Raiders rally in Saskatoon as rookies and invitees rise in preseason test
The Winnipeg Raiders rallied in Saskatoon on Friday night, overturning a multi‑goal deficit as a string of rookies and camp invitees supplied the spark in a physical, end‑to‑end preseason game against the Blades.
The contest featured frequent momentum swings and a flurry of individual efforts, with several young players turning early chances into offence and a late strike delivering a regulation‑time victory for the Raiders at 19:24 of the third period.
Key moments and players
Early in the first period the Blades built a two‑goal cushion, only for the Raiders to respond. The sequence that produced the Raiders’ first goal began with a heavy hit at the Raiders’ blue line from camp invitee Parker Gabriel, which led to a turnover. Brooks Carlson, a 2026 10th‑round pick, sprung Louis Judd, the club’s 2025 fifth‑round selection, on a breakaway and Judd finished to get the visitors on the board.
The Blades reasserted momentum later in the period when Christian Lee converted a 2‑on‑1 setup for Zane Medin, and they held the advantage until late in the frame. With under a minute remaining, the Raiders answered again when Caleb Mozell, the Raiders’ top pick in 2026, intercepted a pass at the top of the slot and fired a shot that found the net.
In the second period, the Blades widened the margin minutes in, as Alexander Sharman converted a high‑quality scoring chance. The Raiders, however, clawed back before the period ended. On the power play at 18:23, American camp invitee John O’Shea collected the puck behind his own net, connected on a give‑and‑go with 2025 fifth‑round pick Chayse Fedoriuk, then carried into the slot and finished to narrow the gap.
The third period remained tense and tightly contested. Midway through the frame Wesley Truax restored the Blades’ lead, only for the Raiders to reply 18 seconds later when Mozell and Alex Boldt combined on a 2‑on‑1 and Mozell netted his second of the night. With the game hanging in the balance late, a power‑play chance produced a rebound scrummage in the slot that Gavin Hamelin finished off, and then a decisive regulation‑time goal at 19:24 sealed the comeback victory for the Raiders.
- Rookie contributors: Caleb Mozell, Brooks Carlson, Louis Judd
- Camp invitees making impact: Parker Gabriel, John O’Shea
- Late‑game composure turned momentum into a regulation win at 19:24
Game flow and statistics
The shot totals reflected a close affair, with the Blades edging the early tempo but the Raiders generating chances at key moments:
| Period | Score (Raiders – Blades) | Shots (Raiders – Blades) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 – 3 | 13 – 12 |
| 2 (after) | 3 – 4 | 26 – 24 (overall) |
Beyond the box score, the game provided a look at the depth on both teams and the readiness of players still fighting for roster spots. Several young scorers showed the kind of instincts that can alter roles during a long season, while defence and goaltending were tested repeatedly in transition.
Local implications and what comes next
For Saskatoon hockey fans, preseason exhibitions like this offer an early glimpse at prospects who could shape the coming junior season. The Blades, who hosted the game, were competitive throughout but will want to tighten up defensive coverage on quick breaks and late‑period rebounds. The Raiders left with a confidence boost after coming from behind, highlighting the potential payoff from recent draft picks and camp tryouts.
Both clubs now turn back to camp schedules and further preseason matchups as they prepare for the regular season: players will be evaluated not only on scoring but on consistency, penalty killing and defensive zone reads. For the young prospects who found the scoresheet in Saskatoon, the performance was a statement—one that could influence who starts the season in a prominent role.
