Overview:
Bruno Campese’s club is 1-3-0-1 to start the 2011-2012 season. They dropped four in a row before a dominant 7-2 victory over Red Deer on Saturday. Don’t let the slow start fool you, the Raiders have a ton of great talent, and will no doubt be ready to go on home ice tonight.
Who’s Up Front:
The Raiders are led by two formidable forwards with a ton of upside. Brandon Herrod has tallied eight points through five games, and 18-year-old forward Mark McNeil is not too far off with seven points so far. The Cats will need to stay disciplined and not allow these two forwards extra time and space. If they can keep these two players quiet, they’ll have a great chance at success.
Who’s on D:
20-year-old defenceman James Bettauer has contributed five points in the first five games of the season for the Raiders. He’s already tallied three goals and is a +2 on the season.
Who’s in Goal:
The Raiders have two 18-year-old goaltenders who are very capable of winning hockey games. Cole Holowenko was the victor in Saturday’s 7-2 triumph over Red Deer. His counterpart Eric Williams is off to a bit of a slow start with an 0-2-0-1 record, but Williams showed last year that he can be a truly dynamic puck-stopper. The Prince George Cougars will be in tough regardless of who they face.
X-Factor:
20-year-old Justin Maylan is off to a solid start to the season with five points in five games. Maylan averaged over a point-per-game last season, and has proven that he can be a consistent point-producer in this league. The last thing the Cats want is to take a player like Maylan too lightly.
Overview:
The Cats are coming off two consecutive weekend losses ot the Victoria Royals. They showed glimpses of promise in both games, but too many mistakes in the defensive-zone cost them in the standings. They are 1-0 on the road this season and would love to kick off this seven-game road trip with two valuable points.
Who’s Up Front:
One of the bright spots late in Saturday’s game was the fact that several forwards stepped up their play with the absense of Charles Inglis. Nick Buonassisi scored his first goal of the season, and a long with Greg Fraser recorded a two-point night. Fraser and Buonassisi will have to continue that type of production on this road swing, and there’s no doubt that both are equally capable of doing so.
Who’s on D:
The Prince George Cougars have received strong offensive contributions early from both Cody Carlson and Martin Marincin. Carlson has three points in three games while Marincin has three points in two. With the injury to Brock Hirsche and the uncertainty surrounding Charles Inglis, it will be up to the defense to chip in offensively while still playing responsibly in their own zone.
Who’s in Goal:
Devon Fordyce saw his first true test of Western Hockey League competition on Saturday when he relieved Drew Owsley 11 minutes into the first period. It’ll be a busy couple of weeks for the Cats, and my guess is that both goaltenders will see some work during the trip. No decision has been made public yet as to which goaltender will get the call in Prince Albert.
X-Factor:
Another player coming off a multi-point night is 16-year-old Alex Forsberg. Forsberg had a three-point weekend, and showed some strong confidence and skill. Forsberg will likely be looking at an enhanced role offensively, and has made it no secret that he wants to be ‘counted on’ to produce.
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