The Prince Albert Raiders are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1971 as a member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the Raiders have been members of the Western Hockey League since 1982. They play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference and host games at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders are two-time Ed Chynoweth Cup winners, and won the Memorial Cup as Canadian junior champions in 1985.

History

Founding and SJHL dynasty

The Raiders were founded as a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) club in 1971, playing out of the newly constructed Prince Albert Communiplex, later renamed the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders quickly established themselves as one of the most successful Tier II junior clubs in Canada. The team won seven consecutive Anavet Cups from 1976 to 1982, defeating Manitoba Junior Hockey League champions for the right to play for the national championship. Prince Albert went on to win the national championship, the Centennial Cup, four times between 1977 and 1982. In this era, the Raiders competed against a number of future Ontario Hockey League teams, including the Guelph Platers and the Belleville Bulls. The team's early success came under manager and coach Terry Simpson—former player James Patrick called the coach "synonymous with winning and competing"—and he remained coach when the team moved up to the top junior ranks by joining the WHL in 1982.

Joining the WHL

The Raiders' first year in the WHL was a challenging one—the team finished last in the East Division and missed the playoffs. The Raiders thus earned a spot in the 1985 Memorial Cup.

The Memorial Cup tournament also featured the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the Verdun Junior Canadiens, and the Shawinigan Cataractes. In an opening game that featured 108 minutes in penalties, Prince Albert lost 6–2 to Shawinigan. The second game saw the Raiders beat Verdun 5–3 with 2 goals from defenceman Dave Goertz. The Memorial Cup victory capped off a decade-long run in which the Raiders won five national championships.

The following season, the Raiders finished second overall before losing the Division Final in seven games to the Medicine Hat Tigers. Simpson won his second coach-of-the-year award, and then left the team to coach the New York Islanders, marking the end of an era. Simpson would return for a single season in 1989–90 before leaving again for the NHL. The win sent the Raiders to their second Memorial Cup tournament, where they were knocked out in the preliminary round.

Led by the team's first 18-year old captain in Kaiden Guhle, the Raiders had another strong season in 2019–20; however, with the team atop the East Division, the season was cut short and the playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending the Raiders' hopes of repeating. The team participated in a shortened 2020–21 campaign featuring only East Division opponents.thumb|[[Kyle Chipchura with the Raiders in 2005. Chipchura served as captain in 2005–06.]]

Logos and uniforms

The Raiders originally wore green and yellow uniforms with a logo featuring a skating hockey player. From 1985 until the mid-1990s, the team adopted imagery featuring an Arab mascot wielding a scimitar. Although the team moved away from this look in 1996—adopting black as its primary colour and a new logo featuring a pirate's head—the Raiders stirred controversy in the twenty-first century by bringing back elements of branding from the era. the team ultimately retired the mascot and would late introduce a parrot mascot in its place. In 2021, the team forced the WHL to apologize when it brought back its 1980s jerseys as a third-jersey; the move was called "insensitive and offensive".

The Raiders re-adopted green as the primary colour in 2013, and ditched the pirate logo in favour of a sword-and-shield logo featuring "PA" initials.

Like many junior teams, the Raiders frequently adopt limited-edition and special-event jerseys. In 2024, the team temporarily re-branded as the Cobra Chickens, unveiling a new jersey featuring a Canada goose logo.

Championships

Memorial Cups

  • 1985

Ed Chynoweth Cups

  • 1985, 2019

Playoff Division/Conference Champions

  • 1985, 2019, 2026

Scotty Munro Memorial Trophies

  • 1985, 2019

Regular season Division Champions

  • 1985, 1992, 1999, 2019, 2020, 2025, 2026

Centennial Cup Champions

  • 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982

Abbott Cup Champions

  • 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982

Anavet Cup Champions

  • 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Champions

  • 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

WHL Championships

  • 1984–85: Win, 4–0 vs Kamloops Blazers
  • 2018–19: Win, 4–3 vs Vancouver Giants
  • 2025–26: Loss, 1–4 vs Everett Silvertips

Memorial Cup finals

  • 1985: Win, 6–1 vs Shawinigan Cataractes

Season-by-season record

thumb|[[Marc Habscheid coached the Raiders from 2014 to 2022.]]

