Prince Albert painted the town green and Victoria was not amused.
The Raiders showed why they are the nationally No. 1-ranked team in the CHL with a 4-1 victory over the Royals.
It was a family affair Tuesday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre beyond just the names of the cities involved. Prince Albert put four former Victoria players — Dante Hannoun, Noah Gregor, Brayden Pachal and Jeremy Masella — on the ice for the opening face-off of the WHL game.
Victoria did not respond in kind and left former Raiders forward Kody McDonald, Carson Miller and D-Jay Jerome on the bench for the first puck drop.
“It didn’t even think about it [inter-connections angle],” said Royals GM Cam Hope. “I was more concerned that we were playing the top team in the CHL.”
The Raiders are 40-5-2. Probably the only thing constraining them from seriously stalking the all-time WHL record of 60 wins in a regular season, set by the 1980-81 Victoria Cougars, is that the WHL this season reduced the number of games from 72 games to 68.
“[Raiders] play a very fast game and capitalize on your mistakes,” said Hope.
That was amply displayed in the second period when Cole Fonstad picked the puck clean from Victoria defenceman Jameson Murray and went in to score to make it 3-1 at 4:27. The goal came at a juncture when Victoria had just pulled to within one.
Veteran Royals goaltender Griffen Outhouse did his part with some big early saves but could only hold the fort for so long in a 27-save performance that included a penalty-shot save off Parker Kelly.
If you break through the Raiders’ defence, waiting for you is Toronto Maple Leafs-signed Canadian junior team goaltender Ian Scott, who blocked 20 shots.
In the battle-within-the-war of former teammates, former Raiders forward Jerome scored for Victoria, while Hannoun and Raiders captain Pachal drew assists for Prince Albert, which scored two power-play goals.
Hannoun, in the all-time Royals franchise top five for career points after 41Ú2 seasons with Victoria, received a standing ovation in what was his final regular-season game on Blanshard Street.
