The Western Hockey League playoffs are officially underway. And so is Braeden Cootes.

After securing top spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a dominant 52-10-5-1 record, the Prince Albert Raiders welcomed the Red Deer Rebels for Game 1 of their opening-round series on Friday night.

It didn’t take long for Cootes to establish his presence in the series, opening the series scoring midway through the first period while navigating one of the team’s four power plays on the night. Stationed on the flank, Cootes received a pass and quickly snapped a short-side wrist shot over the netminder’s shoulder to give the Raiders an early lead.

Later in the game, Cootes added a second goal that perfectly encapsulated his style of play. Entering the zone, he took a pass in stride and fired another quick release to the same spot, doubling Prince Albert’s lead midway through the third period. Immediately after finding the back of the net, Cootes was met with a jab from a Rebels defender. He acted immediately, engaging in a spirited scrum behind the net.

Unfortunately for his bragging rights, it never escalated into a full-fledged fight and a five-minute fighting major, denying him a chance at a Gordie Howe hat trick.

He completed the trifecta shortly after anyway. Cootes added a primary assist moments later, helping secure a 4-1 victory in a tone-setting performance for Prince Albert.

The Sherwood Park native finished the night with two goals, one assist, six shots on goal, a plus-2 and went 12-for-19 in the faceoff circle.

After the game, Raiders head coach Ryan McDonald had high praise for his trade deadline acquisition. “He’s a game-breaker,” McDonald told Jason Kerr of the Prince Albert Herald. “You watch how he hunts, whether it’s on the forecheck (or) 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.”

Cootes now has three goals and 11 points through seven career WHL playoff games, dating back to last season when he recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) as captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The Raiders will look to take a 2-0 series lead when they host Game 2 on Saturday, March 28.