Raiders look to follow up strong performance against hot Wheaties

The Prince Albert Raiders (4-6-1-1) are responsible for one of the Brandon Wheat Kings’ (9-2-1) two regulation losses this season, but they will have to play their best game to get another.

After defeating the Saskatoon Blades 3-1 on Sunday, the Wheat Kings are now in first place in the WHL East Division. They are tied with the Blades as both teams have identical 9-2-1 records, but the Wheat Kings have a better goal differential with +23 to +14. The Wheat Kings are also on a six-game heater, the longest current winning streak in the WHL.

They’re led up front by a one-two punch in Nolan Ritchie and Ben McCartney. Ritchie has five goals and 17 points in 12 games, while McCartney has scored seven goals and 16 points. Both are on hot streaks, as Ritchie has a five-game points streak active, while McCartney has at least one point in all but one game so far this season.

But the Raiders look to have rediscovered how to play ‘Raider hockey,’ a fast, aggressive, hard-working, and physical brand of hockey that head coach Marc Habscheid promotes and expects from his team.