The Raiders and Blades shake hands at centre ice following Saskatoon's Game 5 win on Friday night in Saskatoon. (Steve Hiscock/Saskatoon Blades)

By Nolan Kowal

That's a wrap

‘We had such a tight group’: Raiders reminisce about season as players head home

Apr 8, 2024 | 12:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders cleaned out their lockers Saturday, one day after the team was eliminated from the Western Hockey League playoffs by the Saskatoon Blades.

And while there was disappointment in the air at the Art Hauser Centre, many of the players were holding their heads high after a season that saw the team get back in the playoffs after missing out last year.

“Obviously the series didn’t go the way we wanted,” said Raiders forward Ryder Ritchie. “But we battled as a team. I’m proud of the guys, we battled. Playoffs is a whole different level. Everything’s just magnified, little mistakes. It’s just such a harder game.”

“It’s tough, seeing the guys for the last time and just talking about all the memories we’ve had throughout the year. There was a lot of fun…we had such a tight group.”

Raiders Head Coach Jeff Truitt was able to guide his team to 31 victories this season, three more than last year.

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“There was a lot of pride in our jersey and the way that we play,” said Truitt, who will be spending time with family this offseason and taking a trip to Switzerland. “Our identity as a team and I thought that that came through numerous times this year. Just the effort of our guys was tremendous.”

Truitt added the team took another step this year in their development.

“I think it was a huge development year…I think there were 10 or 11 guys who surpassed last year’s point totals,” he said. “To see how tightly this group bonded and how well they got along pulled us through a lot of maybe adversities. Road wins, shootout wins, whatever it might be. When the chips were down…that just goes to show you that team mentality is strong.”

“I think a year like this makes you a better coach because we might not have been the most offensively gifted team, we had to work for things, we had to manufacture things. But what it made you do was it made you be creative, to make decisions.”

Stanick is one of three 20-year-olds on the roster who will be aging out of major junior hockey, along with Turner McMillen and Jacob Hoffrogge.

“Someone came up to me in Tim Hortons yesterday and just kind of thanked me and that was pretty special,” said Stanick who spent parts of three seasons in P.A. “You know the community is always rooting for us and watching.”

“They’re the most passionate fans in the world and I look forward to coming back and cheering on the Raiders and watching them succeed over the next few years.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com