Midget AAA Raiders at the Mac’s tournament highlights On Tap

Raiders at Mac’s

The 41^st annual Mac’s Midget AAA World Invitational Tournament starts today in Calgary for the St. Albert Nektar Raiders in pool three against the defending champions.

The Raiders play the Regina Pat Canadians at 12:45 p.m.

The Raiders are also in action Friday against the Okotoks Oilers and Saturday against the Vancouver NE Chiefs and game times are 5:15 p.m.

Pool play ends Sunday against the Calgary Buffaloes at 2:30 p.m.

The tournament consists of 25 teams divided into five pools and the first-place finishers and three wild cards advance to the quarter-finals.

The final is Jan. 1 at the Saddledome.

Last year the Raiders finished 4-2 as semifinalists in the team’s first appearance since 2013.

Visit www.macstournament.ab.ca for the schedule and results.

The Raiders (12-8-4) skate into the Mac’s tied for second in the north division of the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League while averaging 2.95 goals scored and 2.83 against.

The winners of three straight and five of the last six are 8-4-2 in the last 14 games.

Initiation hockey

The St. Albert Initiation Holiday Classic is good to go Thursday morning at Servus Credit Union Place.

The three-day tournament features five games of two 24-minute periods of half-ice play for 16 teams.

The St. Albert Minor Hockey Association initiation program consists of 12 teams.

Basketball hoops

Metro Edmonton high school basketball resumes Jan. 7 in the senior men’s and women’s divisions and game times are 5:30 p.m.

The 2018 division one women’s champion St. Albert Skyhawks (3-0) host the Harry Ainlay Titans (0-3).

In division two men, the Paul Kane Blues (4-0) entertain the Holy Trinity Trojans (2-0), the Bellerose Bulldogs (2-2) visit the defending champion Spruce Grove Panthers (3-1) in a rematch of the 2018 final and the Skyhawks (2-2) play the host Queen Elizabeth Knights (1-1).

The 2018 division two women’s champion Sturgeon Spirits (0-1) and St. Peter the Apostle Spartans (3-0) hook up in Namao.

In division three women, Bellerose (2-1) hoops it up at the Austin O’Brien Crusaders (1-3).

Meanwhile, the first game for the division three men’s Spirits (2-1) is Jan. 9 on the road against the Ardrossan Bisons (3-0) at 5:30 p.m.

The division one lady Blues (3-1) are also in action Jan. 9 against the Tigers (3-0) in Leduc at 6:30 p.m.

The first tournament of 2019 is the Paul Kane Invitational, Jan. 11-12 with 12 women’s teams competing.