By Adam Hawboldt /

It’s been a renaissance year, of sorts, for Justin Bernhardt.

In his fifth and final Western Hockey League season, the young man from Yorkton seems to have found all the pieces to the puzzle and has finally put them together.

“I think he’s learned to be more responsible,” said Raider coach/GM Bruno Campese. “He’s always had the talent, but this year, his work ethic is second to none. He’s increased it to the level it should be at. The other point is he’s been more accountable. His focus is better, his conditioning is better, his attention to detail is better.”

And the result?

Bernhardt’s finest WHL campaign to date.

In 35 games this season, the Prince Albert Raiders right-winger has accumulated 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) and sits sixth in league scoring.

Some of his success can be attributed to the way Bernhardt is approaching every game — with a sense of urgency.

“It’s my last year and I just want to give all I can,” said the 20-year-old vet. “If I want to have a future in this game, that’s what I have to do.”

But that’s not all. This season, Bernhardt is doing things with the puck he’d been reluctant to do before.

“Coming into this year, Bruno said to start using the guys around me a little more,” said Bernhardt. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do.”

So now, as opposed to trying to beat people one-on-one all over the ice as he was apt to do in the past, the 6-1 winger is making smarter decisions and getting his teammates involved.

Early in the year, one of those teammates was fellow 20-year-old, Ryan McDonald.

For the first 20 games or so, the two overagers were steadfast fixtures on the Raiders top line and first powerplay unit.

They fed off each other and both produced at around a point-per-game pace. But in November, when the Raiders began to slide down the Eastern Division standings, it was time for the coaching staff to shake things up.

“Me and Mac, we were clicking when we played together most games,” said Bernhardt. “But obviously when things don’t go the way the team wants, you have to change something, right? You have to mix up the lines. That’s just what happens.”

Over the past month, as the Raiders juggled lines in an effort to get back to their winning ways, Bernhardt has found himself on a number of different lines.

But it doesn’t seem to bother him.

Instead, he has simply gone right on producing — regardless of who he’s played with.
 
RAIDER REVIEW
After going 3-11 in November, and matching a franchise record nine-game losing skid, the Raiders finally got back in the win colum with an 8-3 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Dec. 6. Both Bernhardt and McDonald had four points in the win … Raider defenceman Tomas Voracek, who left the team in September to be with his sick mother back home in the Czech Republic, has been asked to attend the Czech Republic World Junior selection camp.