The Prince Albert Raiders have two new faces behind the bench for the 2024-25 season.
Conor Yawney and Dan Ferguson were both hired by the Raiders over the offseason.
Yawney was hired as an assistant coach replacing Keaton Ellerby while Ferguson is the team’s new goaltending coach taking over for Kelly Guard, who was hired by the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors during the offseason.
Yawney excited to get going in Hockeytown North
The 27-year-old Yawney has already made a positive first impression in Prince Albert.
Speaking to the media on Monday afternoon, Raider head coach Jeff Truitt says Yawney has been engaged and involved in every conversation the coaching staff has had during training camp.
“It’s been awesome. With Conor, he’s a hard worker. He’s got the pedigree of having coached before. He’s in on our conversations which is good and offers his opinions. That’s what you need in a coaching staff, you’ve got to share opinions, you’ve got to share thoughts and he has certainly done that. He’s a hockey guy, and we’re happy to have him.”
Yawney was a defenceman in his playing days and spent last season as an assistant coach with the Amarillo Wranglers in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
With this coming season being his first of any capacity in the WHL, Yawney says he has been trying to learn as much as he can from Truitt, who first started coaching in the WHL ranks as an assistant with the Lethbridge Hurricanes during the 1993-94 season.
“He’s got a lot of experience in this league, a lot of experience as a coach, and he’s really willing to share his experience and really likes to help guys grow and so I’m really excited to be able to work with that and just soak up everything that he’s got.”
Yawney will work primarily with the defenceman and penalty kill in his duties with Prince Albert. With the Raiders adding Lukas Dragicevic in the offseason and with the likes of Daxon Rudolph and Brock Cripps looking to make an impact coming through the draft, Yawney says he is looking forward to getting his tenure started in Prince Albert.
“I’m really excited. I got a good crop right now. I got a good crop coming up. Really, there’s a lot to work with. It’s a real exciting time for not only me, but the whole team and the whole organization.”
In terms of what fans can expect out of his penalty killing unit, Yawney says he wants to see the Raiders working in sync while being down a man.
“I’m a big believer in working as a unit and cutting seams. I think that’s the most important part. I believe that you are down a guy, so you have to give something up. It’s about finding what you are willing to give up with each power play and working as a four-man unit is the most important thing.”
Ferguson ready to work with netminders
Dan Ferguson is hoping to help the Raider goaltenders become the best they can be.
Ferguson has coached in the WHL, most recently as the goaltending coach with the Winnipeg ICE from 2019-2021. He has also spent time with the Rink Hockey Academy, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Steinbach Pistons and the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL.
Truitt says Ferguson has made a good first impression with the goaltenders in training camp.
“He’s developed a lot of good goaltenders over his time. He’s bringing in new ideas and communication with our players. That’s the biggest thing for him is getting the relationships with these goaltenders and he needs to. Not only for teaching, but also when things go up, things go down, corrections and whatnot. That relationship is huge and he started off on a great foot here.”
It’s no secret that Max Hildebrand will be the starting goaltender for the Prince Albert Raiders this season. The 20-year-old Martensville product appeared in 51 games last season, posting a 25-20-2-2 record, a 2.88 Goals Against Average and a .907 save percentage.
Ferguson says he is expecting Hildebrand to have a big season between the pipes for Prince Albert.
“He is an individual in this town that’s very honest with himself and he’s got a character that’s respected in the league because he shows up every day ready to work. He’s committed to his game and committed to the whole team. He’s going to own his game here this season and he’s going to be excellent.”
In terms of coaching, Ferguson says he wants to be able to develop a relationship with the players and goaltenders to help them become the best version of themselves.
“I’m a parent to two young kids and I think coaching is similar to that in that aspect (because) you’re taking care of young men and you want to make sure they’re successful and they’re happy. I think all of our staff as coaches is trying to care for these guys to make sure that they’re successful and they’re getting better every day.”
“In regards to goalies, I want to make sure they’re showing up every day having habits they can fall back on. I call it ABCs. Having some strengths they can always touch on and they own. Within the goalie position, we want to prepare everyday and gain confidence. Just to be able to show up and be happy. I think when guys are happy and their spirits are high, they can manage themselves and they’re going to play free and they’re not going to be tense. That’s very important and that’s my goal everyday to help them be successful.”
Entering camp, one of the major position spots up for grabs was the backup netminder position behind Hildebrand. While the battle will continue into the pre-season, Ferguson says he was pleased with the competitive nature showed during training camp.
“It’s been excellent. I’ve had a chance to meet with all the goalies together as a group and we talked about the Raider way and goaltending and it’s falling back on care level and showing up to win every day in practice and games and I think all of our goalies are bringing that right now which is pretty important.”
The Raiders open pre-season play on Wednesday night when they welcome the Saskatoon Blades to the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