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties OTL = Overtime losses Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center

|- style="background:#dddddd; border-top:#007940 5px solid; border-bottom:#C5B785 5px solid;"

! Season !! GP !! W !! L !! T !! OTL !! GF !! GA !! Points !! Finish !! Playoffs

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| colspan="11" |Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

|-

|1971–72 ||44 ||32 ||12 ||0 ||- ||277 ||185 ||51 ||3rd SJHL ||Lost semifinal

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|1972–73 ||48 ||33 ||15 ||0 ||- ||284 ||202 ||48 ||1st SJHL North||Lost semifinal

|-

|1973–74 ||50 ||35 ||15 ||0 ||- ||228 ||204 ||70 ||1st SJHL ||Won League

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|1974–75 ||58 ||39 ||19 ||0 ||- ||351 ||210 ||78 ||1st SJHL North||Lost final

|-

|1975–76 ||58 ||47 ||10 ||1 ||- ||377 ||184 ||95 ||1st SJHL ||Won League, won Anavet Cup

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|1976–77 ||60 ||45 ||14 ||1 ||- ||392 ||242 ||91 ||1st SJHL North||Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Centennial Cup

|-

|1977–78 ||59 ||41 ||17 ||1 ||- ||391 ||220 ||83 ||1st SJHL ||Won League, won Anavet Cup

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|1978–79 ||60 ||44 ||13 ||3 ||- ||405 ||221 ||91 ||1st SJHL ||Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Centennial Cup

|-

|1979–80 ||60 ||45 ||14 ||1 ||- ||381 ||197 ||91 ||1st SJHL ||Won League, won Anavet Cup

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|1980–81 ||60 ||50 ||7 ||3 ||- ||454 ||199 ||103 ||1st SJHL ||Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Centennial Cup

|-

|1981–82 ||60 ||57 ||3 ||0 ||- ||- ||- ||114 ||1st SJHL ||Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Centennial Cup

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| colspan="11" |Western Hockey League

|-

| 1982–83 || 72 || 16 || 55 || 1 || - || 312 || 455 || 33 || 8th East || Did not qualify

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1983–84 || 72 || 41 || 29 || 2 || - || 411 || 357 || 84 || 5th East || Lost in first round

|-

| 1984–85 || 72 || 58 || 11 || 3 || - || 481 || 255 || 116 || 1st East || Won championship and Memorial Cup

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1985–86 || 72 || 52 || 17 || 3 || - || 424 || 257 || 107 || 2nd East || Lost East Division final

|-

| 1986–87 || 72 || 43 || 26 || 3 || - || 346 || 264 || 89 || 3rd East || Lost East Division semifinal

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1987–88 || 72 || 43 || 24 || 5 || - || 373 || 284 || 91 || 3rd East || Lost East Division semifinal

|-

| 1988–89 || 72 || 37 || 33 || 2 || - || 302 || 286 || 76 || 4th East || Lost East Division quarterfinal

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1989–90 || 72 || 38 || 33 || 1 || - || 302 || 286 || 77 || 2nd East || Lost East Division final

|-

| 1990–91 || 72 || 38 || 29 || 5 || - || 337 || 284 || 81 || 4th East || Lost East Division quarterfinal

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1991–92 || 72 || 50 || 20 || 2 || - || 356 || 261 || 102 || 1st East || Lost East Division final

|-

| 1992–93 || 72 || 25 || 42 || 5 || - || 252 || 317 || 55 || 9th East || Did not qualify

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1993–94 || 72 || 31 || 37 || 4 || - || 326 || 321 || 66 || 8th East || Did not qualify

|-

| 1994–95 || 72 || 44 || 26 || 2 || - || 308 || 267 || 90 || 2nd East || Lost East Division final

