(Submitted Photo/Mark Peterson)

By Nolan Kowal

BIG WIN

Raiders kick off pre-season with win in Big River First Nation

Sep 6, 2023 | 5:01 PM

Doogan Pederson’s goal early in the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Prince Albert Raiders edged the Saskatoon Blades 2-1 in their first taste of pre-season action Wednesday afternoon.

The game was played at the Jim Neilson Sports Complex in Big River First Nation. It’s the second year in a row that the Blades and Raiders have faced off in an exhibition game in the community.

Harrison Lodewyk also scored for Prince Albert in the second period after Zach Moore opened the scoring for Saskatoon on a shorthanded marker in the dying seconds of the first period.

Raiders Head Coach Jeff Truitt thought his team got better as the game wore on.

“Nerves in the first…lots of turnovers by both teams, but that’s expected,” Truitt said. “And then as the game went on, the second period I thought we played real well, we carried most of the action and responded real well after having to kill some penalties.”

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“And then in the third, it showed our work and it showed the commitment of the guys not only to get a goal but to defend.”

Goaltender Cooper Anderson picked up the win in net for the Raiders, making 19 stops.

“I thought he was fine. Quick legs…he made some saves on their powerplays that were pretty good and he faced some tough shots,” Truitt said. “I thought he was good, poised, rebound control was pretty good.”

“He was in the game, he was focused, so I really liked what I saw out of Cooper.”

Truitt also commented on the experience for his players to play in a neutral site game in Big River again this year.

“Happy for all the kids and the experience is unbelievable for these guys, especially in a place like Big River here, it was great,” he said. “Being able to come back again, great building, the fans are terrific, we get treated so well once we get here.”

“It’s a pleasure to come here every year.”

The Raiders will continue their pre-season on Saturday night in Prince Albert when the Blades visit the Art Hauser Centre.

Truitt identified a few areas that he’d like to see his group improve on.

“Probably a little bit more puck control through the neutral zone, we had some time that we didn’t recognize and then we’d just chip it…that’s just an awareness thing with the young group. But you want control of the puck coming through the neutral zone,” he said.

“There was a lot of positives here today. From a coach’s eye, you’re always a little bit critical on some things, but real happy. You could just kind of feel their energy and feel their positivity on the bench. They were excited to play which is great.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com