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Rocky Mountain Raiders recognized for turnaround season

The rise of the Rocky Mountain Raiders did not go unnoticed.
Raiders Girls Hockey 8988
Rocky Mountain Raiders forward Kaia Borbandy advances on the Red Deer Chiefs earlier this season. Borbandy was named AFHL MVP for the 2019-20 season. (BRENT CALVER/Western Wheel)

The rise of the Rocky Mountain Raiders did not go unnoticed.

Rocky Mountain was prolific amongst the winners of the Alberta Female Hockey League Midget AAA year end awards with Dustin Borbandy earning Coach of the Year honours and daughter Kaia skating away with the AFHL MVP nod as the Raiders enjoyed a 30-point improvement over last season.

“If you looked at us last year we kind of went with the model of let’s rebuild, start from scratch and focus on the development of players,” said coach Borbandy. “Had you put us where we are now, I would have never thought of it. To me it just showed a lot of character with our coaching staff to our players that we selected.

“Especially with no borders in the league, players can go wherever they want and I think what it shows to me is we didn’t just go and select a player just because, we selected a good individual and a good human being. They were easy to coach, receptive to information and just wanted to be here and enjoy our culture.”

Rocky Mountain won 11 more games than in its previous season and climbed from fifth to third place with a 17-9-4 record in 2019-20.

Team captain Kaia Borbandy finished as the league’s assists leader with 15 while producing 7 goals and 22 points in her final season with the Raiders program.

“It was a surprise, but over the past five years of being with the Raiders it felt like an accomplishment at the end,” said Kaia of the MVP honours. “I felt very honoured to have my teammates be there with me through it all.”

Borbandy skated on a line with Sydney Benko and the new teammates quickly found chemistry, each finishing tied for third in league scoring with 22 points. Both players are taking their talents to Mount Royal University along with fellow senior Raider Sydney Trotter. Alesha Santos, who picked up the AFHL Scholarship Award, is headed to Red Deer College to pursue a degree in nursing.

“I went into the season with a different mentality,” she said. “Because my previous years I was sort of just there, but my third year I wanted to be an impact player. This year, having such a strong team together we were really close and it pushed me to reach my personal best and that really encouraged me to be a different player this year.”

The point totals were never a point of discussion, more of a result of the process.

“Her and Sydney Benko, they started pulling a bit away with the scoring race, and one thing we made sure we always focused on was never really to discuss it,” the coach added. “Just keep playing your game, enjoy your time and I always say to our third years ‘what do you want to be remembered for when you leave your midget hockey career? What do you want players to remember you as? A player that it’s really sad to see go and one that (others) really loved being around you.

“To me that was far more important and when that happened I think it allowed (Kaia) to be more relaxed and just play. There was never a moment where she was gripping a stick and said I’ve got to get a point, I’ve got to do this. I think what we did is build our culture where it was, what is best for our team and that allowed her to just flourish and play her game.”

The Borbandy family has been synonymous with Raiders hockey.

Kaia is the third Borbandy sister to go through the program, with older siblings Teagan and Emma moving on to play at Red Deer College and University of New Brunswick, respectively. Younger sister Abbey was a second-year blueliner on the 2019-20 Raiders.

“It’s pretty cool because I remember playing in my Peewee year and I got called up to go practise with my sister’s team and it was a pretty cool experience,” she said. “Since I was little I always wanted to play on those big teams like my sisters and follow their footsteps, it was important to me.”

The Raiders season ended on the eve of the third and final game of their playoff series with the Lloydminster Steelers, with all Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta sanctioned events called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the provincial championships in striking distance.

“When we first found out the season was cancelled, there was disappointment, it was kind of like this sucks,” Kaia said. “I know that when we all finished practice and it came to the end it was pretty emotional and a lot of us third years were pretty emotional because this was the tightest year of hockey I’ve been with my teammates.

“It’s upsetting to know that it’s over, but I think it’s settled because we all realize there’s obviously bigger things going on, but I’m just excited for everybody next year going back. They all know that next year is going to be a big push for them.”


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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