Raiders bolster coaching staff with two well-known locals

Odnokon is a teacher at Carlton Comprehensive High School and has been an instructor at the school’s Hockey Canada Skills Academy program for the last six years.

He’ll be doing much of the same for the Raiders at the WHL level, making sure to sharpen the technique of his players.

“You have to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the players,” said Odnokon, “then you’re working on fundamental skills of stickhandling, shooting, passes and skating is also incorporated.”

Lange has some obvious ties to the Raiders preceding his tenure as the team’s new strength and conditioning coach.

Like Odnokon, Lange watched the Raiders long before his direct involvement with the team. That attachment only grew when his son, Sawyer Lange, played with the Raiders for the past four seasons.

“I was a Raider fan long before he played for the Raiders,” said Terry. “That didn’t change, it only got stronger once he started to play. It was quite a thrill and an honour to watch him grow over the four years that he played.

“For him to play at home, it was kind of like a dream come true. To be appointed captain was such an honour for him.”

The position of strength and conditioning coach won’t be brand new to Terry, as he’s held the same position with the Prince Albert Mintos Midget AAA Hockey Team for the last six seasons.

Terry quickly points to the Mintos’ 2013-2014 Telus Cup victory, when they won the national midget AAA championship in the longest game in tournament history in triple overtime on April 27, 2014 in Moose Jaw. The Mintos’ dedication to fitness throughout the season gave them a big advantage as that game progressed.

“I think it really showed with the Mintos over the past number of years, especially two years ago with their Telus Cup run. Really, the only reason they won the Telus Cup in triple overtime was they had a little bit more left in the tank at the end of the year,” said Terry. “We’re hoping to achieve those same goals with the Raiders in years to come.”

“Marc and Curtis both want to establish a team based on speed and tempo, so we have to keep that in mind in our fitness goals,” added Terry. “Inevitably, there is some drop-off that occurs and we want to try and maintain the conditioning throughout the year.”

Sawyer is heading to the University of Alberta to play with the Golden Bears, who have won back-to-back University Cups. The Golden Bears have featured other former Raiders on those teams, including Jordan Rowley and Luke Siemens.

Odnokon’s 18-year-old son Austin is looking to start his junior hockey career next year, trying out for the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and Fort Knox of the Prairie Junior Hockey League.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders bolster coaching staff with two well-known locals

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