Bisons search for answers

Posted on: J A McRae

Mario Prusina
Times Editor
 
With just two more games left in the regular season, the UFA Bisons are searching for answers heading into the post-season.
After a tremendous run to the finals of the Mac’s Midget Hockey Tournament, the Bisons returned to league play and have not garnered the results they expected.
When the team broke for the Christmastime tournament, they were battling for one of the top spots in the South Division.
However, by going 1-6-2 in the New Year, they are entrenched in the fifth spot, with no chance of moving up or down in the standings.
“I think one of the reasons is that, obviously coming into the season everybody looks at the Mac’s as a time to peak, not only as a team, but individually it’s a great time to get noticed and recognized,” described head coach Jeremy Friesen. “For most of the guys, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. So we come out of the Mac’s, we don’t have the greatest results that we wanted to – there are a lot of different factors that go into that … (now) we have no ability to move up or down in the standings.
“It’s tough – and I hate to say this, but I think it plays a factor – but when there is nothing really on the line for us. It’s tough to get that second and third effort.”
According to Friesen, despite the team’s struggles, including a 5-0 road loss to the Red Deer Rebels on Feb. 11, they have not developed any bad habits that will affect their playoff fortunes.
He believes that once the games mean something again, the results wll swing in their favour.
However, with a pair of games against the top two teams in the North Division, the time to make adjustments heading into the post season is now.
“I’m pretty confident that when the game becomes a playoff game – when it’s basically win or go home – that we’re going to have that ability to step up our game immensely and get back to work. As soon as there is that sense of desperation and urgency that is attached back to those games.
“As a coaching staff, that’s what we need to do these last two games, is create that sense of urgency.” 
The Bisons will play those two games this weekend when they travel to the Edmonton area to face the St. Albert Sports Raiders and the Leduc Oil Kings on Feb. 18 & 19. Game times are 8 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. respectively.