By Bruce Karnick

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High school sports seasons are full of ups and downs, sometimes it is simply for a few players, other times it’s the whole team. The kids are always playing their hearts out, but things just don’t go as planned. That’s a summation of the Raider girl’s hockey season so far. A great group of kids playing their hearts out and things not going as planned. The key to remember here is, they are student athletes. High school sports are an academic competition, according to the Minnesota State High School League, meaning it is an extension of the classroom to help teach kids life skills.

The lesson being taught right now? Keep fighting, keep pushing, persevere, do your best and hold your head high. Do things the right way when the right way is not always the easiest or the path of least resistance.

The Raiders are in the middle of an eightgame road trip that started in Hermantown and will culminated in Inver Grove Heights.

Tuesday, November 30, the Raiders took the much closer drive to Eagan to face the Wildcats. Addie Seleski gave Hastings the lead in the first on a powerplay goal that was assisted by Kylie Gruden and Kiki Radant.

In the second and third periods, Eagan held Hastings scoreless and scored twice in each period to win 4-1.

Hastings had 29 shots on goal to Eagan’s 30. The powerplay is where Eagan took advantage of Hastings. Hastings went to the penalty box five times for 10 minutes and Eagan was able to convert three of those into goals. Eagan made the same trip six times for 12 minutes and Hastings only converted one of those into points.

Thursday the ladies went to Minnetonka Ice Arena to take on Hopkins and were shut out 3-0 despite the 40-24 shots on goal advantage for Hastings. The officials let the girls play only calling two penalties the whole game, both on Hopkins for a total of four minutes of 5-on-4 hockey in favor of the Raiders.

Hastings will return home for the first time on Tuesday, December 21 to host South St. Paul at 7:30. Tell all your friends, grab everyone you can, and get over to the Hastings Civic Arena to support these girls and pack McGree rink before the Christmas break.

Until the return home, they have four more road games, all at 7:00 p.m. First is at West. St Paul against Two Rivers on December 7, then at Tartan on December 10, then at Mahtomedi on December 15 and finally at Simley on December 17.