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1995–96 || 72 || 47 || 19 || 6 || - || 309 || 250 || 100 || 2nd East || Lost Eastern Conference final

|-

| 1996–97 || 72 || 29 || 34 || 9 || - || 235 || 262 || 67 || 5th East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1997–98 || 72 || 20 || 47 || 5 || - || 322 || 288 || 45 || 6th East || Did not qualify

|-

| 1998–99 || 72 || 45 || 22 || 5 || - || 288 || 213 || 95 || 1st East || Lost Eastern Conference final

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 1999–00 || 72 || 26 || 33 || 6 || 7 || 221 || 257 || 65 || 4th East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|-

| 2000–01 || 72 || 18 || 47 || 3 || 4 || 204 || 348 || 43 || 6th East || Did not qualify

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2001–02 || 72 || 26 || 41 || 2 || 3 || 234 || 324 || 57 || 5th East || Did not qualify

|-

| 2002–03 || 72 || 27 || 37 || 3 || 5 || 185 || 258 || 62 || 5th East || Did not qualify

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2003–04 || 72 || 38 || 23 || 6 || 5 || 215 || 186 || 87 || 2nd East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|-

| 2004–05 || 72 || 31 || 32 || 5 || 4 || 185 || 191 || 71 || 3rd East || Lost Eastern Conference final

|-

! Season !! GP !! W !! L !! OTL !! SOL !! GF !! GA !! Points !! Finish !! Playoffs

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2005–06 || 72 || 25 || 36 || 1 || 10 || 167 || 228 || 61 || 5th East || Did not qualify

|-

| 2006–07 || 72 || 27 || 39 || 3 || 3 || 203 || 266 || 60 || 4th East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2007–08 || 72 || 26 || 42 || 3 || 2 || 196 || 248 || 57 || 6th East || Did not qualify

|-

| 2008–09 || 72 || 31 || 36 || 4 || 1 || 233 || 270 || 67 || 4th East || Did not qualify

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2009–10 || 72 || 32 || 35 || 3 || 2 || 229 || 249 || 69 || 5th East || Did not qualify

|-

| 2010–11 || 72 || 31 || 36 || 2 || 3 || 247 || 283 || 67 || 4th East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2011–12 || 72 || 21 || 45 || 3 || 3 || 219 || 312 || 48 || 6th East || Did not qualify

|-

| 2012–13 || 72 || 37 || 28 || 3 || 4 || 234 || 233 || 81 || 2nd East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2013–14 || 72 || 35 || 32 || 3 || 2 || 243 || 258 || 75 || 4th East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|-

| 2014–15 || 72 || 31 || 37 || 2 || 2 || 215 || 257 || 66 || 5th East || Did not qualify

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2015–16 || 72 || 38 || 26 || 7 || 1 || 222 || 223 || 84 || 2nd East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|-

| 2016–17 || 72 || 21 || 44 || 5 || 2 || 198 || 283 || 49 || 6th East || Did not qualify

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2017–18 || 72 || 32 || 27 || 9 || 4 || 245 || 250 || 77 || 5th East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|- bgcolor=

| 2018–19 || 68 || 54 || 10 || 2 || 2 || 307 || 156 || 112 || 1st East || Won championship

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2019–20 || 64 || 36 || 18 || 6 || 4 || 210 || 160 || 82 || 1st East || Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

|-

| 2020–21 || 24 || 9 || 11 || 3 || 1 || 70 || 81 || 22 || 4th East || No playoff held due to COVID-19 pandemic

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2021–22 || 68 || 28 || 35 || 4 || 1 || 194 || 225 || 61 || 5th East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|-

| 2022–23 || 68 || 28 || 37 || 3 || 1 || 198 || 239 || 59 || 6th East || Did not qualify

