Prince Albert Raiders forward Daxon Rudolph’s goal 14 seconds into overtime gave Team East a 5-4 win at the WHL Prospects Game in Langley, B.C. on Wednesday.
Rudolph took a pass from Medicine Hat Tigers forward Markus Ruck and beat Seattle Thunderbirds goaltender Marek Sklenicka low blocker side on a partial breakaway for the win.
“(It was) nice to win the face-off there—good job by Markus,” Rudolph told the WHL’s Cami Kepke in an interview after the game. “(I) gave it right back to him and saw a lane, went for it, and Marcus put it right on my tape, so nice to find the back of the net and come out with the win.”
Rudolph’s goal not only gave Team East the win, it ensured the team’s celebrity coach, Property Brothers star Drew Scott, earned a victory in his coaching debut.
“It feels great,” Rudolph said when asked about competing in the game. “Drew is a great guy and pretty vocal on the best. It was nice to have him out there.”
The WHL Prospects Game looked like it was going to be a blowout early. Team East jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Landon Amrhein, Zach Olsen, and Giorgos Pentelas.
Prince Albert Raiders goaltender Michal Orsulak slammed the door on Team West, stopping all 16 shots he faced during the first 30 minutes of play.
“I see it every day in PA, but it’s nice for him to do it on a big stage like this,” Rudolph told Kepke when asked about Orsulak’s play. “He was solid for us.”
The goalie switch came with 10:10 to play in the second period, and the momentum switched with it. Team West came roaring back with three straight goals, two of which came from Tuys Sparks of the Spokane Chiefs.
Liam Ruck restored the Team East lead 7:24 into the third period, but JP Hurlbert of the Kamloops Blazers tied the game roughly six minutes later, setting the stage for Rudolph’s overtime heroics.
Rudolph and Orsulak were back in action on Friday when the Prince Albert Raiders travelled to Moose Jaw to take on the Warriors. The final score was not available by press time.
The Raiders are back on the ice Saturday when they take on the Swift Current Broncos at the Art Hauser Centre.
