Daxon Rudolph puts a shot on goal around Pats forward Mathis Paul during the final game of the preseason. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

In division matchups

Weekend Preview: Raiders take first weekend road trip to Regina and Brandon

Sep 26, 2025 | 10:27 AM

After opening weekend saw the Prince Albert Raiders earn three out of a possible four points against the Saskatoon Blades, the Raiders are heading on the road for their first weekend road swing. First the Raiders stop in Regina to take on the Pats on Friday, and then head to Brandon where they’ll face the Wheat Kings on Saturday.

Friday @ Regina 7:00 p.m. Sask Time

Starting with the Friday matchup against the Regina Pats, the Raiders and Pats faced each other eight times last year, and four of those games went to overtime. In total, the Raiders had a record of 5-0-1-2 (Wins – Losses – Overtime Losses – Shootout Losses) last year against the Pats.

The Raiders head into the weekend with a record of 1-0-1 after winning 4-2 in their home opener, then losing in overtime on the road in Saskatoon 3-2. During the preseason, the Raiders finished with a 3-1-1-1 record.

The Pats opened the season with a pair of road losses, first in Swift Current 4-3, and then in Medicine Hat 5-2. The Pats finished the preseason with a record of 2-4-0-0, including two losses to the Raiders to finish off the preseason.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

16h ago

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Looking at the special teams matchup, the Raiders started the season off strong on both the powerplay and the penalty kill. With the man advantage, the Raiders went 2/5 for a 40 per cent success rate, and on the penalty kill the Raiders went 7/9, finishing with a 77.8 per cent success rate.

For the Pats, their powerplay got 10 opportunities on opening weekend and was able to score on two, good for 20%. Their penalty kill managed to score a shorthanded goal, but they still gave up four goals on six powerplays for a league worst 33.3 per cent after opening weekend.

On to players to watch where three players had multi point weekends to start the season. Brayden Dube put up 2G-1A, and linemate Aiden Oiring put up 1G-2A with the pair setting each other up on the weekend. Riley Boychuk also had a three point weekend with 0G-3A. In total, 10 Raiders put up at least one point in opening weekend.

For the Pats, they had 11 players put up at least one point on opening weekend lead by defenceman Matt Paranych with 0G-3A. Fellow blueliner Ephram McNutt was the only other Pat with a multi-point weekend with 0G-2A. Keets Fawcett and Ellis Mieyette both had the powerplay goals for the Pats.

In goal, the Raiders split the starts between Michal Orsulak and Dimitri Fortin on opening weekend. Orsulak earned the win and faced more shots, stopping 29 of 31 shots faced for a 0.935 save percentage, while Fortin faced less shots but arguably faced more high quality chances during his game, stopping 19 of 22 shots faced for a 0.864 save percentage and earning an overtime loss. Steele Bass is also still with the Raiders.

The Pats also still have three goaltenders, but weirdly enough 20-year-old Kelton Pyne did not play on opening weekend despite having the roster space for him. Instead, the Pats dressed Taylor Tabashniuk against Swift Current, who stopped 25 of 29 shots faced for a 0.862 save percentage and a loss. In Medicine Hat, the Pats put in Marek Schlenker, who stopped 36 of 40 shots faced for a 0.900 save percentage.

Saturday @ Brandon 5:00 p.m. Sask Time

On to Saturday’s matchup, the Raiders played the Brandon Wheat Kings six times last season, and both teams earned three wins apiece. The Wheat Kings won the season series on a single point thanks to an overtime loss, but the Raiders also took the East Division title away from the Wheat Kings in the final weekend of the season.

The Wheat Kings had one of the most surprising weekends to start the season. Along with the Raiders and Blades, the Wheat Kings are considered one of the early favourites to win the East Division this season, but they were surprised twice by the Moose Jaw Warriors, first 6-4 in Brandon, and then the following night in Moose Jaw, the Wheat Kings got out to a 6-3 lead, but gave up six straight goals to fall 9-7.

On special teams, the Wheat Kings powerplay only got six chances on the attack, but scored on half of them for a 50 per cent start to the season. They also only gave up six penalties, going 4/6 for a 66.7 per cent success rate on the penalty kill.

Players to watch in Brandon include former Swift Current Bronco Grayson Burzynski, who lead the Wheat Kings with 1G-4A on the weekend. Giorgos Pantelas also had five points on opening weekend with 0G-5A. Tied for third after opening weekend were Jordan Gavin and Chase Surkan, both with 2G-2A.

Prince Albert’s own Jayden Kraus was traded to Brandon in the offseason from Victoria, and the 19-year-old got both starts on the weekend. With 62 saves on 76 shots, Kraus opened the season with a 0.816 save percentage. The other goalie on the roster is 18-year-old Hudson Perry, who backed up in Edmonton last year. He posted a 0.908 save percentage in two preseason games.

The Raiders will take on the Regina Pats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, you can listen in to all the action starting with the pregame show on 900 CKBI and Brandt Raider Radio at 6:30 p.m. The following night, the Raiders will take on the Brandon Wheat Kings, the pregame show starts at 4:30 p.m. and puck drops at 5:00 p.m.

—

nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com