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2023–24 || 68 || 31 || 32 || 2 || 3 || 215 || 221 || 67 || 4th East || Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

|-

| 2024–25 || 68 || 39 || 23 || 5 || 1 || 253 || 228 || 84 || 1st East || Lost Eastern Conference semifinal

|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2025–26 || 68 || 52 || 10 || 5 || 1 || 310 || 165 || 110 || 1st East || Lost Final

|}

Playoffs (SJHL)

  • 1972 Lost semifinal

:Raiders defeated Weyburn Red Wings, 4–2

:Melville Millionaires defeated Raiders, 4–2

  • 1973 Lost semifinal

:Raiders defeated Yorkton Terriers, 4–1

:Humboldt Broncos defeated Raiders, 4–0

  • 1974 Won League, lost Anavet Cup

:Raiders defeated Humboldt Broncos, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Saskatoon Olympics, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Estevan Bruins, 4–1 (SJHL Champions)

:Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) defeated Raiders, 4–2

  • 1975 Lost final

:Raiders defeated Saskatoon Olympics, 4–1

:Raiders defeated Battleford Barons, 4–0

:Swift Current Broncos defeated Raiders, 4–2

  • 1976 Won League, won Anavet Cup, lost Abbott Cup

:Raiders defeated Battleford Barons, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Swift Current Broncos, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Weyburn Red Wings, 4–0 (SJHL Champions)

:Raiders defeated Selkirk Steelers (MJHL), 4–1 (Anavet Cup Champions)

:Spruce Grove Mets (AJHL) defeated Raiders, 4–1

  • 1977 Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Abbott Cup, won 1977 Centennial Cup

:Raiders defeated Humboldt Broncos, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Swift Current Broncos, 4–1

:Raiders defeated Melville Millionaires, 4–2 (SJHL Champions)

:Raiders defeated Dauphin Kings (MJHL), 4–1 (Anavet Cup Champions)

:Raiders defeated Calgary Canucks (AJHL), 4–1 (Abbott Cup Champions)

:Raiders defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL), 4–0 (Centennial Cup Champions)

  • 1978 Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Abbott Cup, lost 1978 Centennial Cup

:Raiders defeated Battleford Barons, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Swift Current Broncos, 4–3

:Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks, 4–1 (SJHL Champions)

:Raiders defeated Kildonan North Stars (MJHL), 4–0 (Anavet Cup Champions)

:Raiders defeated Merritt Centennials (BCJHL), 4–1 (Abbott Cup Champions)

:Guelph Platers (OPJHL) defeated Raiders, 4–0

  • 1979 Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Abbott Cup, won 1979 Centennial Cup final

:Raiders defeated Battleford Barons, 4–1

:Raiders defeated Swift Current Broncos, 4–3

:Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks, 4–2 (SJHL Champions)

:Raiders defeated Selkirk Steelers (MJHL), 4–1 (Anavet Cup Champions)

:Raiders defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders (AJHL), 4–2 Abbott Cup Champions)

:First in 1979 Centennial Cup round robin (3-1)

:Raiders defeated Sherwood-Parkdale Metros (IJHL), 5-4 (OT) in final (Centennial Cup Champions)

  • 1980 Won League, won Anavet Cup, lost Abbott Cup

:Raiders defeated Weyburn Red Wings, 4–1

:Raiders defeated Swift Current Broncos, 4–2

:Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks, 4–2 (SJHL Champions)

:Raiders defeated Selkirk Steelers (MJHL), 4–2 (Anavet Cup Champions)

:Red Deer Rustlers (AJHL) defeated Raiders, 4–2

  • 1981 Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Abbott Cup, won 1981 Centennial Cup final

:Raiders defeated Battleford Barons, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Humboldt Broncos, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks, 4–3 (SAJHL Champions)

:Raiders defeated St. Boniface Saints (MJHL), 4–1 (Anavet Cup Champions)

:Raiders defeated St. Albert Saints (AJHL), 4–0 (Abbott Cup Champions)

:First in 1981 Centennial Cup round robin (3-1)

