As Max Hildebrand led the Prince Albert Raiders on the ice to commence the 2024 Western Hockey League Playoffs, his dad, Steve, stood in the owner’s suite at the SaskTel Centre.

One week prior to the first-round, best-of-seven series against the Saskatoon Blades, the Raiders were fighting for their playoff lives. Prince Albert ended the regular season needing just one of four points up for grabs in its final two contests to make the postseason.

Both games were against the Blades, the top team in the Eastern Conference and PA’s most hated rival.

Saskatoon won the first 5-1 at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert on March 22. The next day, the Raiders took the 80-minute bus ride to Saskatoon and fell 5-0.

With the Calgary Hitmen holding firm at 65 points, Prince Albert’s total of 67 wa

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