Bisons split weekend at home

Times Reporter   

 

After a lacklustre effort on the penalty kill against the Sherwood Park Kings on Oct. 5 – which resulted in a 6-3 loss – the UFA Bisons picked it up defensively the next day against the Maple Leafs Athletic Club (MLAC) United Cycle Maple Leafs, winning 3-2.

In the second period against the Kings, Shane Fraser was served a game misconduct for a check from behind. In that major penalty alone, Sherwood Park scored three power play goals.

“We had a good game going until that happened. They just took off after that,” Bisons coach Dan MacDonald said. “Sherwood Park was very good on the power play, and that’s why they beat us. We have to get better in that department, that’s just the way it is. This season we really haven’t worked on it very much, but we’ll spend some time on it now.”

Strathmore’s own power play was working as well, with all three of their goals against the Kings coming on the man advantage.

“Special teams is something that’s down the line. We haven’t got there yet. But we’ve got some smart players in those situations. They’re good at it too,” MacDonald said. “Sometimes it changes the momentum, and at this age level momentum is a big thing.”

On Oct. 6, the Bisons were tied 1-1 after the first period with the Maple Leafs. The Leafs scored three minutes into the second, but the Bisons responded 17 seconds later, and once more near the end of the second on the power play. The Maple Leafs couldn’t capitalize in the third.

“The biggest thing is that we played better defensively all the way around. That was one area we were having difficulty with (against Sherwood Park),” MacDonald said. 

Having won the first two games of the season, MacDonald thought his team came out thinking they were going to win them all. Sherwood Park was the head-shaker they needed.

“You need to lose to get better. That was a bit of a wake-up call so that we could reinforce the idea that defense is important, and we got to keep playing,” he said.

After four games, forward Mackenzie Bauer is tied for the league lead in scoring with seven points. Goalie Carter Seminuk is also tied for second, but in save percentage with .898. Seminuk has a 2.50 GAA.

“We got a good performance from a lot of guys,” MacDonald said, also positively noting on Mason McCarty, Tristan Thompson and Matthew Forchuk. “Our veterans are doing a good job of scoring goals and doing things that they should do, because they have some experience.”

Rookies, however, are impressing MacDonald too.

“Clay Murray has played two good games for us. He’s getting better, and I think he’s going to break out and be a good goal scorer too. He’s just doing better things all the time,” MacDonald said. “He’s not getting rewarded as much as he should for his efforts, but he will.”