Game On Magazine - April 2017 GameOn-Apr2017-P001-144-ONLINE | Page 24

MANITOBA MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Draft, but both are happy with how their
hockey careers have progressed. Rybuck
grew up and played at Red River Commu-
nity Centre and then age advanced and
played with the 11 AA North West Stars. He
played high school hockey at West Kildonan
Collegiate and then with the AA Hawks. He
landed with the Raiders and hasn’t looked
back playing an integral role with the team
for the last three years. He has one more
year of eligibility after this season.
Mathews took a similar path, playing as a
kid for the Maples Mad Dogs then the AA
North West Stars, progressing as a player
with the AA Hawks and finally as a Raider,
a team he joined at the age of 17. Mathews
also has one more year of MMJHL eligibil-
ity and was a big part of the Raiders 2014
championship club.
However, this year, the Raiders’ on-again-
off-again season hasn’t gone without some
tough love from the coaching staff. The
team had to endure some outdoor practices
and were removed from the comforts of
their somewhat palatial dressing room as a
reminder of how good they’ve got it.
“Yeah the coaches have worked us hard
now and then reminding us to remain fo-
cused and disciplined,” said Rybuck, who
also coaches lacrosse at West Kildonan
Yeah the coaches
have worked us hard now
and then reminding us to
remain focused and
disciplined. At this point
we’re focusing on the basics
rather than systems’ play
Collegiate. “At this point we’re focusing on the basics
rather than systems’ play.”
Both players are amazed at the level of parity in the
league and both feel the teams to beat in the playoffs
are Stonewall and Charleswood. However, no matter
how the playoffs turn out, both players are proud to
be Raiders.
“We are proud to be Raiders and we’re proud of our
community,” said Mathews. “We like to be involved and
help out too. We’ve helped at Siloam Mission, reading
week at our local schools, I Love to Read, Christmas
Cheer Board.
“The culture our coaches and ownership have in-
stilled in us goes beyond hockey and all the guys on
the team try to work hard both on and off the ice.” n