plays hard every single shift.”
“My goal is just do whatever I can to make the team,” Howe added. “If I do, that’s awesome. If I don’t, I’ll just work on getting better and try and make it next year.”
The Prince Albert Raiders are off until Thursday when they travel to Yorkton for a neutral site exhibition game against the Regina Pats. The two teams close out the pre-season with a rematch on Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre.
The Raiders open the regular season against the Saskatoon Blades on Friday, Sept. 19.
@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca
