Victorias Triumph Over Raiders for Two Game Sweep

Ryland Nechwediuk starred for the St. Vital Jr. Victorias, leading the team to a 6-4 victory over the Raiders Jr. Hockey Club.

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On Friday night at Seven Oaks SportsPlex, the St. Vital Jr. Victorias outscored the Raiders Jr. Hockey Club in a fast-paced 6-4 victory, extending their winning streak to two games. The Victorias showcased their offensive prowess, with forward Ryland Nechwediuk leading the charge by netting two goals, while the Raiders struggled to keep pace, falling to 0-3-1 on the season.

First Period: A Rapid Start and Raiders Response

The game opened intensely, and the Victorias wasted no time making their presence known. Just 25 seconds into the match, Nechwediuk capitalized on a play set up by Aidan Anderson and captain Tyler Rubigny, giving St. Vital an early lead. However, the Raiders answered quickly with a power-play goal from Ryan Cromie at 5:42, assisted by Nate Goodbrandson and Devon Whiteside. As the period progressed, the Raiders managed to grab a brief lead, with Goodbrandson adding another goal at 18:47. The Victorias didn’t back down, though, with Blake Goretzki tying the game at 19:30, sending the teams into the break at 2-2.

Second Period: Victorias Pull Ahead

St. Vital took control in the second period, with Nechwediuk finding the net again just 31 seconds in. He was once again assisted by Rubigny and Anderson, forming a lethal offensive combination. The Victorias added to their lead at 7:04 with a goal from Brady Jaquet, set up by Rubigny and Nechwediuk, bringing the score to 4-2. The Raiders struggled to generate chances, being outshot 15-4 in the period, and entered the final frame with a two-goal deficit.

Third Period: Raiders Fight Back, But Fall Short

Braeden Smith extended St. Vital’s lead to 5-2 at 4:20 of the third, but the Raiders clawed their way back with another goal from Cromie at 8:37, assisted by Lucas Desousa and Ashton Henry. The Raiders closed the gap further when Owen Lourenco scored a power-play goal at 15:56, making it a one-goal game. With the clock ticking down, Rubigny sealed the victory for the Victorias with an empty-net goal at 19:32, ending the game at 6-4.

Goaltending Duel In net, Mason Tabak of St. Vital was solid, making 25 saves on 29 shots for a .862 save percentage, securing the win. Raiders goaltender Owen Savoie faced 27 shots, stopping 21, but allowed 5 goals for a .808 save percentage, with one empty-net goal against him.

Shots on Goal:

St. Vital Jr. Victorias: 6-15-6—27

Raiders Jr. Hockey Club: 15-4-10—29

Season Series Recap:

This matchup marked the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their first encounter on October 3, the St. Vital Jr. Victorias edged out the Raiders in a 5-4 victory. With the Victorias now having won both early season games, the Raiders will look to turn things around in their next clash on December 5, 2024, when they visit St. Vital at 7:30 PM.