Oli Chenier is all smiles after netting his first career hat-trick against the Vancouver Giants on Jan. 9, 2024. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Logan Lehmann

Rolling Rookies

Chenier nets hat-trick, Raiders salvage single point in shootout loss to Giants

Jan 9, 2024 | 11:53 PM

Oli Chenier made the hats fly inside the Art Hauser Centre on Tuesday night, netting his first career hat-trick.

On top of the three-goal performance, the Winnipeg-born rookie also collected an assist during the game where the Prince Albert Raiders fell 6-5 in a shootout to the Vancouver Giants.

The loss comes after downing the Saskatoon Blades 2-1 in a shootout back on Saturday night.

Chenier spoke to media postgame and said he’s slowly feeling his game come together.

“I think I’m getting more confident in my game and tonight just proves that I’m making smarter moves with the puck and it’s working out for me,” he said.

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“I’m just going to keep being undeniable and keep on playing the way I’m playing.”

The Raiders were down on the scoreboard and came back three separate times in the contest, including digging out of a two-goal hole on two occasions while also overcoming a one goal deficit. Head coach Jeff Truitt shared his thoughts on the effort.

“We got to raise our levels when we’re behind and we tied those up on some opportunistic goals,” he explained. “Chenier tonight was unreal, I thought that he was terrific… then you get a goal from Stanick towards the end and you need that.”

“[The Chenier, Lodewyk, Macias line] worked and they were on pucks and made some good plays. Chenier has done such a great job with looking for his second goal, he was high in the slot, was patient and let his shot go and he’s very aware of what he’s got now. Macias is a shooter and has to use his shot more and [Lodewyk] is the workhorse on that line but they complimented each other very well and that line was great for us.”

Along with Chenier, Krzysztof Macias and Sloan Stanick also lit the lamp in the game while Harrison Lodewyk led the assist department with two. Doogan Pederson, Jacob Hoffrogge, Eric Johnston, Hayden Pakkala, Niall Crocker, and Terrell Goldsmith also made it on to the scoresheet with one helper each.

For Vancouver, Jaden Lipinski and Tyler Thorpe led the way with a goal and two assists each while Mazden Leslie and Samuel Honzek both had a goal and an assist. Tomis Marinkovic was the only other goal scorer and point getter for the Giants while newly acquired Tyson Zimmer scored the shootout winner in the sixth round.

Max Hildebrand had the start between the pipes for P.A., 31 saves as the Raiders fall to 18-18-0-3 on the campaign.

Matthew Hutchison was in goal for Vancouver and turned aside 29 shots as the Giants improve to 16-21-2-0 on the season.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

Vancouver opened the scoring early in the first period off a highlight reel end-to-end play. Hutchison robbed Crocker off a point-blank opportunity in tight before the Giants sprung a fast break the other way. Lipinski found a streaking Thorpe in neutral zone and beat Christensen out side to create space and get a shot off. Hildebrand made the initial stop, but Leslie was there to pot the rebound to get the visitors on the board.

A shot time later, a freak play ended in a Giants goal when Hildebrand left the crease to play the puck. The puck took a funny bounce off the boards, deflected off Hildebrand’s skate, and out in front of the goal where Marinkovic was there to bury the loose puck.

The opening frame wasn’t all Vancouver though as the Raiders did get on the board. Macias played the body to force a Giants turnover in the offensive end that led to Lodewyk collecting the puck. He then quickly fed the puck to Chenier in tight who one-timed it home to make it 2-1 after one.

P.A. managed to pull the game even with a highlight reel goal from one of their rookies. Chenier took a feed from Pederson and toe-dragged past a Giants defender on his way into the zone. He made his way into the slot and fired home his second of the night to make it two all.

Vancouver would regain the lead a short time later while on the man advantage. Leslie spotted Honzek on the far side and blasted home his fourth of the season.

P.A. would knot the game at three before second intermission thanks to one of their imports. Johnston’s point shot was deflected wide and bounced off the end board and onto the tape of Macias, who scored off a sharp angle.

The teetertotter contest continued in the final frame with Vancouver yet again taking the lead. Lipinski lit the lamp on the power play for his third point of the night to give the Giants the 4-3 advantage with just under nine minutes to go.

Then a minute later, the Raiders coughed up the puck in the defensive end which ended with Thorpe finding the back of the net to extend the lead to 5-3 late.

However, the Raiders weren’t done yet. Crocker knocked the Giants defender off the puck leading to Pakkala picking it up and connecting with Stanick in the slot who fired it home.

Then a little over a minute later, Chenier got his third of the night. Lodewyk came blazing into the offensive end with the puck and dumped it off for Chenier in the slot who one-timed it home for his hat-trick goal to make it 5-5.

A late penalty by the Raiders provided some extra drama in the final minute on the frame but luckily, P.A. was able to force overtime and started the extra period with 1:02 remaining on the penalty kill.

Thankfully, they were able to survive the power play and make it to a shootout. Neither team could find twine until the sixth round when Zimmer scored the walk off goal, helping the Giants win 6-5.

The Raiders wrap up their quick three game homestand on Friday night when they welcome the Victoria Royals to the Art Hauser Centre for the first time since Jan. 29, 2020.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com