Every win counts towards a return trip to the Mac’s tournament for the St. Albert Nektar Data Systems Raiders.
The top teams in the north division of the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League qualify for the 41st annual Mac’s that starts Boxing Day in Calgary and the Raiders are off to a flying start this season at 3-1.
“It’s going to put us in a good spot for the Mac’s so if we just keep pushing we’ll definitely be in contention to make it and go from there,” said defenceman Robert Kincaid.
Last year, the Raiders skated into the Mac’s as the north division leaders at the Christmas break and finished 4-2 in the 25-team competition. The first Mac’s appearance since 2012-13 ended in the 1-0 semifinal loss as the Red Deer Chiefs scored in the third period.
“As a team we did goal setting and it’s definitely one of the top priorities to get back there and have a good tournament,” Kincaid said.
With two returnees on the roster, captain Erik Boers and assistant captain Carson Henry as forwards from the 2018 north semifinalists, the Raiders are trending in the right direction
“We’re having a really good season so far,” said forward Eric Perneel. “We’ve been playing really good together. Everyone is contributing.”
The only hiccup was the 4-3 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the defending AMHL champions, during last weekend’s road trip against south division opponents.
“We just didn’t really play our game. Not everything went our way either. There were just some unfortunate bounces,” said Kincaid of the Raiders knotting the score three times in the third period as the teams combined for six goals in the opening 11 minutes of the frame. The shot count was 36-28 for Lethbridge (3-1).
“We started off a bit slow. It was our first road game so we didn’t really get a feel for it yet,” Perneel added.
The next game in Airdrie was the character-building 6-4 decision against the Bisons (3-1).
The Raiders potted the last three goals and the team’s third of the middle period was the winner with 3:35 left in the period as Perneel broke a 4-4 tie with his second of the contest.
Shots were 16-13 in the second and 32-27 overall for the Raiders.
“We battled through some adversity and bounced back so that was good,” said Kincaid, who sealed the deal into an empty net with 44 ticks on the clock.
“We just battle as a team. There’s been some adversity like being down one going into the third twice (in 3-2 wins against the Leduc Oil Kings and Grande Peace Storm at Akinsdale Arena) and we came back from that,” Kincaid said. “When we’re facing adversity like that, we’re giving it our all every shift and getting through it.”
The Raiders are bringing it as a collective group.
“We have really good compete level. We get a lot of shots through. We get a few rebounds and put them in so we’re finishing our chances. We’re also really good with the body with some big hits,” said Perneel, the team leader with four goals after notching three last weekend alternating between centre and left wing on a line with Boers and Tyson Greenway.
Kincaid, 16, is the top point producer with six for a team averaging 3.7 goals per game.
“We move the puck well and we just capitalize on our opportunities,” said the Grade 11 Bellerose high school student from Barrhead who played for the midget 15 St. Albert Flyers last season, 2016-17 bantam AAA St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres and 2015-16 bantam AA Sturgeon Sting.
This weekend, the Raiders have games on tap against the host Sherwood Park Kings (0-3-1) today at 5:15 p.m. and Sunday against the KC Pats (2-2) at 11:45 a.m. at Bill Hunter Arena.
“We’re not really worried who we’re playing. We’re going to play our game and try and get two points every night and that’s really the goal; two points and then move on to the next team,” Kincaid said.
Every game is a must-win for the Raiders and especially on the road, according to Perneel, 17.
“It’s really important for us get these four points this weekend to keep on rolling because they are away games. It’s important to build our confidence up for away games so we can keep on building on that throughout the year,” said the Grade 12 St. Peter the Apostle student from Spruce Grove who recorded 25 goals and 46 points in 32 games with the 2018 provincial champion PAC Saints in the Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League.
Forward Cody Copes-Nielsen, defenceman Tanner Sklaruk and assistant captain Mathew Rathbone also made the jump to the Raiders from the midget AA Saints.
