Raiders conquer Gold twice

Times Reporter   

 

The Rockyview Raiders have been making a strong push for the playoffs over February, and added to it by defeating second place CRAA Gold on Feb. 21 by a score of 5-1, and again on Feb. 23, 4-3.

“We’ve been getting solid play out of almost everybody. Our special teams that really hurt us in the first half of the season has been a difference here in the last half,” said Raiders coach Doug Thurston. “We’ve been getting wins because our powerplay has been working and our penalty kill has been good. It’s pretty satisfying.”

In the first matchup with CRAA, Siksika’s Trygve Many Guns found the back of the net on the powerplay. Strathmore’s Markus Lavallee scored one and had a helper too; Strathmore’s Liam Rycroft also had one assist.

In the 4-3 victory, Strathmore’s Alec Biletsky had one goal assisted by fellow Strathmore native Chris Rebeyka. Many Guns added a marker, and two assists, while Strathmore’s Kody Hammond also had two helpers. With three seconds remaining – and on the powerplay – Lavallee scored for the win. 

“We have probably about six guys that are offensively capable. Everybody’s chipped in, everybody’s got a goal on our team now – some timely goals too,” Thurston said. “Guys that hadn’t even been scoring earlier have scored at the right time.”

Many Guns leads the team in scoring with 40 points (24 goals, 16 assists), followed closely behind by Lavallee with 30.

“It’s been a complete team effort, though Trygve has lead offensively, but he gets a little more powerplay time,” Thurston said.

The Raiders have only lost once in the month of February, and now stand eighth with a 14-18-3 record; only the top eight teams make the playoffs for the Sutter Cup. Rockyview’s last two season games – CRAA Blue on Mar. 1, and the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Mar. 2 – will decide their final standings. 

“We put a tremendous month here together,” Thurston said. “We’re within reach now and we have control of our own destiny. We don’t have to hope for anyone to do us a favour. If we win our games, we’ll be in. We just beat the second place team twice in a row, so that’s a huge confidence boost for the guys.”

Thurston has been encouraging the boys to find their strengths, and then play to them for an advantage. Right now, he’s only worried about these last two wins.

“Why we couldn’t find those buttons in the first part of the season, we’re not sure, but it is what it is,” he said. “I don’t think any team wants to step up and play us right now because we’re playing really solid hockey.”