Raiders settle Vortex in season opener

Windsor and Essex County Secondary Schools Athletic Association boys’ hockey started Nov. 21 at Aide Knox Arena when the home team Assumption Purple Raiders faced off against the visiting Tecumseh Vista Vortex.

Both teams looked ready to compete after the opening face-off but Assumption quickly took a commanding lead scoring four unanswered goals in the first period.

Tecumseh Vista scored its first goal with 7:36 left in the first period cutting the Raider’s lead to three.

Assumption team captain Garrick Loewen scored two goals and two assists making him the game’s top scorer. He said their strategy was to improve their previous tactics since exhibition play.

“We haven’t had many shots in our exhibition games so we wanted to just increase our shots on net, work on our tactics, dump and chase stuff like that,” said Loewin.

The Purple Raiders continued their dominating play throughout the second and third periods. The Vortex scored once more before the Raiders scored eight unanswered goals to end the game with a score of 12-2.

Play turned physical midway through the second period and continued into the third with Assumption racking up six penalties and Tecumseh Vista getting 10 of their own. The Purple Raiders would capitalize going three-for-10 on the power play with the Vortex going 0-for-6.

Tecumseh Vista head coach Kyle Pearce said the young team is still trying to form as a unit.

“We’ve been on the ice for about two weeks with two exhibition games and four tryouts. It’s been quick coming and it’s nice to see that we do have a team to move forward in our first year in a WECSSAA league,” said Pearce.

WECSSAA boys hockey will continue into the new year ending Feb. 14 with the St. Joseph’s Laser hosting Tecumseh Vista at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre. Schedules can be found on the WECSSAA website at www.wecssaa.com.