The St. Albert Tire Warehouse Raiders are playing for points as the host team for the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League Showcase Extravaganza. All 18 teams have two games scheduled this weekend at Servus Credit Union Place during the AMHL’s fifth annual display of talent. Proceeds support the AMHL scholarship program. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s nice to host showcase. It’s kind of a new thing that's been done the past few years but for us it’s just another weekend. We don't see it as anything else,” said captain Mason Rezewski. The Raiders (5-5) skate tonight against the Okotoks Oilers (4-3-3) at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday against the Red Deer Chiefs (4-2-4) at 4:15 p.m. at Go Auto Arena. “There's obviously going to be a bunch of scouts at showcase but we’re looking for two Ws and we’re looking to go to the Mac’s so it's kind of what we need right now,” said Rezewski as the Raiders strive to qualify for the Mac’s Midget AAA World Invitational Tournament in Calgary for the first time since the 2012/13 season. The Raiders are back in the conversation for the Mac’s after stringing together three wins as the second-place team in the north and last weekend’s scores were 4-1 against the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers and 3-1 against the Airdrie Bisons. ”It’s huge. We started the year off 2-0 and then we lost five straight and then the last three games we kind of picked it up,” Rezewski said. “It felt great back on a winning streak. We’re back to .500 now.” The Raiders were outscored 20-8 during the five losses, including a 15-6 margin in three road setbacks. “Honestly, with the five losses we had in a row I don't know if there was something not clicking but we weren’t playing as a 20-man unit and the last three games we’ve picked that up. Everybody is working together. We’re using our abilities I guess,” Rezewski said. “It’s just been a good team effort. Everybody is committed to the system. Everybody is committing to each other. We’re not playing as individuals, we’re all working together, playing as one.” Nine players took turns scoring in the last three victories as the Raiders averaged 44 shots and 27.6 against in those games. The offensive leaders were Ryan Harker with three assists and Jacob Charko with one goal and two assists. The Raiders tightened the screws defensively last weekend as Mitch Reidy (4-2, 2.37 GAA) faced 28 shots against the Rangers and Evan Fradette (1-3, 2.73 GAA) stopped a game-high 24 shots against the Bisons. “The first one we probably played a little bit better. We had a lot more shots (42 against the Rangers). The second one I wouldn't say we struggled but we kind of slipped there for a bit but we came together, picked it up and got the job done,” said Rezewski, a 16-year-old defenceman and returning player along with Reidy, Aidan West on defence and Eddie Gallagher, Xavier Halterman and Brady Nicholas up front from the 16-14-4 Raiders last season. Rezewski, a third-year midget, has embraced the leadership role as team captain with open arms. “It’s about positively, keeping everybody up and keeping everybody in line. Positively is a huge thing for a captain to provide as well as support,” said the Grade 11 Bellerose Composite High School student. “It’s all about representing us and keeping everybody together.”
