Raiders earn silver

Times Reporter   

 

At the World Sports School Challenge against five other teams, the Rockyview Raiders recorded three wins and two losses – one of those losses coming in the final against Shattuck St. Mary’s on Dec. 31, by a score of 6-2. That loss, however, earned them a silver in the tournament.

“I have to say that was some of the most incredible hockey I have ever seen,” Raiders general manager Todd Virostek said.

The Raiders defeated The Edge 4-3 on Dec. 28, with Strathmore’s Kody Hammond and Brad Hendricks notching assists; Siksika’s Trygve Many Guns added a goal. The next day, Rockyview defeated OHA Elite 4-1, with Strathmore-born Markus Lavallee scoring a hat-trick. After a loss of 5-1 to Shattuck St Mary’s, the Raiders won on Dec. 30 against The Edge 1-0 for a spot in the final. In the championship game, Hammond and Many Guns found the back of the net, while Hendricks added another assist.

“I thought we did very well,” Raiders coach Doug Thurston said. “The only games we lost were against Shattuck. They carry half their team with 16-year-olds. That certainly is a huge difference when we were filling spots with 14-year-old bantams.”

Goalie Hunter Virostek and defensemen Dawson Wade were named to the World Sports School Challenge All-Star Team.

Three bantams filled roster spots for the Raiders, including one for Strathmore forward Chris Rebeyka, who was injured. 

 In November following their silver finish at the Prospect Cup, the team spiraled in their league play; possibly from being overconfident, Thurston said.

“It’s déjà vu this weekend. We played a team we probably should have beat on Saturday,” he said.

The Raiders dropped to CRAA Blue 6-4 on Jan. 4. Rebeyka returned, and added one goal.

“We were pretty tight defensively in the Edge Tournament. We weren’t very tight after. That was frustrating,” Thurston said.

The following night, led by two goals from Many Guns, and one by Strathmore’s Liam Rycroft, the Raiders beat the NWCAA Stampeders by a score of 3-1.

Depending on how Rockyford finishes up their season, they will compete in the Sutter Cup in March taking place in Medicine Hat.