A three-week was worth its weight in gold for the Rocky Mountain U18 AA Raiders.
The Raiders took their belated home opener in the Alberta Female Hockey League by a 7-5 score over the Airdrie Lightning Sunday at the Scott Seaman Sports Rink on the strength of a three-goal middle stanza.
“The girls were hyped, we were buzzing and I think we were all pretty nervous because this was our home opener,” said Raiders captain Grace Bjornson. “The games leading up it was just building off what we were learning in practices and what our coaches were telling us.
“It all came together here and unfortunately there were just a couple bad bounces on their end.”
Rocky Mountain improved to 2-2-1 with the victory and finally got the opportunity to flex its might on home ice in game number five.
“I don’t know how that draw ended up, but it worked out good and we had a good game,” said Raiders head coach Dave Hayes. “Our main focus as a team in general every time we go onto the ice is effort, to give it 110 per cent and work for each other.
“The group of girls, the culture, everything they have now, it’s absolutely amazing how they work hard for each other.”
Twelve skaters got on the scoresheet with Brooke Harder posting a game-high four points, on a goal and three assists, with Charlotte Hallam scoring twice, Alyssa Murray, Molly Sears, Dyllyn Duckett and Bjornson finding the back of the net, the latter on an empty netter bank shot right out of an air hockey game.
“We’re a goal scoring team and it’s nice to showcase that,” Bjornson said. “We’ve just got to stop the other team from scoring too.”
Airdrie battled back from a four-goal deficit to get within one in the final frame.
The Raiders had starter Tara Den Hoed go down injured with Madilyn Juneau coming on in relief for the final eight minutes.
“That’s the great thing about hockey, you get those opportunities to show adversity and how to come through,” the coach added. “And the girls responded. They worked hard for Maddy who had to come in at the last minute.”
Bjornson, one of eight returning players alongside Den Hoed, Harder, Duckett, Abby Graham, Avery Mahussier, Ashley Williams and Rozene Sabeti-Seidel, described the team’s connection as family-like.
“It’s been awesome,” Bjornson said. “We’re a bunch of local kids and not many people can say that they have 19 other sisters on a team. It’s a great connection, we trust eachother, we love eachother.
“It’s only been a month and I feel like I’ve known them my whole life. It’s a great group of girls.”
In the early going, the 12-team AFHL U18 AA league looks to be completely up for grabs.
Five teams in the South Division are within three points of first place, a group that includes Rocky Mountain.
“There’s not much separation it could be anybody’s league,” Hayes said. “All our games have been all close for the most part.
“I’m excited for the year because it will be some really good hockey.”
For Rocky Mountain to lead the pack, it will be about attitude and effort, the coach added.
“If they keep doing what they’re doing with the smiles on their faces,” Hayes said. “Even when we have a tough game and we potentially lose, the girls are still smiling and they’re learning something each and every game and each and every practice.”
For more information on the team, go to ooaaoilerhockey.ca.
