Mike Modano back in his glorious Raider days. (Submitted photo/Prince Albert Raiders)
who's in your top four?

Mount Raidsmore, looking at the best four Raiders ever

Apr 3, 2020 | 5:01 PM

During these times, people have come up with some fun games on social media in attempts to cure people’s boredom. The Pipeline Show’s Guy Flaming prompted everyone to come up with ‘the Mount Rushmore’ of their favourite hockey team — the best four players of all-time.

The Prince Albert Raiders picked up on that and challenged their fans to come up with their own Raiders’ Mount Rushmore.

I know I’m a week late, but I can’t let this one go without having a crack at it. But to make up for it, I created a few more ‘Mounts’ to have some fun with.

Mount Rushmore

The best of the best.

Magic Mike Modano.

Mike Modano — Livonia, Mich,’s Mike Modano decided to report to Prince Albert after getting a phone call from then-coach Rick Wilson. That phone call led to the Raiders getting the best American-born player ever and eventual first-ballot Hall of Famer to fly around in the Green and Gold. First Raiders jersey to be retired in team history.

Dave Manson —Prince Albert product won the Memorial Cup for his hometown team, then later returned to coach the team. He was an absolute warrior on the ice and will always have his number four proudly hang over the Art Hauser Centre ice.

Dan Hodgson — Hodgson has the most goals, most assists and most points in Raider history, both in career and single-season stats. He captained the Raiders to their first and only Memorial Cup victory. Absolute legend.

Emanuel Viveiros — ‘Manny’ Viveiros is third all-time in Raiders’ scoring — an incredible feat considering he’s a defenceman. Think of all the great forwards that have played for the Raiders, Viveiros had more points than every Raider to play except for two — Hodgson and Jeff Nelson.

Honourable Mentions—Leon Draisaitl, Ian Scott, Josh Morrissey.

Mount Roughmore

Who took on the toughest and welcomed the roughest.

Dave Manson holds the Memorial Cup.

Dave Manson — He may be a teddy bear when you get to know him in real life, but there’s a reason they called him ‘Charlie’ Manson when he played. Former teammate Jeremy Roenick wrote in his book that said Manson chased coach Mike Keenan around the rink and tried to beat him up. His raspy voice is both scary and intimidating. You don’t want to dance with big Manse.

Ken Baumgartner — He fought legendary scrapper Bob Probert, twice in one game, as a Raider during the Memorial Cup. Not only did he not die, but Baumgartner actually won the first fight pretty decisively. He played three years with the Raiders, putting up at least 200 penalty minutes in all three years. He put up 2,242 penalty minutes in the NHL across 696 games with the Kings, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Ducks and Bruins.

Darin Kimble — He could beat the wheels off anybody, had 307 penalty minutes in his final year with the Raiders in 1988. Kimble went on to play 311 games in the NHL, piling up 1,082 penalty minutes with the Nordiques, Blues, Bruins, and Blackhawks.

Grant McNeill — Nobody that’s put on the Raiders’ jersey has more penalty minutes than Grant McNeill. McNeill had 929 penalty minutes, 160 more than any other Raider in history. He played for the Raiders from 1999-2003.

Mount Brushmore

Long hair, don’t care.

Mean Dean McAmmond.

Dean McAmmond — I mean, just take a look at the photo above. I have no idea what that cut is called, but it’s unbelievable.

Mike Modano — ‘It’s beautiful, feathered and lethal. You just don’t see that nowadays.’

Dante Hannoun — Long, slicked back, half-Italian flow. Nothing better than that.

Dakota Conroy — When he wasn’t playing hockey or crushing Dr. Pepper, Dakota Conroy was growing long, curly lettuce and hoping his coaches wouldn’t make him cut it.

Mount Cussmore

‘You’re a duster bud, get off the ice!’

Pesky Parker Kelly.

Parker Kelly — No Raider in history chirped, pissed off the other team, or celebrated a goal harder than Parker Kelly. He was a fan favourite ever since he broke onto the 2015-16 Raiders for his 16-year-old season as a seventh-round pick. Takes sewer ball extremely seriously.

Tim Vanstone — He may have been wearing the red and yellow with the Calgary Dinos for the last three seasons, but Tim Vanstone will always bleed green. Vanstone was Raiders’ captain in his last two years as a Raider and did absolutely everything he could to make his teammates better. Wore his heart on his sleeve.

Curtis Miske — I’ve only ever received one hug from a Prince Albert Raider, and that came from Curtis Miske after he ended his career with the Raiders as captain. He made dinosaur noises on command. He did hilarious impressions of his teammates while they were trying to concentrate during an interview, never shied away from any question when it was his turn. Class act, through and through.

Carson Perreaux —He was the classic class clown of the Raiders. After a win or even a quiet, mid-week practice, Perreaux’s interviews felt more like standup routines. He always kept everything loose and light in the locker room. Looks exactly like Post Malone, minus the face tattoos.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

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