The St. Albert Raiders were good but not great while extending their undefeated streak to eight games Saturday.
The No. 1 team in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League scored five times on 28 shots but gave up two goals 34 seconds part in the third period to the last-place Fort Saskatchewan Rangers at Akinsdale Arena.
"We felt we didn't play as well as we should have today despite the score, but we're still happy to come out with the two points," said assistant captain Tyler Dea after the 5-2 decision at Akinsdale Arena.
The Raiders were 7:40 away from posting their fifth shutout of the season, when the Rangers struck late on a power play to make it 5-1. On the next shift the Rangers scored again in a period in which they outshot the Raiders 11-7.
"It's a little disappointing to let in those two goals after we got two ourselves in the third but it was good that after those two goals the team quickly responded and we shut it down for the rest of the game. That was really key that we bend but we didn't break as we like to say. The wheels didn't fully come off so that was good," said Dea, the only returning Raider on defence from the 2012 provincial finalists.
Protecting leads and finishing games strong has been the mandate of the Raiders in preparation for the 35th annual Mac's world invitational tournament.
"Going into the Mac's tournament goals for and goals against are huge and we've been talking a lot the last month here about making sure our third periods are really strong and we're maintaining leads. At one point teams were outscoring us in the third period so we really take pride in making sure we're solid defensively but we're also capitalizing on our chances in the third," Dea said.
The Raiders are the top defensive team in the north with 46 goals against, 12 more than the south division-leading Red Deer Chiefs (14-3-5), the three-time defending provincial champions and 2012 Telus Cup national gold medallists.
"A big thing for us in the D zone is communication. It's a lot easier on everybody to play defence when you're talking and helping each other out," Dea said.
Offensively the Raiders were led by Sebastian Auray's one goal and two assists against the Rangers. Dan Huculak and Matt Maetche potted goals in the middle frame and Jake Kohlhauser and Jason Miller lit the lamp in the third before the Rangers broke Mitch Martell's shutout bid. Martell (11-2-1, 1.70 GAA) stopped 21 shots overall.
Kyler Hehn also added three helpers as the Raiders improved to 7-2-3 on home ice.
"The first period we kind of came out a little slow and then we stepped it up after that. We were really going into the dirty areas and we popped a couple of goals in the second," Kohlhauser said. "In the third they kind of got a little bit of domination on us and got those two quick goals but after that we just hung in there and finished the game off."
The play of the game was Kohlhauser's first goal of the season to put the Raiders up 4-0 with 16:13 to play.
"I got the puck at the point, walked in a little bit and I saw the open lane so I directed it at the net and it went in there," said the Raiders' defenceman of his fourth point in 23 games. "It was sweet. The team is really cheering you on. It's a really good feeling. The heart is pumping. It's good."
The Raiders (15-4-4) are 7-0-1 in their last eight games after beating the Rangers (4-15-3).
"It shows teams that we're a team to be reckoned with so don't take us lightly because we'll knock you down. It's good to have that confidence out on the ice," said Kohlhauser, a midget 15 graduate of the St. Albert Flyers.
Weekend series
This weekend the Raiders skate at Bill Hunter Arena against the Southside Athletic Club (12-4-6) Saturday at 2:45 p.m. and the Canadian Athletic Club (10-10-3) Sunday at 11:45 a.m.
"We're going to have a hard week of practice and really work on the systems, getting our feet moving and getting to the dirty areas so we'll be able to battle those two really good teams," said Kohlhauser, 16, a Grade 11 Bellerose Composite High School student.
Dea, 17, described the weekend series as a stepping stone towards the Mac's, which opens on Boxing Day in Calgary.
"We want to be rolling going into the Mac's. Hopefully we get some good, key victories this weekend and we can carry that momentum and confidence and experience into the Mac's so that if we get into a game where it's 3-2 in the third period, we can score an insurance goal and then lock it down for the rest of the game," Dea said. "There is going to be lots of tight games in that tournament. Every team is good and every team wants to win so you're not going to have any blowout games where teams are giving up. You've got to be always strong every shift and make sure you lock it down when you get leads."
The Raiders finished 5-1 as semifinalists at the last tournament. Dea was also the pool three scholarship winner of $1,500. Players from all 25 teams were asked to submit applications, and then each team selected one for the Mac's scholarship committee to review. The players were then interviewed at the tournament and one applicant from each of the five pools was picked to receive a scholarship.
"Luckily enough I got it. It was a real big honour," said the Grade 12 école Secondaire Saint Marguerite d'Youville student.
