Raaymakers Handed The Reins

With the announcement of Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds netminder Brandon Halverson being named to Team USA’s World Junior camp roster, Chatham’s Joseph Raaymakers will be expected to take over the reins in the starters absence.

Raaymakers is a 16-year-old rookie, playing in his first season in the OHL after starring for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midget ‘AA’ team last season, and being selected in the second round, 33rd overall by the Greyhounds in this past springs OHL Draft.

Team USA’s camp begins December 16, and runs until December 23, meaning Raaymakers will be in net for a pair of Soo Greyhounds road games in mid-December against the Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers December 18 and 19.

Should Halverson make Team USA’s roster, Raaymakers would be the go to netminder for another four games spanning from December 28 to January 4, as the World Juniors run until January 5, with Team USA expected to challenge for the gold.

Raaymakers has played in 8 games for the Greyhounds this season, and has statistically outplayed Halverson, collecting a 5-3 record, a 2.23 goals against average, and 0.928 save percentage.