Bisons earn split on the road

Times Editor

 

Despite outplaying their opposition in a pair of road games, the UFA Bisons only managed to collect two out of a possible four points this past weekend.

The local triple-A midget team earned a 6-4 win over the Calgary Buffaloes on Oct. 10, before dropping a 4-3 decision to the Southeast Tigers on Oct. 14 in Medicine Hat.

Even though they dominated most of game versus the Tigers, even outshooting them 23-5 in the second period, the Bisons allowed a goal late in the game that cost them a point.

“At the end of the day, when you outshoot the opposition 48- 26, you should expect two points,” said Bisons head coach Jeremy Friesen. “It’s frustrating, but it’s the lessons you learn along the way – that’s what we stressed with the guys. We had countless high-quality scoring chances in the second period. Games like that, on the road, you need to find a way to get those in.

“The other thing it showed us is that when a team gets great goaltending, it can shift the tide of the game … in a game they have no business being in.” 

Mason McCarty, Kurt Fraser and Markson Bechtold each scored for the Bisons, while Colby Chartier recorded a pair of assists in the loss.

The weekend started on a much brighter note, at the Bisons defeated the Buffaloes. Matt Forchuk scored once and added a pair of helpers to lead the way for the Bisons, while Connor Boyd recorded a pair of assists in the win.

“It was our best, complete game of the season,” said Friesen of the win. “We established ourselves early on in terms of how we wanted to play the game and every time they pushed back we raised the bar. That lasted for 60 minutes – it was really a game closer to a 6-1 or a 6-2 score for us, but we ran into some penalty trouble and took away momentum from ourselves periodically.

“Our work ethic was tremendous and our execution and attention to detail were top notch. Lots of positives out of that game.”

After playing their first six games on the road, the Bisons will finally host their home opener Oct. 20 (5:30 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre against the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers. During that outing, fans will have a chance to see the new UFA Bisons jersey, while the team will unveil their community-oriented third jersey the following day when they host the United Cycle Maple Leafs (2 p.m.).

“Everybody has a taste for the league now and that’s what we wanted to get out of this (extended road trip),” said the coach. “We’re sitting 2-4 and we’re not overly concerned about our record. We know how we are playing the game and how we want our guys to play. At the end of the day, we could just as easily be 5-1 if not 6-0.”

According to Friesen, the team is excited to finally play at home and hopes the players can make the Strathmore Family Centre a tough place for their opposition.

“It should be a place where teams hate coming into and every time they do, we’re going to beat the heck out of them,” said Friesen. “We’re going to play 60 minutes of hockey the way we know we’re capable of.

“That’s something we’re looking to establish as early as Saturday and carry into Sunday.”