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Speed trumps size for Raiders

There are two schools of thought when it comes to size in sport. The widely held notion is you can't teach or can't stop size while on the other hand when it comes to trumpeting speed and skill you cannot hit what you cannot touch.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to size in sport.

The widely held notion is you can't teach or can't stop size while on the other hand when it comes to trumpeting speed and skill you cannot hit what you cannot touch.

Place the Okotoks Jr. A Raiders firmly in the latter category.

“We pride ourselves on being athletic,” said Raiders assistant coach Jesse Fehr. “We want to generate a lot of shots in transition, we want to run. We would like to be the most athletic team on the floor every time we play.

“We don't necessarily put a huge precedent on size when we're drafting or looking for players, we want guys who are good athletes.”

There's no shortage of talent out of the front-gate.The addition of 5-foot-7 Sean Tyrrell, a star in the NCAA with the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks, has been a major boon to the offence after the Calgarian spent years ripping up the Jr. B ranks with the Mountaineers. The 20-year-old is second in the province with 68 points and first in assists with 40.

Not far behind in the leading scorers table is 5-foot-9 sniper Brett McIntyre who already has a league scoring crown on his resume as well as the slender yet elusive Travis Getz.

Powerful fourth-year lefty Dylan Kinnear provides much of the bulk and physicality up-front.

Despite the long-term absence of three key cogs in its offensive wheel from one season ago, the Raiders (9-1-1) have put up 153 goals for in 11 games including 34 in its past two contests alone.

“On offence it's making sure we're able to spread the floor, move the ball and work together,” Fehr added. “We don't have a ton of guys who just take it one on one to the net. We really try and work together as a team.”

The same philosophy holds true on the back-end where size isn't necessarily characteristic of the majority of its defenders.

“We like to use our speed and athleticism to put pressure on the other team,” Fehr added. “Size isn't a huge thing for us.”

Across town, the Raiders' chief rivals boast a much meatier lineup .

The Calgary Mountaineers, with the likes of Okotokian Ryan McLean clogging up lanes on defence and sharp-shooting righties Laszlo Henning and Austin Jerhoff up-front, bring a different element to the floor.

“They've got a lot of talented players on offence who can really shoot the ball,” the coach said. “Defensively, they're big, they're physical, they're an older team that understands what it takes to win in this league.”

The teams have split their two meetings this season.

Not a surprise given the constant shift in who's on top in the province. Over the past five seasons, Okotoks and Calgary have alternated championships with the Raiders taking the crown in 2011, 2013 and 2015. Calgary boasts a one three lead in the battle for first in the division.

“Right now we're looking at them as the team we're chasing,” Fehr said. “Hopefully we will see them in the playoffs and have a chance to play them. We're trying to prepare ourselves to play them later on in the season.”


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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