:Raiders defeated Belleville Bulls (OPJHL), 6-2 in final (Centennial Cup Champions)

  • 1982 Won League, won Anavet Cup, won Abbott Cup, won 1982 Centennial Cup

:Raiders defeated Humboldt Broncos, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Swift Current Broncos, 4–0

:Raiders defeated Yorkton Terriers, 4–0 (SAJHL Champions)

:Raiders defeated Fort Garry Blues (MJHL), 4–2 (Anavet Cup Champions)

:Raiders defeated St. Albert Saints (AJHL), 4–1 (Abbott Cup Champions)

:Raiders defeated Guelph Platers (OJHL), 4–0 (Centennial Cup Champions)

Players

NHL alumni

The following list includes alumni from the Prince Albert Raiders of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL) who went on to play in the National Hockey League.

SJHL Raiders

  • Robin Bartel
  • Todd Bergen
  • Rollie Boutin
  • Ron Delorme
  • Gary Emmons
  • Bob Hoffmeyer
  • Brad McCrimmon
  • Dave Michayluk
  • Bill Oleschuk
  • Greg Paslawski
  • James Patrick
  • Darcy Regier
  • Dave Reierson
  • Dave Tippett
  • Bill Watson

WHL Raiders

  • Nolan Allan
  • Ryan Bast
  • Ken Baumgartner
  • Todd Bergen
  • Curtis Brown
  • Shawn Byram
  • Frederic Chabot
  • Kyle Chipchura
  • Brad Church
  • Byron Dafoe
  • Rod Dallman
  • Leon Draisaitl
  • Pat Elynuik
  • Todd Fedoruk
  • Joaquin Gage
  • Noah Gregor
  • Dave Goertz
  • Steve Gotaas
  • Kaiden Guhle
  • Scott Hartnell
  • Paul Healey
  • Jim Hiller
  • Shane Hnidy
  • Dan Hodgson
  • Kim Issel
  • Parker Kelly
  • Steve Kelly
  • Dan Kesa
  • Darin Kimble
  • Dean Kolstad
  • Milan Kraft
  • Gord Kruppke
  • Dale Kushner
  • Jeff Lank
  • Brett Leason
  • Jamie Linden
  • Ross Lupaschuk
  • Steve MacIntyre
  • Dave Manson
  • Dean McAmmond
  • Grant McNeill
  • Mike Modano
  • Josh Morrissey
  • Jeff Nelson
  • Todd Nelson
  • Brayden Pachal
  • Dave Pasin
  • Denis Pederson
  • Chris Phillips
  • Richard Pilon
  • Aliaksei Protas
  • Nick Schultz
  • Cam Severson
  • Reid Simpson
  • Michal Sivek
  • Alan Stewart
  • Ryan Stewart
  • Kevin Todd
  • Shayne Toporowski
  • David Van Drunen
  • Darren Van Impe
  • Emanuel Viveiros
  • Roman Vopat
  • Wes Walz
  • Shane Willis

Retired numbers

Numbers retired by the Raiders:

{| class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#007940 5px solid; border-bottom:#C5B785 5px solid;"

!#

!Player

|- style="text-align:center;"

|4

|Dave Manson

|- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|9

|Mike Modano

|- style="text-align:center;"

|16

|Dan Hodgson

|}

Team records

{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; text-align: center; margin-right:1em"

|+ Team records for a single season

|- style="border-top:#007940 5px solid; border-bottom:#C5B785 5px solid;"

!Statistic!!Total!!Season

|-

|Most points||119||1984–85

|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|Most wins||58||1984–85

|-

|Most road wins||27||1984–85

|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|Most home wins ||31|| 1984–85

|-

|Most goals for||481||1984–85

|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|Fewest goals for||167||2005–06

|-

|Fewest goals against||156||2018–19

|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|Most goals against||444||1982–83

|}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; text-align: center; margin-right:1em;"

|+ Individual player records for a single season