Bisons sweep weekend

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The UFA Bisons swept both weekend home games Oct. 18-19 and currently sit fifth in the AMHL south division standings. They were able to edge the Knights of Columbus Pats 4-2 on Oct. 18 and scored six unanswered goals to beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 6-2 the following day.
The coaching staff was thrilled to see how much quicker the team is moving the puck and how much more aggressive the players are at attacking the net.
“We’ve been working on moving the puck quick and trusting each other. In the second period we started to move the puck a lot better,” said Doug Raycroft, Bisons assistant coach.
The results showed for the Bisons as they were able to produce offence, but also battled back hard in their own end against the Tigers.
“We were supporting each other a lot better, so we had to work a little harder coming back in our own end. As soon as we scored a couple of goals, it changed the game,” said Raycroft.
After a playing the last half of the opening frame with energy, the Bisons spotted the Tigers a 2-0 lead and used their speed and size to their advantage
“We always want to play with speed. (In) the first period we struggled with that and we had some penalties too that slowed us down, but the first shift (in the second) we moved the puck really well, got rewarded and a goal really quick and it just seem to take off from there,” said Raycroft. “I think this was the best game of the year so far, moving into next week for practice, we can focus on a lot of the good things we were doing … the way we want to play like the second and third periods. It’s good for the guys to see how well we do the things we want to do.”
Second year defenseman Sebastien Kilcommons was the most thrilled player on the team after the win as he was able to notch his first-ever league goal.
“I was really excited, when I first saw it go into the net, it was hard to believe it actually went in,” said Kilcommons. “We really wanted to have a good start off to the season. It’s really nice to see the team come together with good chemistry.”
Other Bison scorers were Trygve Many Guns with two, while Markus Lavallee, Cameron Shorrock and Gary Haden each added a goal.
On the previous night versus the Pats, the Bisons had a hard-fought contest and used the big ice surface to create chances.
“We played pretty smart, we were moving the puck pretty well (on Saturday) too, but not quite as good as (Sunday). It was a hard-working game and we outworked them,” said Raycroft. “It’s Olympic-sized ice here so when you move the puck and you’re skating, then good things are going to happen. On the power play we’re just rolling the lines and everyone is getting a chance at this time of the year to show what they can do and what we would say is our fourth line scored two power play goals.”
Davis Sheldon scored twice in the win, while Haden and Lavallee each added a goal.
The Bisons are on the road next weekend when they take on St. Albert Raiders at 3:45 p.m. on Oct. 25 and then the Pats on Oct. 26 at 11:45 a.m.