Canucks looking for wins and attendance in Strathmore

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

If the Calgary Canucks are to schedule any more games in Strathmore, they might want to avoid two of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s elite programs.
Granted, they are two of the closer franchises to Strathmore, but the Canucks picked up their second loss this season in Strathmore when the juggernaut Brooks Bandits blanked the host team 3-0 Dec. 8 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
This marked the second of a possible four games for the Canucks in Strathmore this season. Back on Nov. 19, the Okotoks Oilers skated to a 2-1 victory over the Canucks at the Family Centre.
Unfortunately for the Canucks, two of the closest AJHL teams to Strathmore occupy the top two seeds in the Viterra South Division. The third seed is also nearby, in the Drumheller Dragons.
The proximity of those franchises to Strathmore surely played a hand in selecting which games to move from the Max Bell Centre to the Family Centre, as the Canucks continue to test the market for interest in Junior A hockey.
Despite a strong Bandits contingent making the one-hour 20-minute drive, attendance was down 74 people from the November meeting.
For comparission, last year’s Canucks game in Strathmore drew just over 600 fans. The Strathmore Wheatland Kings game Dec. 9 against the Cochrane Generals drew slightly over 200 fans.
Nothing has changed in the AJHL office in the past two weeks, as there has been no news to break about relocation or expansion of the league.
“It would be great for us to have a team here,” said Bandits Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou. “It would be nice for us to have a short bus ride, we could develop a good rivalry with the team and it would be easy for fans to reach the game in both towns. The Bandits have been great for a small town like Brooks and I think Strathmore would embrace their team the same way.”
One source inside the league said that talk has been there and continues to be there about Strathmore getting their own franchise one day. The two things holding Strathmore back are its arena and attendance.
Last year, the two Calgary-based teams, the Canucks and Mustangs, finished second last and last in average attendance. The Canucks averaged 221 fans, while the Mustangs bottomed out at 205, which was a far cry from the second-best team in attendance, the Bandits with 1,299.
Even with all the buzz about a AJHL team one day calling Strathmore home, there was still a game to be played.
After Mayor Pat Fule addressed the crowd before a ceremonial puck drop, the Bandits showed why they continue to be the class of the league.
The game was dominated by two players in particular, as Bandits captain Dennis Cesana had a hand in all three goals, and Mitch Benson made 27 saves for his fourth shutout of the season.
Cesana ripped a shot through a crowd at the 10:06 mark of the first, and then with less than one minute remaining in the second, his low wrister from the point squeaked past Kolby Matthews.
The Providence, R.I. product picked up a secondary assist on the Bandits third goal in the third period.
Cesana dished the puck down low to Nolan Thompson, whose initial shot was blocked by Canucks captain Kyler Newman to the right of the net. All in one motion, Thompson kept the puck alive by grabbing the rebound, circled around the net and rifled a shot top corner.
Benson, who committed to Colgate University earlier that day, made his toughest stop against Josh Giacomin, who was awarded a penalty shot after getting hauled down on a short-handed breakaway. Giacomin made a simple move, trying to open up Benson’s five-hole, but was turned away with 2:01 remaining in regulation.
“He looked like the Mitch Benson of old tonight, when he was our best player last year,” said Papaioannou. “He struggled to start the season, but it looks like it was good for him to get his college commitment out of the way.”
The Bandits, who have carried the season series with the Canucks, now lead the series 4-1, outscoring them 22-9. Frustrations boiled over in the second period when Nic Hamre slammed into Matthews, who was way out of his crease to play the puck.
“This was the second time in the past two games that one of their players ran our goalie. I will be submitting this to our league and hopefully something gets done this time,” said Canucks Head Coach Darryl Olsen, who recently had his interim title removed.
Olsen loves returning to Strathmore, as he once held hockey camps at the Family Centre, and his brother Dan used to coach the UFA Bisons.
One former Bison was recently acquired by the Canucks and was excited to see one of his home games changed to his old home rink.
Tyler Petrie spent the past two seasons with the Foothills CFR Chemicals Bisons. In 64 games, he scored 18 goals and 44 points, and played in 17 playoff games.
“I’m happy to be in Calgary and be closer to home,” said Petrie, an Airdrie native. “It’s nice to come back here, it’s fun to remember all the times with the Bisons over the past two years.”
Petrie was with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons this season, where he appeared in 23 games, scoring a pair of goals and recording four assists. He has played in three games with the Canucks since being acquired Dec. 1.
“We were at a point where we had too many 1998- and 1997-born players; we needed to get younger,” said Olsen. “I liked everything about his game last year. He’s a big kid, a good kid, and once he becomes comfortable with us, I’m sure he will be a success.”
Petrie’s former teammate on the Bisons, Landon Melzer, was on the Canucks roster last time the team was in Strathmore. He was since traded to the Dragons, where he was released and has now popped up with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL.
As of this moment, the Canucks have not made a decision one way or another to move two of their home games to Strathmore in the New Year. The ice time is still reserved for the Canucks on Jan. 20 and Feb. 10, if they choose to continue the Strathmore series of games.