Canucks Prospect Braeden Cootes Boldly Declares Prince Albert Raiders' Championship Ambitions
Vancouver Canucks center prospect Braeden Cootes has made it abundantly clear that his current team, the Prince Albert Raiders, have their sights set on nothing less than a Western Hockey League championship as the playoffs commence this weekend. The 19-year-old forward, selected 15th overall by the Canucks in the 2025 NHL Draft, spoke candidly about the Raiders' lofty expectations following a dominant regular season.
Unwavering Confidence from a Top Prospect
"We want to win it all," Cootes stated emphatically during a Wednesday morning media availability. "Obviously, we have our goals and hopefully we're set to achieve them. Is there pressure being the No. 1 seed? I wouldn't think so. Our expectations are higher than anyone else's. It's a privilege to be the No. 1 seed in the East. We like it."
The Raiders earned that top Eastern Conference seed with an impressive 52-10-5-1 regular season record, finishing two points ahead of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Their first-round opponent will be the eighth-seeded Red Deer Rebels, who finished a staggering 52 points behind Prince Albert during the regular campaign.
Playoff History and Current Matchup
Prince Albert and Red Deer last met in the first round of the 2019 playoffs, with the Raiders sweeping that series en route to capturing the WHL championship. That team defeated the Vancouver Giants in a dramatic seven-game final, clinching the title with an overtime victory on home ice.
Despite the significant point differential between the teams this season, the Rebels managed to split their four regular-season meetings with Prince Albert, winning the last two matchups in early March. Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt, now in his 11th season with the organization, sees similarities between this year's squad and the 2019 championship team.
"This year's Raider team has similarities to that team, with its depth in particular," Hunt noted. Prince Albert ranked second in the league with 310 goals for and first with only 165 goals against during the regular season. The team boasted six 20-goal scorers, plus three additional players who reached that mark after being acquired via trades.
Cootes' Journey to Prince Albert
Cootes represents the final piece of the Raiders' championship puzzle, acquired from the Seattle Thunderbirds just ahead of the January 8 trade deadline in a substantial deal that sent four players and four WHL Draft picks to Seattle, including two first-round selections.
The Canucks prospect made a strong impression during Vancouver's training camp and preseason, earning a three-game stint with the NHL club before being reassigned to Seattle. After representing Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota over the Christmas break, Cootes was traded to Prince Albert immediately following the tournament.
Since joining the Raiders, Cootes has produced 14 goals and 40 points in just 28 games, including three goals and 12 points in his final five regular-season contests. Combined between Seattle and Prince Albert, he totaled 24 goals and 63 points in 45 regular-season games.
Leadership and Development
Cootes brings more than just offensive production to the Raiders. The former Seattle Thunderbirds captain also wore the "C" for Team Canada at the 2025 Under-18 World Championships and has earned praise for his leadership qualities and mature two-way game.
"Talking to Cootes is like talking to a 25-year-old," Hunt remarked earlier this season. "He's been excellent. He was banged up for a little bit there, but maybe that time off was good. He makes a big difference in our lineup."
The young forward maintains regular contact with the Canucks' player development team, particularly with Hockey Hall of Famers Henrik and Daniel Sedin.
"I know other teams have ex-NHLers as their development guys. But those two were unbelievably smart hockey players. They're hall of famers," Cootes said. "When they say something you listen. I'm very lucky to have them as a resource."
First-Round Challenge and Beyond
As the Raiders prepare for their opening playoff game against Red Deer on Friday, Cootes recognizes the challenge ahead despite the seeding disparity.
"They remind me of last year's Seattle team with how they play an honest game," Cootes said of the Rebels. "If we play our game at our pace we can have success. But it's not going to be easy. We're going to have to work for it. We have a lot of really good depth. I think we've been playing really good hockey the last couple of games. The boys are excited to get this going."
Should the Raiders advance through the Eastern Conference bracket, Cootes could potentially return to British Columbia later this spring. Winning the East would put Prince Albert in the WHL final against either a B.C.-based team or one of the American squads. The Western Conference champion Everett Silvertips posted the league's best regular-season record at 57-8-2-1, finishing seven points ahead of Prince Albert.
Additionally, the Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup national championship from May 22-31, guaranteeing at least one WHL team will compete for the Canadian Hockey League's ultimate prize beyond the league playoffs.
