The St. Albert Raiders are ranked No. 1 in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League after the north division leaders extended their winning streak to four games Sunday.
Sebastian Auray and Jason Miller potted two goals apiece in the 5-2 decision against the Lloydminster Bobcats in the Border City.
The first-place Raiders improved to 12-4-3 after their sixth win in eight games.
The Bobcats (9-4-5) are four points behind the 2012 provincial finalists with a game in hand.
“We were excited to play them. It was basically a four-point game. They were right behind us and we wanted to show that we’re the top team in the north and we solidified that with a good team effort. Everyone played well. It was a very good game for our team,” Auray said.
The Raiders knotted the score in the second period on goals by Miller and Auray in a two-minute span.
Auray’s 10th of the season was the game winner with 2:34 gone in the third. Miller added the insurance marker with 12:29 to play and Matt Maetche chipped in with an empty net goal.
Shots were 23-19 for the Raiders. In net was Mitch Martell (8-2-1, 1.80).
“We’ve been struggling coming off the bus so it was really important for us to get in a good game and show teams that we can play in other teams’ barns,” Auray said.
The victory also gave the Raiders three more points than the Red Deer Chiefs (10-2-4), the top team in the south. The three-time reigning provincial champions and 2012 Telus Cup national gold medallists have three games in hand on the Raiders.
“We’ve still got things to work on. We’ve let some games slip away but overall I think we’re satisfied and we’re headed in the right direction,” Auray said.
Last season the Raiders finished second in the north at 21-9-4 and in the playoffs won six and lost five, including three straight to Red Deer in the best-of-five provincial final.
“We don’t want to compare this team too much to last season because we’re a whole new team,” said Auray, one of five returnees on the roster. “We definitely want to have success like last year but at the same time focus on this year and keep going.”
The Raiders raised their home record to 6-2-2 in Saturday’s 4-0 win over the Maple Leafs (4-11-2) at Akinsdale Arena. Auray, Kyler Hehn, Zack Gonek and Harrison Klein scored and Brett Smythe added two assists. Pat Gora stopped 18 shots in posting his first midget AAA shutout, and the team’s third of the season.
“We’ve been really working on shutting down teams in the third period and we did a real good job of that,” Auray said. “Patrick Gora (4-2-2, 2.56 GAA) also had a great game. It was a well deserved shutout for him.”
It was also another strong performance by Auray, who has found a home at right wing on a line with Dan Huculak and Kyler Hehn after spending last season at centre. Auray recorded four goals and nine assists in 32 games and added two assists in 10 playoff games as a first-year Raider.
In 18 games this season the Grade 12 St. Albert Catholic High School student is second in team scoring with 24 points. Hehn is tied for the league lead in goals with 15 and shares second place in the scoring race with 25.
“It’s been a good season. I feel like I’m competing hard and working hard,” said Auray, 17. “I’m trying to do something every shift and not worry about the big picture of the game. I’m just focusing on one thing at a time and help the team win.”
The next home game for the Raiders is Sunday against the UFA Bisons (9-8) at 1:30 p.m. at Akisndale Arena. The Raiders are 5-1 after losing 5-3 to the Bisons in Strathmore during the midget AAA showcase weekend.
