Game On Magazine - April 2017 GameOn-Apr2017-P001-144-ONLINE | Page 24

MANITOBA MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Draft, but both are happy with how their hockey careers have progressed. Rybuck grew up and played at Red River Commu- nity Centre and then age advanced and played with the 11 AA North West Stars. He played high school hockey at West Kildonan Collegiate and then with the AA Hawks. He landed with the Raiders and hasn’t looked back playing an integral role with the team for the last three years. He has one more year of eligibility after this season. Mathews took a similar path, playing as a kid for the Maples Mad Dogs then the AA North West Stars, progressing as a player with the AA Hawks and finally as a Raider, a team he joined at the age of 17. Mathews also has one more year of MMJHL eligibil- ity and was a big part of the Raiders 2014 championship club. However, this year, the Raiders’ on-again- off-again season hasn’t gone without some tough love from the coaching staff. The team had to endure some outdoor practices and were removed from the comforts of their somewhat palatial dressing room as a reminder of how good they’ve got it. “Yeah the coaches have worked us hard now and then reminding us to remain fo- cused and disciplined,” said Rybuck, who also coaches lacrosse at West Kildonan Yeah the coaches have worked us hard now and then reminding us to remain focused and disciplined. At this point we’re focusing on the basics rather than systems’ play Collegiate. “At this point we’re focusing on the basics rather than systems’ play.” Both players are amazed at the level of parity in the league and both feel the teams to beat in the playoffs are Stonewall and Charleswood. However, no matter how the playoffs turn out, both players are proud to be Raiders. “We are proud to be Raiders and we’re proud of our community,” said Mathews. “We like to be involved and help out too. We’ve helped at Siloam Mission, reading week at our local schools, I Love to Read, Christmas Cheer Board. “The culture our coaches and ownership have in- stilled in us goes beyond hockey and all the guys on the team try to work hard both on and off the ice.” n