Raiders forward Dallyn Peekeekoot battles for a loose puck in a scramble in front of the Blades' goal. Keith Hershmiller/WHL

Peekeekoot emerging as game changer for Raiders

Apr 8, 2021 | 9:11 PM

The bad news? The Prince Albert Raiders fell 5-3 to the Saskatoon Blades on Thursday and falling behind 0-3 in the season series against their most heated of rivals.

The good news? Dallyn Peekeekoot is quickly emerging as a can’t miss, game-breaking, Raider fan favourite.

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation’s Peekeekoot is just five games into his WHL career, after joining the Raiders as an affiliate player from the Prince Albert Mintos at the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League.

The affiliate player from the Prince Albert Mintos had a Gordie Howe hat trick +1, scoring a goal, registering two assists, and knocking down 20-year-old defenceman Wyatt McLeod down to the ice with a vicious right hand.

His performance on Thursday at the WHL exceeds his start with the Mintos, where he had a goal and an assist through five games.

Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid has already given Peekeekoot a lot of responsibility and opportunity. He’s pushed Peekeekoot to the top line with NHL first-round draft choice Ozzy Wiesblatt, and fourth year veteran and emerging scorer himself in Reece Vitelli, as well as giving him power play time on the top unit.

“I’m inspired by how he plays,” Vitelli said of Peekeekoot. “Getting in the corners fast, playing a hard-hitting game, fighting and all that good stuff. It’s definitely fun to watch and everything should follow him.”

It’s almost funny to think that just five games ago, Habscheid didn’t really know what to expect from Peekeekoot when he was added to the roster.

“I had no idea. It’s all on him and he’s a real good kid,” Habscheid said. “He takes coaching, listens real well. He doesn’t say much, but he plays the right way and he plays a heavy game. Tonight, he dropped the gloves against a kid that’s 20-years-old.

Peekeekoot is the third Raider to register a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game. Justin Nachbaur did that in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos. Ozzy Wiesblatt Gordie’d it up in the season opener, a 6-3 victory over the Regina Pats on March 12.

The Raiders scored the first goal of the game, with Nolan Allan getting his first of the season.

The Blades then rattled off three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead midway through the second period. Vitelli and Peekeekoot both scored on the power play, which is really starting to heat up for the Raiders, to tie it up at 3-3.

Brandon Lisowsky scored the winner for the Blades in the third, after Tristen Robins jumped to keep the puck in at the blueline, then finding Lisowsky in front. Caiden Daley scored on the empty net for the Blades.

San Jose Sharks’ prospect Robins had a goal and three assists for the Blades.

Fellow Sharks’ prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt had a pair of helpers for the Raiders.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Nolan Allan from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Dallyn Peekeekoot, 8:02

1-1, Blades, Tristen Robins from Brandon Lisowsky and Kyle Crnkovic,

Second Period

2-1, Blades, Colton Dach from Chase Wouters and Tristen Robins (power play),

3-1, Blades, Kyle Crnkovic (unassisted), 11:27

3-2, Raiders, Reece Vitelli from Dallyn Peekeekoot and Ozzy Wiesblatt (power play), 14:23

3-3, Raiders, Dallyn Peekeekoot from Justin Nachbaur and Matthew Culling (power play), 16:01

Third Period

4-3, Blades, Brandon Lisowsky from Tristen Robins and Caiden Daley, 12:50

5-3, Blades, Caiden Daley from Tristen Robins (empty net), 19:07

Up next

The Raiders will take on the Winnipeg ICE (10-4) on Saturday, at 4 p.m. The Raiders have lost both previous matchups to the ICE, 3-2 in overtime on March 21 and 3-0 on April 2.

jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

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