Bisons suffer first loss of the season
Mario Prusina
Times Reporter
A goal late in the third period prevented the UFA Bisons from remaining undefeated.
After defeating the SSAC Athletics 4-1 on Oct. 22, the UFA Bisons suffered their first loss of the season the following day, a 3-2 defeat to the J Ennis Kings at the Strathmore Family Centre.
“I think we out-chanced them, but our powerplay let us down,” said Bisons head coach Jeremy Friesen after the loss. “We’re just not capitalizing on our opportunities. Until we get that killer instinct and we play with urgency – that’s all the small things, winning the one-on-one battles and all those things – we’re going to be going through this same process … we keep giving away points.”
Trailing 2-1 in the third period, the Bisons pressed and pinned the Kings in their zone before a couple of costly penalties. However, the local triple-A midget squad tied the game, before allowing a goal late in the game, dropping the Bisons to 3-1-3 on the season.
“It’s the first loss of the year, but it’s probably a good thing for us at this point in the season,” said the coach. “Things haven’t been going great, but they haven’t been going that bad either. Hopefully this will help them create that urgency on what it takes to make the extra (step).
“The decision making with the puck – or lack thereof, has got to be better.”
On Saturday night, the Bisons fell 1-0 going into the third period, before scoring four unanswered goals in the third period.
“We stuck with the game plan and we stuck within our structure,” said Friesen of the win. “Guys we’re winning those battles, they we’re competing, sacrificing the body and they were holding each other accountable.
“We’re a team, that if we have all 20 guys going, we’re going to be successful. It’s part of growing as a hockey team and knowing what it takes.”
According to Friesen, the team is coming along nicely. The effort is there and they are developing that accountability that makes a successful team.
“We do have a mature hockey team and we don’t quit,” beamed the coach. “To this point in the year, we’ve never been down by two goals. We’re always in games.
“I really like the make-up of our team – they’re a tight group and they get along great. The accountability piece is starting to come on the bench … compared to last year, that is something we didn’t really have. It is nice to see and it is something we can build of off.”
The Bisons will now travel to Calgary to take on the Royals on Oct. 28 (8 p.m.) at the Stu Peppard Arena, before returning home to host the United Cycle Maple Leafs on Oct. 30 at the Strathmore Family Centre. Game time is 2 p.m.