Prince Albert, Sask.- The Prince Albert Raiders are set to storm the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.
The Raiders qualified for the postseason with a 4-3 shootout triumph against the Regina Pats on Tuesday night.
Raiders captain Justice Christensen kicked off the scoring for the home team, securing his 22nd of the season. The Raiders would continue to pad their lead with goals from blueliner Vojtech Vochvest – his first in the Western League – and veteran Niall Crocker.
The Raiders’ admittance to the post-season wouldn’t come without a hitch, however. A third period comeback from the Pats would send the game to overtime – and, eventually, a shootout.
It would take a shootout tally from St. Louis Blues prospect Tomas Mrsic and three stops from netminder Max Hildebrand to secure the win and the post-season berth for the Raiders.
The Raiders are the first East Division squad to lock in a playoff berth, though the division title and a top seed in the Eastern Conference are still in play.
Led by St. Louis Blues prospect and offseason acquisition Tomas Mrsic and Seattle Kraken prospect Lukas Dragicevic, Prince Albert has featured one of the best powerplays in the WHL in 2024-25.
Mrsic is embracing his first 30-plus goal season, while five other Raiders skaters have surpassed the 20-goal mark.
That includes Captain Justice Christensen, who leads all WHL defencemen with 22 goals.
Dragicevic is also among the leaders in the blueliners’ points race.
First-year rearguard Daxon Rudolph, the first-overall selection in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, has snagged WHL Rookie of the Month honours for January in addition to a weekly award in February.
In net, veteran Max Hildebrand has saved the best for his final WHL campaign.
The 20-year-old collected his 50th career win this season and leads all goaltenders in save percentage, while tying for third in shutouts and third in wins (29).
This is the second straight season Prince Albert has punched its playoff ticket.
The storied franchise has lifted the Ed Chynoweth Cup twice, first in 1984-85 (featuring an impressive run that saw the Raiders go 12-1) and most recently in 2018-19, when the team was led by current NHLers Brett Leason (Anaheim Ducks), Noah Gregor (Ottawa Senators), Brayden Pachal (Calgary Flames) and rookie Kaiden Guhle (Montreal Canadiens), who would go on to capture a second WHL Championship with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Prince Albert won the Memorial Cup in 1985.
The Raiders close out the 2024-25 regular season at the Art Hauser Centre when they host the rival Saskatoon Blades on Saturday, March 22.
The 2025 WHL Playoffs will kick off on March 28.
