From rivals to linemates: Chenier, Kibblewhite enjoying playing together with Hurricanes

By Lethbridge Herald on February 6, 2026.

Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald

It’s incredible the difference a year can make in junior hockey.

At this time last year, Oli Chenier and Hudson Kibblewhite were on the opposite end of one of the fiercest rivalries in all of junior hockey, now the two are teammates with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Kibblewhite was acquired from the Saskatoon Blades in the offseason in a trade that sent Tristen Doyle the other way. Lethbridge acquired the services of Chenier from the Prince Albert Raiders ahead of the trade deadline last month in exchange for a fourth round pick. 

With the two cities only located 140 kilometres apart on Highway 11, the Blades and Raiders have developed a classic rivalry over the years. 

In an interview with the Herald, Chenier says he’s enjoyed the transition to being Kibblewhite’s teammate.

“We kind of grew up the past two years playing against each other. That rivalry in PA (and) in Saskatoon doesn’t really leave you, so you hate those guys. But from the minute I walked in here, he’s been great. Being able to play on his line as a treat, he’s a super smart player. Since he’s been back in the lineup, it’s been unreal.”

When asked about Chenier, Kibblewhite says he enjoys playing with him way more than having to face him as the opposition.

“It’s awesome, he’s such a great guy. Obviously I didn’t like playing against him. Now playing with him, it’s awesome. I think we feed off each other really well. I think we’re just really still learning each other’s games. I think even going up words every single game like we’re putting it up to get some numbers together.”

One member of the Hurricane coaching staff has a unique perspective on the Prince Albert-Saskatoon rivalry. Matt Anholt, the current head coach of the Hurricanes, grew up in Prince Albert.

Matt’s father, former Hurricane general manager Peter Anholt, played for the Raiders and helped the team capture the 1981 Centennial Cup before the Raiders joined the WHL circuit. Following his playing career, he coached the Raiders on two different occasions from 1988-89 and 2003-2007. In Peter’s second tenure as the Raider bench boss, Matt served as a stick boy on the Raider bench.

During the 2005 WHL playoffs, the Raiders locked horns with the Blades in the first round. Saskatoon featured Taber product Devin Setoguchi and Lethbridge’s Wacey Rabbit that year. 

The lower seeded Raiders would sweep the Blades and make a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Final where they lost to the Brandon Wheat Kings in seven games. The Wheat Kings were coached that year by Kelly McCrimmon, the current general manager of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.

Anholt says it’s no surprise that Chenier and Kibblewhite have gotten along with Lethbridge and the flame of the Highway 11 rivalry still burns as hot as it did when he was the Raider stick boy. 

“It is pretty funny. Obviously they’re two excellent human beings. It’s no surprise that they’re getting along with some chemistry as well. Those two cities don’t like each other very much. I watched their two games there last weekend, home and home. Lots of Saskatoon fans in PA and vice versa the other way. There’s definitely a lot of hatred. It was a big rivalry back then and it has been ever since.”

Last season, the Raiders and Blades had a home-and-home weekend to close out the regular season slate with home ice advantage and a division banner hanging in the balance. The Raiders trailed Saskatoon by one point going into the weekend. A 3-2 overtime win for Prince Albert at the SaskTel Centre set up a winner-take-all contest at the Art Hauser Centre in the 68th and final game of the regular season for both clubs.

It was a back-and-forth contest, Prince Albert got out to a 3-1 lead that the Blades erased. With just three minutes to go in regulation, Seattle Kraken prospect Lukas Dragicevic struck with a power play goal sending the Prince Albert faithful into a frenzy in a game that Raiders would hold on and win 4-3. 

Chenier says those games were some of the most memorable he has played in his WHL career.

“It’s always cool when you’re able to bring a banner (home). In PA last year, we got that division title, so that was pretty cool. It always ends up Saskatoon home and home for the end of the year there, those games are crazy. Sold out crowds and last year just happened to be that we were fighting for that final spot to win that division, so those games are always cool. Never going to forget those, the milk crates out in PA there. It’s pretty cool.”

It was pure heartbreak for Kibblewhite and the Blades, who could have easily won either game and took home the division crown instead of Chenier’s Raiders. Saskatoon would be swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Calgary Hitmen The Raiders went onto eliminate a 3-1 series deficit against the Edmonton Oil Kings in the first round before being swept by Medicine Hat. 

Despite falling short of a division banner, Kibblewhite says the experience of playing in those meaningful games were important in his development as a 17-year-old player. 

“The atmosphere, that rivalry is awesome. You don’t take those games for granted, for sure. We didn’t come up on the right end of that foot, but it was a good experience for us, for sure. Obviously for Chenier too, playing those big games helps us for our future and on this team too.”

The Hurricanes kick off a two game Saskatchewan road trip tonight at the Art Hauser Centre against the Raiders. Lethbridge will play in Saskatoon on Saturday night.

Puck drop for both games on the Hurricanes road trip is scheduled for 6 p.m.