A shutout and a win
Aryssah Stankevitsch
Times Reporter
The Bisons’ offense was lacking on Nov. 23 against the Sherwood Park Kings in a 0-0 finish, but it returned the following night against the Fort Saskatchewan Boston Pizza Rangers, with Tristan Thompson scoring two, including the game winner in a 5-3 win.
“It’s taken him a few games to get back in gear here,” Bisons’ coach Dan MacDonald said. “But he’s the kind of player that once he makes his mind up, he really helps you offensively. He’s got a great shot from the point, and he slips in the play really well. He’s a determined guy.”
The defenseman still leads all blueliners with 16 points, despite missing a few games due to a shoulder injury — which is not 100 per cent, but is getting there.
“It’s just about,” MacDonald said. “If he gets hit kind of awkward he’ll feel extra pain, but he goes back out there – very competitive.”
The Bisons capitalized twice on the powerplay against the Rangers – something they’ve been concentrating on in practice.
“At least once a week, we’ll spend a lot of time on it,” MacDonald said. “We have good offensive players so we should have a good powerplay, that’s just the way it should be. It’s very important for us.”
Against Sherwood Park, Carter Seminuk earned his second shutout in a row, making 38 saves for the tie.
“The goaltending was very good,” MacDonald said of his netminder earning the shutout. “That’s very hard to do in midget hockey – it’s more wide open and they’re less defensive minded, you might say. To get two shutouts is a pretty big thing for him.”
MacDonald mentioned Seminuk’s strong play, especially the first ten minutes of the game, kept the Bisons in it.
“They really took it to us I thought, and he was the difference. As the game progressed, I think we took it to them,” MacDonald said. “It was a tough game. They play a lot like we do, they’re fast and they’re aggressive.”
Next up for the Bisons are the SEAC Tigers on Nov. 28. Currently, the Bisons are tied for first in the Chrysler Division with 24 points, but have played two more games than the Calgary Royals, who have 24 as well.