Raiders cash in on penalties

Aryssah Stankevitsch     

Times Reporter   

 

With a record of 8-16-3 on the season, the Rockyview Raiders minor midget triple-A  team was elated to defeat the KC Centennials on Jan. 26 at home in Chestermere, by a score of 7-4. The Centennials are within a playoff spot in the North Division, but their downfall was careless checking to the head and cross-checking penalties, leading to four Raiders powerplay markers.

“It was good for us,” Rockyview coach Doug Thurston said, of KC’s ten penalties. “It was kind of the difference. They were undisciplined, and it didn’t help their cause.”

 Though KC opened the scoring, Siksika’s Trygve Many Guns tied the game early. Many Guns (the team’s leading scorer with 25 points) added another midway through the third, with Strathmore’s Kody Hammond scoring next with less than a minute remaining in the third period. Both Many Guns and Hammond also added an assist each to their point total; Markus Lavallee had three helpers as well.

“Markus was good, lots of guys were good,” Thurston said. “We’re pretty solid as a group.”

Other Strathmore players, Liam Rycroft and Brad Hendricks, had one assist each on the night. The Raiders put 31 shots on net, while Rockyview goalie Tanner Webster only needed to stop 19 shots for the victory.

The Raiders are currently eleventh in the South Division, but need to improve before the post-season begins.

“Everybody goes to the tournament in Medicine Hat in March, but if you’re not in the top eight, you’re just playing consolation,” Thurston said.