The PA party will continue in Round Two.
The Prince Albert Raiders edged the Red Deer Rebels with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 5 of their first-round series.
A sea of skaters parted for rookie blueliner Brock Cripps to wire a sharp goal from the slot, and the teams traded blows before Nate Yellowaga levelled the match at three with a stunning equalizer with under a minute remaining in regulation.
Dallas Stars prospect Brandon Gorzynski nailed the series-clinching goal with a wraparound dagger less than 90 seconds into overtime.
Rookie of the Year finalist Cripps- a 16-year-old defenceman- paced his team with eight points (3G-5A) in five games, while projected 2026 NHL first-round pick Daxon Rudolph left his stamp on the series with seven points (3G-4A).
2026 WHL Trade Deadline acquisition Braeden Cootes reminded fans why he cracked the Vancouver Canucks’ opening-night roster with a dominant two-goal, one-assist effort to cruise to a 4-1 win in Game 1.
Czech netminder Michal Orsulak, who is listed second among all North American netminders in NHL Central Scouting’s 2026 midterm NHL Draft rankings, dished up a 13-save shutout in a 6-0 drubbing in Game 2.
Red Deer grabbed its first lead of the series with a pair of powerplay strikes in Game 3, but Draft-eligible Alisher Sarkenov scored twice in the opening period to help Prince Albert to a 4-1 road win.
The Rebels were able to muscle out a 4-3 win on home ice to send the series back to Prince Albert for the pivotal Game 5.
Orsulak and Rudolph were both named to the 2025-26 WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team on Wednesday, while Cootes was named a finalist for the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annual to the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Cripps is also a finalist for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year.
Rudolph tied franchise great and current Winnipeg Jets alternate captain Josh Morrissey’s record for single-season goals by a defenceman with 28.
Orsulak led all WHL goaltenders with a 2.22 goals-against average, while ranking in the top five in save percentage (.907), wins (28) and shutouts (4).
Prince Albert captured a second consecutive East Division title, the first seed in the Eastern Conference and second in the league’s overall standings, thanks to a 52-10-5-1 regular season run.
The Raiders haven’t iced a 50-win season since 2019- the last time they hoisted the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions.
