Prince Albert Raiders superfan Lee Philipenko has followed his beloved team from coast to coast during their magical run to the Memorial Cup. (submitted photo/Lee Philipenko)

By Jeff D'Andrea

A fan's dream

Superfans head to Halifax to cheer on Raiders

May 19, 2019 | 5:07 PM

HALIFAX— His team may have lost its first game at the 2019 Memorial Cup presented by Kia, but that didn’t stop Prince Albert Raiders superfan Lee Philipenko from strutting around downtown Halifax decked out in his home team colours.

In fact, a Raider zip-up hoodie, a Raider t-shirt and a Raider hat is just regular attire for Philipenko, who can usually be found at each game with the addition of a jersey, face paint and a green goal light helmet.

He and a small group of fans made the drive from Prince Albert to Langley, B.C. to watch Game 5 of the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship series against the Vancouver Giants on May 10. Now, he’s on the other side of the country watching his beloved team.

“To be honest, they’re my everything,” said Philipenko, who has been a season ticket holder since he moved back to Prince Albert 12 years ago. “To me, I eat sleep and breathe it because I believe in the team, I believe in the organization. I’m just doing my part as a fan.”

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Lee Philipenko and a fellow fan cheer on the Raiders in Halifax. (Facebook/Lee Philipenko)

As a young boy growing up in Prince Albert, Philipenko got hooked on the Raiders by watching the 1985 Memorial Cup winning season. He needed to wait another 34 years to get the opportunity to see his team make it to the big stage again but he said the wait has already been worth it.

“It’s a dream come true. Every season you come to the rink wishing the best for your team. You have your season tickets and you think ‘okay, this is the year.’ You’re all hyped for it. Whether we succeed or not, you’re still hyped. When you actually go on a run like we have, you’re speechless,” Philipenko said. “You don’t know how to say it. When asked, ‘what’s it like to be here?’ This is the dream come true. I always dreamed when I was older to be a part of the Memorial Cup with our team. And it is all about our team. We’re all part of the Raiders, even the fans back home that couldn’t make it here.”

It’s been a whirlwind for the players and coaches on the team. They played Game 5 on the road against the Vancouver Giants on May 10. They then played Games 6 and 7 at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert on May 12 and 13, winning it all in Game 7 of overtime. Then on May 22, they were on the plane to Halifax. Philipenko has been there through it all.

“Getting out, people were approaching us that were Giants fans saying ‘are you guys the ones that drove out?’ It was surprising to hear that, because it’s not like we voiced it,” Philipenko said. “We only voiced it to our group that we were doing that. To hear that and getting high-fives from the opponents was really weird, but it’s pretty astonishing.”

Philipenko said it’s been a whirlwind of a time with little sleep and jet lag, but he’ll support his team every step of the way.

“If you stop, you’re going to miss everything.”

Not the only one

For every Memorial Cup since 2001, Prince Albert’s Ron Wesolowski and Gaetan Malenfant have always found a way to go see it–no matter where it is or who’s playing. But since they are both long-time Raiders season ticket holders, this tournament means even more.

“I figure it’s the best hockey in the country, it’s the toughest cup to win,” Wesolowski said. “It’s our 18^th year following the Memorial Cup and of course it’s especially special this year because the Raiders are in it.”

The last time the Raiders made it to the Memorial Cup, Malenfant was watching it on television with a special guest – Carol Wilson, wife of then-Raiders assistant coach Rick Wilson.

“It’s a dream come true, because the last time they won 34 years ago, I was watching it in my basement with Carol Wilson, because Rick was coaching,” Malenfant said.

More hockey

The Raiders will be back at it on Monday against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. It’s a big game between the pair of 0-1 teams and could very well determine who’s eliminated and who moves on. The Raiders will also play on Tuesday against the Guelph Storm. Both games start at 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time. You can catch live play-by-play coverage on Saskatchewan Country CKBI radio with Trevor Redden.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW