Raiders forward Eric Pearce finishes his check in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors. (Keith Hershmiller/WHL)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raids and Blades, Part 2

Pearce stepping up for Prince Albert; Raiders ready for rematch against streaking Blades

Mar 29, 2021 | 12:00 PM

After three years in the league, Eric Pearce is starting to emerge as the gritty, goal-scoring power forward the Prince Albert Raiders were hoping him to be when they drafted him.

In eight games this year, Pearce has four goals—already surpassing his goal total from last year—three goals in 59 games. In his three pervious years with the Raiders, Pearce has never averaged more than .17 points per game, but has 0.63 this year—with most of those goals.

After Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors, Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid joked that Pearce should have at least eight assists because he keeps passing the puck to himself on his goals. His last goal was a good example of that, as Pearce wheeled across the blueline, got a shot on goal and already knew where the rebound was going to bury the game-winning goal against the Warriors.

He’s also the only Raider to score against the Saskatoon Blades, the Raiders’ opponent on Monday. Pearce scored the lone marker in the Raiders’ 3-1 defeat on March 19. Caiden Daley, Aidan De La Gorgendiere and former Raider draft choice Rhett Rhinehart scored for the Blades in that contest.

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Much to the chagrin of the Raider fans, the Saskatoon Blades have been impressive this year. They are 7-0-1, which is good for first in the WHL East Division, and conference leader in winning percentage (.938).

Seven players are averaging a point per game or better, not including Brandon Lisowsky who has seven points in eight games.

The Blades have consistently been able to get off to good starts to their games as well. They’ve outscored their opponents 15-9 in first, and have only trailed twice this year after the opening frame—still winning both of those games.

A big step up this year for the Blades so far has been 19-year-old Blake Stevenson. Stevenson had 10 goals and 20 points in 47 games for the Tri-City Americans last year, but already has five goals and 10 points in eight games for the Blades—good for second in Blades’ points and tied for the lead in goals with Tristen Robins.

Tune in to Trevor Redden’s call of the 4 p.m. contest on CKBI.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW