Raiders Re-Load for a Re-run
B Y J O H N P L O S Z AY
Photo by Jeff Miller
T
he 2017-18 Manitoba
Major Junior Hockey
League champions are
set for a rerun. After
replacing eight players
from last year’s Jack
McKenzie Trophy-winning
squad, this year’s version of
the Raiders simply re-loaded.
The team went 36-3-5
during the regular, easily
won the regular-season
championship and made a
mockery of any thought there
was parity in the league.
“We won the championship
last year and we are
encouraged that the young
guys caught on,” said Raiders
owner and president Ned
Sanders. “We taught them
the Raider way and they
are getting the job done.
That said, until we win
the championship, we’ve
won nothing. I’m proud
of this season’s record
but the real season starts
with the playoffs.”
Sanders runs the best club
in the MMJHL and loves
to say the league has never
been stronger. Apart from
his team, a team that has run
away with first place, and
perhaps the Charleswood
Hawks (30-9-3) and Transcona
Railer Express (28-10-5), the
competition and the glut of
teams from fourth to ninth-
place is very competitive.
“I think players know they
can come to our league and
have good coaching with a real
development plan to get them
ready to go to the next level if
they want,” Sanders said. “It’s
the pedigree of our coaching,
led by our head coach Andy
Williamson, but there is
great coaching throughout
this league -- St. Boniface,
St. Vital, Charleswood –
they all have great coaches
and excellent programs.
It’s exactly what a junior
hockey league should be.”
Heading into the
4 8 | G AME ON | PL AYOF F EDITION 2018
post-season, Sanders likes
the strength of Charleswood,
especially the team’s two
goalies – Ryan Hall and Ben
Thorlakson and the strong play
of defenseman Riley Gilmore
and captain Dylan Zeke.
“Zeke is dynamic and built
for the playoffs,” said Sanders.
“I expect Charleswood will
be in the thick of things.”
The St. Vital Victorias could
be the sleeper. With Riley
Beauchemin and the addition
of Ben Coppinger, who has
WHL exper