Raiders at home
The last weekend homestand before the playoffs for the St. Albert Nektar Raiders starts today at Akinsdale Arena.The Raiders (16-11-4) face off against the Maple Leafs (1-29-1) at 1:45 p.m. and Sunday’s game time is 1:15 p.m. against the Lloydminster Bobcats (7-19-4).
The team’s home record is 8-5-2.
The Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League regular season wraps up next Saturday against the host Leduc Oil Kings (8-21-2) at 2:30 p.m.
The Raiders, 4-3 since winning the Mac’s Cup on Jan. 1, are first in the north division by one point over the Canadian Athletic Club (14-9-7) and two ahead of the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (16-13-2) and Grande Peace Storm (15-11-4).
The top two teams have first-round byes in the best-of-five series.
Meanwhile, forward Mathieu Gautier was the No. 1 pick in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League north junior draft by the St. Albert Miners. Gautier, a two-time midget A national champion with Team Alberta, played for the 2018 midget A north zone St. Albert Rams, silver medallists in the Greater Edmonton Lacrosse Council playoffs and Alberta Lacrosse Association provincials.
Sharks action
The regular season ends this weekend for the midget elite St. Albert Sharks in the Alberta Female Hockey League.The Sharks (15-9) play the Peace Country Storm (11-10-1) tonight at Go Auto Arena and the Edmonton Pandas (6-13-3) Sunday at Bill Hunter Arena. Game times are 7:45 p.m.
The north division leaders are 6-4 in 2019 after going 1-2 at the AFHL showcase weekend in Leduc. The Sharks lost 9-3 to the Airdrie Lightning (14-7-2) and 4-3 to the Rocky Mountain Raiders (5-15-2) before the 2-1 win over the Lethbridge Cyclones (3-16-3).
The Sherwood Park Fury (12-5-4) are five points back of the Sharks with three games in hand.
Royals games
Sunday the St. Albert Royals host the defending champion Hockey Central Panthers in the Rural & Edmonton Midget 15AA Hockey League.Puck drop is 12:15 p.m. at Mark Messier Arena.
The Panthers (23-1-4) and Royals (20-3-3) are first and second, respectively, in the standings.
The teams battled to a 1-1 draw Jan. 4 in Sylvan Lake and the Panthers won 6-1 Jan. 13 in St. Albert.
Last year the Panthers swept the Royals in the best-of-five final.
Monday the Royals are in action against SSAC APD ACDelco (11-12-3) at 8:30 p.m. at Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre.
The Royals are 4-1-3 in 2019.
