MIDDLESEX TWP — Seneca Valley needed someone to help lead a Raiders hockey team that could have been heading toward a season of growing pains.

Junior forward Alexander Crilley was asked to take the role.

The Raiders were losing 12 seniors from last season’s team that reached the PIHL Class AAA quarterfinals and would have a new goaltender.

For Seneca Valley to continue that success, the Raiders were going to need to do the fundamental things right.

“I focused a lot more on the little details,” said Crilley, who is a captain and a junior forward. “About stressing to my other teammates about how the little details could separate us from a win or a loss.”

Seneca Valley has found early success, grinding its way to a 6-3 record.

The Raiders were one of two teams to beat Bethel Park, which won the national championship.

“We came into these games feeling we wanted to make an impact on the league,” Crilley said. “Even though we’re a younger team, we aren’t to be taken lightly. I think that win against Bethel, ranked No. 1 at the time was big on impacting.”

Crilley leads the team with 14 points (eight goals, six assists).

“He has a good work ethic and is willing to do different things to make himself a better hockey player,” Seneca Valley coach Anthony Raco said. “That kind of role model for guys to follow his lead. Being a junior captain, he’s done a good job of taking that role of getting guys prepared.”

Crilley, who played in 15 games and registered 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) during last season, said working on the little details started before games.

“Mostly tape-to-tape passes,” Crilley said. “Working hard even in practice because that will carry onto the games.”

Seneca Valley, which has allowed and scored 30 goals, has been balanced on the score sheet.

Connor Williams (four goals), Parker Faix (three), Chris Lipnicky (three) and Sam Johnson (three) have all showed scoring touch for the Raiders.

“We’ve been playing well as a team, we know where each other is going to be and communicate with each other,” Crilley said.

Crilley wants to continue to work on the little details. He knows the Raiders may have some bumps in the road.

Seneca Valley’s last game was a 9-0 loss to Butler Monday at Ice Connection.

Raco believes Crilley’s the type of player that can continue to improve.

“I know he plays AAA and I know what kind of hockey player he is,” Raco said. “He is a two-way player and likes to get physical. That’s the kind of style I like in hockey players and use physical play as the part of the game to get the puck and wanting to get the puck to the net.”