The St. Albert Tire Warehouse Raiders are revved up for the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
The second place north division Raiders (16-13-2) are undefeated in eight games with three remaining in league play.
“The heartbeat is pumping,” said centre Zane Avery. “I wouldn’t necessarily say we’re walking on sunshine right now because there is always room for improvement and that’s why we’re always stepping up and trying to get to the next level.”
The Raiders haven’t lost a game in 2017 with seven wins and one tie.
“After Christmas we came together and we’ve just been rolling,” Avery said. “The boys are connecting properly and having a good time.”
The Raiders shifted gears after suffering an 8-0 shellacking by the Calgary Flames (19-10-2) Dec. 10 in the Cow Town.
“That was a big turning point. We started winning more,” said left-winger Cole Gupta. “Since then we’ve been buying into the system more and there is more connection as a team, a 20 man unit, and it’s really showing on the ice.
The Raiders are a blistering 8-1-1 since the meltdown and the last loss was 6-3 to the Grande Prairie Storm (8-18-4) Dec. 17 at St. Albert.
“We’re building for playoffs,” Gupta said. “It’s really exciting right now. We have a really good group of guys and we’re making this playoff run together.”
Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Southside Athletic Club (14-17-1) at Bill Hunter Arena determined second spot and a first-round bye but also sent a message to the potential opponent in the best-of-five north semifinals.
“It was a good test to see where we’re at against Southside,” Gupta said of the third-place team. “It was an important game. Obviously who ever won got second place and we knocked them out with that win so it was a good game and a big two points.”
Avery’s third goal in two games broke the ice in the first period and the Southside pulled even in the middle frame.
Spencer Augot and Logan Hunter scored in rapid succession before the five-minute mark in the third to put the Raiders back on top to stay.
Chris Curr (11-8-1, 2.47 GAA) faced a game-high 37 shots, including 15 in the last period.
“We actually didn’t play that well. We weren’t prepared in the first but we came out with a better second and third and kind of took over,” said Gupta, who picked up his 18th point with an assist on Avery’s ninth goal of the season.
The Raiders are averaging 3.1 goals (tied for second in the north) and 2.8 against (second in the north) after the result.
Garrett Clegg leads the team in scoring with 18 goals and 29 points.
Peter Michailides is second in goals with 11 and Hunter’s 24 points is second best behind Clegg.
Curr is also ninth among netminders in goals-against average.
“Everyone is contributing in their own ways so that’s been a positive aspect,” Avery said. “We’re working hard in practices and making those plays that we need to make in games to win them and that’s been huge.”
The Raiders and first-place Sherwood Park Kings (22-5-3, 124 GF/69 GA) will watch the best-of-three opening playoff rounds unfold before the semifinals start.
The last time the Raiders finished second in the north was 2012/13 at 19-9-6.
“The first-round bye is huge. We’ll get rested up and we’ll have lots of practice time to get prepared for the second round,” said Avery, 18.
The Grade 12 Spruce Grove Composite High School student is a speedy energy player who has found his offensive groove in recent games on a line with Michailides and Jack Langenhahn. The former midget AA PAC Saint has chipped in with 18 points while leading the team in penalty minutes with 78.
“I bring physicality every once in a while,” Avery said. “I’m definitely willing to block shots.”
This weekend the Raiders head south to play the SEAC Tigers (8-18-5) of Medicine Hat today at 5 p.m. and the Foothills Bisons (22-5-3) at 2 p.m. Sunday at Strathmore.
“We’re going to use these games to build momentum going into the playoffs and we’ll also see where we’re at against one of the top teams,” said Gupta of the Bisons, second in the south behind the Calgary Buffaloes (22-3-6).
The Raiders beat the Bisons 3-1 Dec. 4 in St. Albert.
Gupta, 16, has contributed seven goals to the team’s success and lately the former midget 15 St. Albert Flyer has skated on a solid line combination with Hunter and Peter Corrigan.
“I’m kind of a playmaker and I can finish when I have a chance,” said the Grade 11 St. Albert Catholic High School student.
The last game for the Raiders before the playoffs is Feb. 18 against the Maple Leafs (9-16-5) at 1:45 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
