The grind line for the St. Albert Raiders played a starring role Wednesday in Sherwood Park.
Harrison Klein scored twice in the third period and set up linemate Matt Maetche’s opening goal as the north division leaders defeated the Kings 5-1 in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
Blake Bosch also assisted on Klein’s two-goal effort but it wasn’t credited on the game sheet.
“We had some jump that game,” Klein said. “We clicked. We were definitely working.”
Klein was flanked by Maetche, an affiliate player, and Bosch, who notched his first goal of the season on Klein’s assist in Sunday’s 6-1 win against the Canadian Athletic Club at Akinsdale Arena.
The trio skated together for the first time as the fourth line last Saturday in the 4-1 loss in Grande Prairie
“We just kind of got meshed together,” said Klein.
His two goals were similar in nature.
“The first one I just got it out from behind the net from Bosch and I just went five-hole backhand. He definitely helped out on that one,” Klein said. “The second one was almost identical from behind the net. It came to the front and it was a backhand, except it was to the far side.”
The three-point night raised Klein’s totals to three goals and three assists in 16 games.
“My season has gone from kind of a slow start while adapting to this level to where it’s slowly starting to get better,” said the Grade 11 Spruce Grove Composite High School student.
Klein, 16, made the Raiders as a role player after piling up 18 goals and 18 assists in 34 games with the midget 15 Spruce Grove Saints.
“I’m an energy guy, that’s what the coach (Sandro Pisani) signed me on for,” he said.
Maetche’s goal triggered a three-goal outburst by the Raiders in the first frame. Kyler Hehn’s team-leading 14th goal and 24th point and Mike Cardinal’s third goal left the Kings trailing 3-0. Shots were f40-27 for the Raiders. In net was Mitch Martell (7-2-1, 1.78 GAA).
“Sherwood Park is a pretty chirpy team so once we got past that we focused on what we needed to be done and we got it done,” Klein said. “We had a few objectives we had to meet in the third period with a few stats. We had to get more goals and win the period and that’s what happened.”
The win was the fourth in six games for the Raiders (10-4-3).
“We’re definitely trying to improve our game and get up to that playoff standard,” Klein said. “We’ve been working hard and pulling together, overcoming adversity and just being a team basically.”
Today at 1:15 p.m. the Raiders host the Maple Leafs and Sunday they visit the Lloydminster Bobcats at 2 p.m.
“We’re going to be working on our systems this weekend and try and improve those a bit better,” Klein said. “We’ll also work on our jump in the first period. The last couple of games it’s been all right but we’re definitely going to try and improve that.
The Bobcats (8-3-5) are two points behind the 2012 provincial finalists in the standings.
“It’s going to be a battle and we’re definitely looking forward to it,” Klein said of the Border City clash.
