The accolades keep coming for the Prince Albert Raiders.
A day after rookies Brendan Guhle and Ozzy Weisblatt were named to one of three Canadian rosters for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in New Brunswick next month, the team found out Wednesday that forwards Parker Kelly and Brett Leason will be joining goaltender Ian Scott on Team WHL during the CIBC Canada Russia Series in November.
The games, which serves as a showcase for players who may earn an invite by Hockey Canada to the World Junior Selection Camp in December, will be held on Monday, Nov. 5 in Kamloops and Tuesday, Nov. 6 in Vancouver.
Leason, who is the only undrafted player to be named to the WHL lineup, is enjoying a career season as he leads the league with 26 points in 12 games.
Kelly, a signed prospect of the Ottawa Senators, has six goals and five assists this year in his fourth campaign with the Raiders.
Scott, a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick in 2017, is off to a stellar start to the 2018-19 campaign with a 9-1 record, a 1.60 goals against average, a .943 save percentage and a pair of WHL Goaltender of the Week awards.
The Raiders join the Lethbridge Hurricanes (Calen Addison, Jordy Bellerive and Dylan Cozens) and the Moose Jaw Warriors (Justin Almeida, Josh Brook and Jett Woo) by having three players on the Team Whl roster.
Brendan Guhle was the last member of the team to take part in the event in 2016, just days before he was dealt to the Prince George Cougars.
Raiders ranked first nationally
The good news continued for the 11-1 Raiders later in the day as they were the top ranked club in the Canadian Hockey League’s Top 10.
The rankings, which are selected by a panel of NHL scouts, put the Raiders ahead of the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Halifax Mooseheads, who will serve as the Memorial Cup hosts in May.
Having won their last four games, the East Division leaders will be in action Saturday night against the Spokane Chiefs at the Art Hauser Centre at 7 p.m.
Wednesday’s Scores
- Spokane 4 Regina 0 (Adam Beckman – Two Goals – Bailey Brkin – 35 Saves – Second Career Shutout)
- Calgary 5 Saskatoon 4 (Josh Prokop Overtime Winner – Two Goals and One Assist)
- Victoria 5 Swift Current 2 (Dante Hannoun – One Goal and Three Assists)
Around the WHL
Swiss netminder Akira Schmid, who played in one WHL game before being waved by the Lethbridge Hurricanes earlier this month, has reportedly found a new home in the North American Hockey League with the Corpus Christi IceRays.
A fifth round pick by the New Jersey Devils in June’s NHL Draft, the 18-year-old allowed seven goals on 20 shots in the Hurricanes 8-4 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings on Sept. 29.
The Tri-City Americans signed undrafted 2002-born blueliner Ian Ferguson to a standard player agreement Wednesday.
Ferguson, who was originally born in Chatham, Ont. but now calls Missouri, Texas home, has spent the last two seasons with the Dallas Stars U16 program and has 14 points in 44 games with the team.
The 16-year-old is not expected to join the Americans on a full-time basis until next year.
Forward Logan Stankoven, the fifth overall pick in the 2018 WHL Draft, is expected to make his debut with the Kamloops Blazers as an affiliated player at home Friday against the Swift Current Broncos.
The Kamloops product is playing for the Thompson Blazers in the British Columbia Major Midget League this year and leads the circuit in scoring with 16 points in eight games.
Friday’s Schedule
- Everett vs. Brandon – 6:30 p.m.
- Calgary vs. Moose Jaw – 7 p.m.
- Spokane vs. Saskatoon – 7 p.m.
- Red Deer vs. Edmonton – 7 p.m.
- Lethbridge vs. Medicine Hat – 7:30 p.m.
- Swift Current vs. Kamloops – 8 p.m.
- Vancouver vs. Portland – 8 p.m.
- Seattle vs. Tri-City – 8 p.m.
- Kelowna vs. Victoria – 8 p.m.
