Taking their game to the Mac’s

Times Editor

 

The UFA Bisons are anxiously waiting to make a statement when they begin the 2011 Mac’s Midget Hockey Tournament Dec. 26 in Calgary.

The local triple-A midget team is one of the five host teams and will welcome the Vancouver NW Giants, the Beard’s Blackhawks, the Edmonton SSAC Athletics and the Sherwood Park Kings in Pool One.

Despite not playing up to their potential so far this season, Bisons head coach Jeremy Friesen knows anything can happen in a short, weeklong tournament.

“It’s a short-term competition, so it’s different than anything you prepare for throughout the entire season,” said Friesen. “It is something you have to have discipline with (on and off the ice) – you need to take care of your body and hydrating, things like that. 

“If you take one period off, that (could be) the end of your tournament, so your margin of error is very small – that’s why this tournament tests every athlete that performs and every coach that’s involved as well. It tests them to their max and that is something (we) strive to do every day.”

The Mac’s Midget Hockey Tournament held their annual Press Conference Dec. 14 at the Westin Hotel in Calgary where the schedule was released.

The Bisons will open the tournament on Boxing Day when they take on the Vancouver NW Giants (10 a.m.) at the Max Bell Centre. The locals will have their ‘host game’ on Dec. 27 (2:30 p.m.) at the Max Bell Centre when they face off against the Beardy’s Blackhawks.

From there, the Bisons will take on the Edmonton SSAC on Dec. 28 (2:30 p.m.) and the Sherwood Park Ennis Kings Dec. 30 (11:45 a.m.), with both games being played at the Father David Bauer Arena.

“We saw Sherwood Park twice at the beginning of the year and we had two great games against them, so we know what to expect out of those guys,” evaluated Friesen. “I don’t think that they’ve seen what we are capable of doing yet, and they might say the same thing about us. South Side is another team we’ve played once and had success against. 

“Vancouver NW – that’s an elite program – that’s a world-known program for developing players and winning. They made it to the Telus Cup last year, so we’re expecting them to be strong again. 

“Same thing with Beardy’s – another program known to take the next step and get players to another level.”

The 34th Annual Mac’s Tournament will feature 25 teams in the male group, including KLH Chomutov from the Czech Republic and Severstal/Locomotiv from Russia. The female group will consist of 15 teams.

“I think we have a good chance,” said captain Mitch McAllister. “I’m very optimistic maybe, but I think we can play with each and every team. We definitely have a great shot to win our pool.

“We have a quick team, lot of people who can score goals. We’re sound defensively … on any given night, we have it all from the goaltender out.”