A pair of university women’s hockey teammates had some unfinished business from their Midget career to tend to on the weekend.
Okotokian Cassidy Trotter and Nicolette Seper, now of the Mount Royal University Cougars, had to help strut out three of the Rocky Mountain AAA Midget Raiders’ championship banners from last season during this year’s edition of the Raiders’ -homer at Scott Seaman Sports Rink in Davisburg on Sunday.
“I wanted to comeback for the Raiders’ home-opener and be part of this celebration,” said Trotter, who played on the blueline for last year’s championship team. “I really wanted to watch and support my old teammates. I miss them. It was nice to see them.”
The Raiders rolled out the carpet for the home-opener.
The 2016-17 edition of the Raiders were introduced under the spotlight, with a fog machine and laser show that would have Spinal Tap crying in envy.
As well, MD of Foothills Mayor Larry Spilak dropped the opening puck.
However, the highlight was eight former Raiders coming out with the three banners for provincial and Western championships and a bronze for the Esso Cup national tournament.
Trotter helped trot out the Esso Cup banner.
“It was pretty cool because I felt we deserved to be there and we worked very hard for it — we earned it,” Trotter said. “We might have got gold, but we got a little bit unlucky.”
Trotter now plays with the MRU Cougars, who are coached by Scott Rivett of Okotoks. She said she would not have made the Cougs without her years with the Raiders.
“The Raiders pretty much carried me there (to Mount Royal),” the Holy Trinity Academy grad said. “It was a big turning point in my career to play Raiders.”
Seper was the captain and leading scorer for the championship Raiders.
“To hold the Esso banner was really special,” the Cochrane native said. “Every team in this league wants to get to nationals. Being a team that hadn’t won a provincial title yet and then to get to nationals, that was special.”
She also enjoyed cheering on her teammates from just six months ago.
“I am still really close with a lot of girls on this team,” she said. “It will be nice to watch them.”
(The Raiders didn’t disappoint, downing the Calgary Fire 6-1.)
While Raiders coach Paul Pozzi had to deal with the home-opener and the upcoming season, he was delighted to see the tribute to the championship campaign.
“It was important for us to do that and have an opportunity to recognize the success the girls had last year,” Pozzi said. “To have all the graduates back and players who’ve moved on, it was important to have them back and be able to display the banners.
“We don’t want to dwell on the past, but I think you always have to celebrate your successes.”
With files from Remy Greer
