Chiefs alumni elevate Bisons

Times Editor

 

UFA Bisons vs Vancouver NW Giants

Dec. 26, Max Bell Centre

Sparked by the quartet from Wheatland Chiefs Championship team, the UFA Bisons played their best game of the season to open the Mac’s Midget Hockey Tournament.

Alex Bechtold, Devon Westby, Rylan Muenchrath and goaltender Wilson Sproule, members of last season’s SCAHL Champion squad, each played a pivotal part in the UFA Bisons 6-2 win over the Vancouver NW Giants.

All three players registered at least a point, while Sproule shut the door to lead the Bisons over the Giants, one of the favoured teams going into the tournament.

“Those guys are a huge part in our team – they know what it takes, they know what it feels like (to have success),” said Bisons head coach Jeremy Friesen. “I can’t disagree with that (they may have played their best game in a Bisons jersey).

“Alex, for sure, no question – I’ve never seen him compete on both ends of the puck like that. He took over the game and he has that ability – that is something we’ve worked on him with and now the challenge for him is to be consistent with that. He’s big, strong and he can skate. He’s a dynamic player.

“Muenchrath is the same way.”

According to Friesen, Sproule was fantastic in the pipes for the Bisons, while Westby played his regular, hard-nosed game and was rewarded with a goal.

With Westby, “you know exactly what you’re going to get out of him. He’d sacrifice all of his teeth for this team if that’s what it took to win a hockey game. He brings all the intangible pieces. Obviously when you have a bunch of guys that have won together before, they understand the process it takes to win.

“Guys like that don’t tend to stop until they win again – once you’re a winner, you’re always a winner.”

After the Bisons fell 2-0 early in the first period, they rang off six unanswered goals against one of the top teams in the tournament.

In fact, after the first period, the Bisons only allowed seven shots the remainder of the game.

In the final 40 minutes, the Bisons dominated both ends of the ice, led by the Chiefs quartet.

“We’ve been down in a series (before) and we know what it takes to win,” said Bechtold of the former Chiefs. “Devon had a goal, Rylan had a (point) and I had a goal … three Chiefs right there and Willy Sproule keeping us in it. 

“I’m really proud of us and the whole team – we didn’t stop and we didn’t take a shift off.”

 

Beardy’s Blackhawks vs UFA Bisons

Dec. 27, Max Bell Centre

According to UFA Bisons head coach Jeremy Friesen, a make-believe rule by the referee was the difference between a win and a tie.

The UFA Bisons scored what they thought would be the game-winner with 1.9 seconds left – only to have the goal not count – as the Bisons tied the Beardy’s Blackhawks 1-1 on Dec. 27 at the Max Bell Centre.

The Bisons scored first in the see-saw battle late in the third period, while on the power play, before allowing the tying goal with just over a minute remaining.

That was all the scoring that took place.

“There was a lot of scoring chances on both sides,” said Friesen. “Their goaltender played great and Wilson was really good for us. Defensively, both teams clogged up the neutral zone and it wasn’t really a run and gun type of game. It wasn’t even that much of a possession game – it was more back and forth without generating a lot scoring chances.”

Despite earning the tie, Friesen was happy with his team’s performance mid-way through the round-robin portion of the Mac’s Tournament.

“Obviously, we would have liked to come out with four points, but three points is better than coming out with a split” said Friesen. “We’re right where we want to be – we’re in a position where we’re comfortable. I think the guys are starting to get a sense of urgency with how close we are and how well we’re playing.

“We beat the best team in B.C. and we just tied the best team in Saskatchewan, so I think that’s good for our guys (going forward).”