Sometimes rest is needed mid-season. Sometimes, it does not help a team. The Raider Boys Hockey Team last played on January 27 outdoors at United Heroes League where they defeated Apple Valley/Burnsville in overtime, 3-2. After that game, the boys had five straight days of practice before facing the team that always seems to have their number, St. Thomas Academy (STA). If you ask any Raider fan, they will always say how much they enjoy Hastings beating the Cadets.
Unfortunately for Raider fans, the latest game against the Cadets was not one they could celebrate, even with STA having a year that has not been as dominant as years past. Another unfortunate thing about this game is there are no details available on the league’s official website. The only thing that is known about the game is Hastings took the lead in the first to go up 1-0, but after that, it was all STA. The Cadets scored six unanswered goals to thump the Raiders 6-1. Maybe a lack of stats is not so unfortunate for Raider fans, but it certainly does make it difficult to craft a detailed story. Again, maybe in this instance that is not a bad thing.
Looking ahead, Hastings has three games left after they travel to Chisago Lakes on Tuesday. They head up to Mahtomedi on Feb. 8 for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop before they get another week of games off. They return to action to host South St. Paul on Feb. 15, also at 7:00 p.m. and they finish the regular season on Feb. 17 at home against Tartan at 2:00 p.m.
Hastings has no more section games left to play and they currently sit in seventh place in the section at 1-3 in section games and 13-8 overall. Eagan is right behind Hastings at 2-4 in section games and 11-11 overall. Given the way the Section 3AA coaches stick together with their conference and vote against the Raiders, expect Hastings to finish eighth in the section. That means they will have to host a play-in game which will be a rematch of the Apple Valley/Burnsville game from last week.
