Canucks: Cootes shows ‘game-breaker’ knack in Raiders playoff opener

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Braeden Cootes’ actions are matching his words.

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The Vancouver Canucks’ top prospect talked earlier this week about how the Prince Albert Raiders are aiming to win the WHL title this spring, and on Friday the 19-year-old centre put together a dominate showing in the Raiders’ 4-1 win over the visiting Red Deer Rebels in Game 1 of their opening round series.

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Cootes had two goals and one assist, recorded six shots and was 12-of-19 in the faceoff circle.

“He’s a game-breaker,” Raiders head coach Ryan McDonald told the Prince Albert Herald. “You watch how he hunts, whether it’s on the forecheck, whether it’s on the track. He possesses pucks underneath, has just an absolute tremendous release, and got himself inside the dots for a couple of really good looks.”

Raiders defenceman Brock Cripps added:  “He’s really smart, easy to play with. He gets open for you, and when you’re open, he finds a way to get the puck to you. It’s nice to play with him. Great player.”

And Cootes said: “Just playing to win, honestly. I was doing whatever it took to win. Just trying to keep the puck in their end, not giving them much, and just separate ourselves there at the end so they couldn’t pull the goalie and get a chance to tie it.”

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Prince Albert (52-10-5-1) are the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. Game 2 against the  Rebels (26-36-4-2) is tonight in Prince Albert. The series shifts to Red Deer on Tuesday.

The Raiders acquired Cootes just ahead of the Jan. 8 trade deadline in a blockbuster deal with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Seattle received four players and four WHL Draft selections, including two first rounders.

Cootes said this week: “We want to win it all. Obviously, we have our goals and hopefully we’re set to achieve them.” 

The Canucks picked Cootes in the first round, No. 15 overall, in last summer’s NHL Draft, coming off his 26 goals and 63 points in 60 regular season games with Seattle. The Thunderbirds went six games with the top seeded Everett Silvertips in the first round of the playoffs, and Cootes had two goals and eight points in that series.

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