Raiders edged out by old friends

ROMFORD, UK – Saturday ’ s challenge match against Finnish side Hernesaaren Nadaat Miehet gave both sides the opportunity to showcase their talents in a ‘ non-contact ’ environment. RVW welcomed back ex-Raiders Timo Kauhanen, Jaako Komulainen, Ville Lilja, Jani Lehtovaara, Tedy Salutskij and Antti Makikyro as part of a side that also included former NHL ’ er Petri Varis and Finnish international Jari Korpisalo.

The Raiders got off to a fast start as the visitors took time to find their legs, swiftly moving ahead 4-0 inside the opening 25 minutes. Juraj Huska scored glove-side past Mika Kaarto from a Frankie Harvey feed, Danny Marshall turned in Tom Davis’ setup after the latter had been sprung on a breakaway, Anthony Leone tapped in a cross-ice pass following a defensive zone giveaway and JJ McGrath made it four when he banked in a loose puck at the top of the crease. Hernesaaren, however, weren’t to go quietly. The visitors scored 11 of the next 14 goals as they turned a four-goal deficit into a dominant 11-7 lead midway through the third period. Kauhanen, Komulainen and Co. dangled and dazzled their way through the neutral zone as Raiders goaltenders Glen Jackson and Nathan Lawrence did their best to keep things respectable. The excellent Jari Korpisalo had a two-goal six-point night, whilst Petri Varis helped himself to a quickfire hat-trick, beating Lawrence on a breakaway for his third and the visitors 11th. Harvey, Leone and Joe Allen all scored to pull the Raiders to within one at 10-11, but Hernesaaren’s excellent puck retention prevented the home side from pulling Lawrence for any meaningful length of time. With the clock winding down and the Raiders unable to create a last ditch chance, the buzzer finnish-ed proceedings and bought to an end a great exhibition of attacking hockey at RVW. The game was never about the scoreline though, and in spite of a closely fought contest and a one-goal differential, Danny Marshall and his team would just have been pleased for the workout and to have shared the ice with friends old and new one more time. Contact the author – alex.nunn@prohockeynews.com