Strathmore duo sparks Raiders

Times Editor

 

The Keystone Raiders concluded a successful season in the Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League this past weekend, with the help of a pair of Strathmore players.

Forward Connor McCallum and defenceman Justin Kostiuk were key members of the Chestermere-based squad, which finished their campaign with a showing at the Sutter Cup March 10-13 in Calgary.

Both players brought something to the table, which head coach Sean Finn appreciated during the course of the season.

“Connor had a tough year – he spent a lot of time injured early in the year, but he comes out and bring a lot of skill to the table,” said Finn of McCallum. “He is a smaller guy that will grow into the game, but he has great heart and is a good kid.” 

Meanwhile, Kostiuk provides something every good hockey team covets.

“Justin is a good all-round defenceman – he has a lot of good offensive upside, he’s really strong defensively, a strong kid physically and he skates quite well,” said the coach. “He’s a really important element on our team on the backend, for sure.”

It was a satisfying year for most of the Raiders players, especially those who played triple-A bantam in Okotoks the season before, where the team did not win one game.

That includes Kostiuk, who was thrilled with this year’s Raider campaign.

“Especially considering what happened to most of the team from last year, going to a season like this, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Kostiuk, who hopes to make the UFA Bisons next season. “I reached all the goals I set out at the start of the season – and the team goal of winning and making the Sutter Cup.”

McCallum echoed those same thoughts.

“You appreciate winning after last year,” smiled McCallum. “It was something we had to leave behind us. I feel like I became a better player (being on) this team.

“I like to be known as a playmaker, but you have to (accept) your role and keep doing what’s best for the team.”

Tough go at Sutter Cup

After a 17-10-5 regular season record, the Raiders finished the campaign by locking up second place in their division. With its great play, the team earned the right to take part in the Sutter Cup this past weekend at the Max Bell Centre.

Unfortunately, the team was ousted after going 0-1-2 during the round robin portion of the tournament. 

“It’s a tough tournament – it comes down to a lot of luck,” said Finn. “Only one of the top four teams (in the regular season) is moving on to the semifinals, so it’s a tough go.”

The Raiders lost a 3-2 heartbreaker in their first game versus the Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds, before tying the NWCAA Stampeders 2-2 and CRAA Blue Royals 3-3. With only four out of 12 teams moving on to the tournament’s playoffs, there is fine line between winning and losing.

“You look at our first game … we lose off of a bounce from a puck that came from behind the net, off the goalie’s back and in the net. That’s what it comes down to,” said Finn. “In the end, you have to play your best hockey when it matters and a lot of our big guys didn’t show up when we needed them to. Our top scorers were pretty much held scoreless for five periods of hockey. That’s not going to cut it at (this tournament).”