Bisons to play Germany, help out SAY

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

The UFA Bisons will have the chance to play Germany on Dec. 23, and after missing out on the opportunity to play an international team last year, the boys are stoked.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling, knowing last year we didn’t do it, instead we played the women’s national team which was still pretty outstanding, they’re a good hockey team,” said Bisons captain Shane Fraser.
Last season the Bisons had the chance to host an international game but after playing 11 games in November, 10 of which were on the road, plus being a little banged up injury-wise and a few other factors, it was decided to let the guys rest and prepare for the Macs Midget Tournament.
“It’s not very often you get a chance out here in Strathmore to see an international hockey team and these will be the best of the best 17-and-under kids from Germany,” said Wayne Hansen, general manager of the Bisons.
“The game is usually well attended, we would expect between 500 to 700 people to attend the game, depending on people’s travel schedules.”
Fraser is looking forward to seeing the different style of play the German players will approach the game with.
“People from different countries (they) have a different style of play usually with European teams, more speed and skill and here in Canada usually more physical and bigger players. It will just be interesting to see how they play compared to our team the way they’re coached and the way Dan has us coached,” said Fraser.
The Bisons are also using the game as a way to help spread the word about SAY and help them raise money towards the disc golf initiative.
SAY, the Strathmore Assembly of Youth has been around for a couple of years now, but still isn’t quite as well-known as they could be.
“I think it’s really good, I agree I don’t think there’s much awareness of what it is and I think it is a great opportunity to tell people about the disc golf course and get people to know about it and attend it,” said SAY member Sabrina Kooistra.
“Our purpose is to, I guess you can say, improve the quality of life of youth and kind of change the idea that there isn’t anything to do in Strathmore,” said Kooistra.
“Because of our connection to the school … I thought that this was probably the perfect opportunity and perfect chance for them to get the info out there about what SAY is,” said Hansen.
The Bisons have always used the international games as a way to help out the community, rather than a way to generate money for the organization. Hansen’s son was a member of SAY, and so when their name was brought forward as a potential group to raise money for, to help with their disc golf initiative, Hansen was in.
Disc golf is similar to regular golf, but what you use to throw looks like a Frisbee, but is specialized for disc golf, and players try to get it into a type of basket. The course will start in Brentwood and end in the Birth Forest. There are a number of different locations that will have baskets set up for the game.
“I think its growing in popularity right now. We thought that it would be a different opportunity for something to do for people in Strathmore,” said Kooistra.
The game between the Bisons and Germany is scheduled for Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Strathmore Family Centre. Admission is $5 and all proceeds will be going to SAY and the disc golf project.