By Scott Fisher /

No matter how the rest of the season goes, the Prince Albert Raiders will have fond memories of their season-opener.

Not only did the hometown Raiders put up a win, they did it in convincing fashion — over the consensus pre-season favourites to win the WHL crown.

Defenceman Nathan Deck and centre Ryan Harrison each had a goal and a helper as the Raiders thumped the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-1.

Raiders rookie forward Mark McNeill said the win did wonders to build the club’s 
confidence.

“It was a good win,” McNeill told the Prince Albert Daily Herald.

“We knew we had to prove ourselves, because Brandon is a highly rated team that’s hosting the Memorial Cup this year. We went out there and we showed them tonight.”

Well, it wasn’t exactly the real Wheat Kings that showed up for the opener.

The Memorial Cup hosts were missing six NHL draft picks on the first weekend of 
the season.

The fact that McNeill was even on the ice was a minor miracle in itself.

The club’s top 2008 bantam pick worked hard over the summer to rehab from Achilles tendon surgery four months ago.

“I got my feet moving and it felt good,” the 16-year-old told the Herald.

“The (Edmonton) Oilers’ doctor told me that, after four months, if I’m ready to go, then I’m ready to go. I didn’t rush it, and I’m ready to go now. It feels really good.”

Unfortunately for McNeill and the Raiders, they were unable to build any momentum off the big opening-night win as they fell 7-2 to the Warriors in Moose Jaw the following evening.

Winger Dustin Cameron and blueliner Ryan Aasman provided the offence in the losing cause.

Raiders GM/head coach Bruno Campese said his club let the game slip out of reach in the middle frame.

“I thought we came out with a good first period, but that middle frame — especially the first 10 minutes — we just started standing around and turning pucks over,” Campese told the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. “Moose Jaw just outworked us and before we knew it it was 5-0.

“(In the first game) we battled, out-competed and outworked Brandon for 60 minutes. In parts of this game we brought that same type of effort, but for a good portion of it we didn’t.

“We’re not the type of team who can play a 20 or 40 minute game. We have to compete for 60 or we’re not going to have success.”

The Raiders kicked off a four-game homestand on Sept. 23. The team hits the road for one of two five-game road trips Oct. 9, as the Raiders will travel throughout the U.S. Division.