Tuesday's trade with Medicine Hat can be looked at several different ways.  First of all it's proof Coach and G.M. Bruno Campese isn't afraid to pull the pin on big deals.  There are several examples including the Matt Roberson deal with Regina two seasons back.  It's also a case of giving a high profile player what he wants.  Ryan Harrison wanted a new start close to his Kelowna B.C. home and is he ever getting one.  The 18 year old Centreman has landed with a solid franchise whose style fits him like a glove.  Medicine Hat (even in the post Willie Desjardins era) will continue to play a fast, high impact offensive style that will allow Harrison to do his thing albeit with an edge proven by close to 250 penalty minutes over two seasons in P.A.  The Tigers also appear headed for big things as Harrison joins the like of Emerson Etem, Wakaw's Linden Vey, Tristan King and Tyler Pitlick who just bolted to Tigertown from the N.C.A.A.  Let's not forget Tyler Bunz is likely to progress into one of the league's top goaltenders..
 
Meanwhile the Raiders welcome the Saskatchewan Midget AAA M.V.P. and scoring champion Todd Fiddler who not only won the points title...he won by a larger margin than Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the Olympics.  Fiddler was 19 points ahead of Minto veteran Taylor Fauchoux sniping 44 goals and 49 assists in just 40 games with the Beardys Blackhawks.  The 17 year old also proved he could play on a larger stage posting 3 goals and 2 assists in five games for Team West at the World under 17 challenge.  Fiddler also got a cup of coffee in the SJHL making some playoff appearances with the League champion LaRonge Ice Wolves.  There is no disputing Fiddler's skill, the only question is can he score at the WHL level?
 
As for 18 year old Austin Bourhis...his game can be described in one word....nasty.  In addition to his 7 goals and 14 assists, Bourhis had 139 penalty minutes with the Yorkton Terriers ranking him sixth in the SJHL.  He also will benefit from their playoff run into the SJHL final (He often was paired with former Raider Blaine Tendler).  Campese says new Tiger G.M. Brad McEwan didn't want to part with Bourhis but relented.  Bourhis isn't scared to make himself a target...his huge hack to the back of the ankle of Ice Wolves M.V.P. Dustin Stevenson in the league final is proof.  The acquisition of Bourhis falls in with Campese's pledge at the recent Members meeting that the Raiders would be tougher this coming season.  Bourhis will join the likes of Emerson Hyrnyk, Tyler Yaworski, Brock Balson and Marc McKenzie in that category.
 
With Sebastien Svendson, Mark McNeill, Justin Maylan, Mike Winther and Shayne Danyluk on the depth chart at Centre it likely also made the Harrison deal more palatable.
 
Summertime deals involving Svendson, the Raiders Import pick, and now Harrison things should slow down on the Raider trade front as teams head to training camp.  But P.A. still has five 20 year olds, and two have to go.. so stay tuned.