Raiders fall short
The first loss in five games dropped the St. Albert Nektar Raiders into fourth place in the north division of the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.Saturday’s 3-1 setback to the Canadian Athletic Club left the Raiders (9-8-4) one point behind the CAC (9-6-5) and two back of the second-place Grande Peace Storm (10-7-4).
The CAC scored the winner with 50 seconds remaining and added the insurance marker into an empty net with 11 seconds to play.
Eric Perneel’s team-leading 11th goal knotted it at two in the second period.
Shots were 29-27 for the CAC and Evan Fradette (3-4-1, 2.33 GAA) was in net.
The Raiders have three games remaining before the 41st annual Mac’s Midget AAA World Invitational Tournament starts Boxing Day in Calgary.
Saturday the Raiders face off against the Maple Leafs (0-20-1) at 2:30 p.m. at Bill Hunter Arena and Sunday’s start time against the Lloydminster Bobcats (5-13-3) is 2:15 p.m. in the Border City.
The Raiders also have an exhibition on tap against the U16 provincial Canada Winter Games team Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Centrium in Red Deer.
The Team Alberta lineup includes defenceman Marc Lajoie and forwards Matt Savoie, a second-year bantam, and Zack Ostapchuk. The St. Albert products play for Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
Flyers grounded
An eight-game undefeated streak for the St. Albert Flyers ended Sunday in the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League.The 4-2 loss to the NWCAA Bruins of Calgary also deposited the midget 15 Flyers into third place in the north division with games in hand on the PAC Saints (14-1-1) and Leduc Oil Kings (14-4-2).
The south division Bruins (8-12) made it 2-0 on the power play in the opening period and snapped a 2-2 tie with 2:10 remaining in the contest. The last goal was scored into an empty net.
Dylan Leslie and Ethan Sundar replied for the Flyers.
Sundar ranks second in league scoring with 37 points after notching his 19th goal in 17 games.
The shot count was 32-28 for the Flyers with Carson Ironside (6-1-2, 2.41 GAA) between the pipes.
The Flyers were 7-0-1 before suffering their second loss on home ice in nine games.
Saturday the Raiders host the Lloydminster Bobcats (12-6) at 8 p.m. at the Akinsdale rink and Sunday’s puck drop against the Saints is 5:15 p.m. at Glenn Hall Centennial Arena.
Sharks attacking
The fourth win in a row for the St. Albert Sharks was also the midget elite team’s second shutout of the season in the Albert Female Hockey League.Layla Hood (5-3, 1.88 GAA) stopped a game high 23 shots in Friday’s 2-0 decision against the Lloydminster Steelers (5-9) at Troy Murray Arena.
Sierra Whillans and Jorja Werenka scored in the middle period and Kylie Foisy assisted on both goals as the Sharks were credited with 22 shots.
The Sharks (8-4) are third in the north division with a game in hand on the second-place Peace Country Storm (8-4-1).
The Sharks are in action Saturday against the North Central Impact (3-10-1) at 5 p.m. in Leduc.
Royals rolling
The next home game for the St. Albert Royals is Friday in the Rural & Edmonton Midget 15AA Hockey League.Puck drop is 8 p.m. against SSAC Dolce Vita Homes (7-4-3) at Go Auto Arena.
The Royals (14-2) are riding a four-game winning streak as the league leaders after defeating the Strathcona Warriors 7-4 Saturday at Mark Messier Arena.
Three goals by Anwar Moukhaiber included a power-play strike to make it 3-2 Royals with nine seconds left in the opening period.
Nico Gallo added a pair and Kaelan Shelton also capitalized with the man advantage and scored shorthanded.
Nathan Piercey chipped in with three assists and Shelton and Matt Waldbillig both had two helpers.
The Royals tacked up 45 shots while Ethan Weir (7-1, 2.04 GAA) faced 28.
The Royals and Strathcona (0-13-2) face off again Sunday at 5 p.m. in Ardrossan.
