Gabe Ludwig plays keep away with a pair of Pats during a game earlier this season on Dec. 9, 2022. (Mark Peterson Media)
Gameday Preview

Raiders host Bedard, Pats for final time this season

Feb 17, 2023 | 8:00 AM

The Prince Albert Raiders (20-28-3-0) kick off a busy long weekend tonight when they host the projected first-overall NHL draft pick Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats (25-22-2-1) in front of a sold-out crowd at the Art Hauser Centre.

In what will most likely be his final game at the Hauser, Bedard enters the contest with an astonishing 96 points in 39 games.

The Pats come into tonight winners of three of their last five games, including victories over the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Calgary Hitmen, and most recently the Moose Jaw Warriors. Regina is also 6-3-1-0 in their last ten games.

The Raiders snapped a three-game skid in their last game in a 4-1 route of the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday. Prior to the win, P.A. lost to Kamloops, Kelowna, and Swift Current which included back-to-back shut-out losses to the Rockets and Broncos. The Green and Gold are 5-5-0-0 in their last ten and currently sit ten points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Regina and P.A. have squared off four times this season where the Pats hold a 3-1 lead in the season series. The Raiders were victorious in their last meeting back on Jan. 1 when they won 5-2 in the Queen City.

Prince Albert will have a quick turnaround after tonight as they play host to the Moose Jaw Warriors tomorrow at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.

Prince Albert currently sits ten points back of Calgary for the final playoff spot in the East. The Raiders have 17 games remaining on the schedule.

Who to Watch

Veteran Keaton Sorensen lit the lamp and added two assists in his last outing against the Broncos. The Red Deer, AB product had an assist on the Raiders first and third goals in the contest while scoring the final goal of the game late in the second period. His three-point performance also boosted his season totals to 18 goals and 20 assists on the campaign.

Winger Niall Crocker also appeared on the scoresheet more than once against Swift Current, potting a goal and an assist in the win. He assisted on the Raiders opening marker alongside Sorensen before tickling twine on the powerplay midway through the second. The 18-year-old is having a career year, tallying nine goals and eleven assists in 49 games this season.

Like Crocker, rookie Ryder Ritchie also had a pair of points scoring one of each last game. The Calgary product had the game-winning goal against the Broncos before helping out on Crocker’s marker for an assist. So far in his first year, he’s managed 14 goals and 19 assists in 33 games.

More information on tonight’s matchup.

logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann

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