Raiders defend Mac’s title
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Tyler Lowey Photo
Last year, the Okotoks-based female hockey team downed the Saskatoon Stars 5-4 in a thrilling Mac’s Midget AAA World Invitational Hockey Tournament title game.
This year, the Raiders made minced meat out of the competition, as they cooked the Prince Albert Northern Bears 6-2 in this year’s championship game Jan. 1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“That was our MO this season and this tournament. We had to keep playing hard, even in the one-sided games because we had to execute our game plan,” said Raiders Head Coach Paul Pozzi. “We never wanted to embarrass anyone, but that’s how you have to play in this tournament to get to the finals.”
This marked the third-straight trip to the tournament finale and etched their name in history, becoming the third team to repeat as champions in the female division.
The week-long dominating run couldn’t have been possible without Kaia and Emma Borbandy, sisters from Langdon, and Natalie Funk, a student who attends Strathmore High School.
Emma was part of the Raiders squad that won the title for the first time in team history last season and got to enjoy it with her younger sister this time around.
“This is probably the last time we will play together so it was extra nice to win this with her this year,” said Emma.
“Any time I get to play with her is always great. We work great out there together and she helps generate plays for me,” said Kaia.
To say the Raiders dominated the field would be putting it lightly.
Entering the final, the Raiders only trailed for 1:43, when the same Bears scored an early marker in the round robin finale.
Emma scored the game-tying goal as the Raiders went on to win 3-1 over the eventual runner-ups.
The Raiders only allowed five goals against all tournament, largely due to the strong play of their defensive unit, which included Emma and Funk.
“Natalie is a great athlete. What she might lack in skating at this point, she makes up with her long reach. She had a great tournament and really improved from the start of the season. She’s a first year in this program and we play her a lot of minutes and depend on her back there,” said Pozzi.
Funk will be one of 10 returning players looking for the three-peat next winter.
“It’s really exciting celebrating with all the girls. I’ve come to watch this tournament for the past few years and always wanted to win it one day. Now that day is here and it’s really exciting,” said Funk.
The Raiders opened the tourney with a 7-1 waxing over the Swift Current Wildcats Dec. 26 at the Max Bell Centre. Emma picked up one assist.
Pozzi’s crew followed that up with a 5-1 decision over the Regina Rebels Dec. 27 and a 5-0 blanking of the Fraser Valley Rush. They wrapped up the round robin against the Bears and shut out the Delta Academy Prep Wild 3-0 Dec. 31 in the semifinal.
It’s always a treat for the young players to step on the same ice as the Calgary Flames for the final, and the Raiders used their previous experience to their advantage.
“We knew what the Dome was going to be like. We know that the ice is a bit slower here and it’s hotter than the Max Bell, so the girls were more hydrated this year. We had a pretty good week,” said Pozzi.
Emma was the only one of the three to factor in the scoring, as she finished the tournament with two points, but they played key roles in the championship run.
“Emma is such a solid defencemen. She’s big, strong, has a big shot, defends really well and doesn’t give up much room. Kaia is a speedster out there with a great engine. She had a phenomenal tournament in her first year with the team,” said Pozzi.
Only the Notre Dame Hounds have three-peated in the female division as champs, when they did so from 2004-2006. Pozzi will have his work cut out for him if he is to do so, as he has 13 players graduating the program after this season.
But for now, the Raiders will soak up the victory for a few more days before returning to action in the Alberta Female Hockey League Jan. 6 when they take on the Lloydminster PWM Steelers.