Part of the herd
Parker Petruska
Times Jr Reporter
My name is Parker and I attend Grade 12 at Strathmore High School. I am a fellow student and friend of the Strathmore UFA Bisons. I interviewed the Bisons for a work experience project. As a hockey player and fan I thought it would be cool to interview the guys as a team.
The UFA Bisons season ended with a heartbreaking loss against the Red Deer Chiefs.
“When you have the heart, work hard and want it that bad, it makes it harder to lose. The boys worked really hard and it will take some time to get over the fact that the season is over,” commented the Bisons head coach Dan MacDonald.
The team all sat in the SHS Theater and listened as I fired off some questions;
How old were you when you started to skate?
Most of them said they were 3 years old.
How did living in Strathmore, going to school, practicing together build the chemistry on the ice?
“The team is closer because we are always together; we are like a family, brothers.”
Some of the guys said they played against each other and didn’t like them, but this year they are best friends.
“We are together so much and practice hard together all the time so we know how each other think and play.”
Having the team live in Strathmore and practicing during the day definitely helps; it gave the guys the option to study more. It also gave them more free time to do what they wanted. It was less driving for the players and parents. Dangerous weather conditions were also a concern according to Doug Raycroft, assistant coach and associate principal at SHS.
What are your favorite highlights?
“We liked listening to coach Dan’s stories. Christmas with the Kids at Co-op and volunteering with kids at their minor hockey practices. It was neat mentoring the younger hockey players!”
Did you like playing against the Women’s Olympic team?
“It was cool knowing we helped prepare them for the Olympics in Sochi. It was a good experience; we watched them win gold while we ate breakfast as a team at the Roadhouse.”
Did you have a good season and how do you feel now that is over?
“We had a good season, being together all the time was different; we really bonded as a team. This season helped develop us and helped prepare us to play at a higher level. We feel sad that it came to an end so fast and we will miss each other, but we will have reunions in the summer.”
They may not have won the league championships but they gained so much more, knowledge, courage, endurance, confidence, and most of all the importance of team work and friendship. They learned that they are a family, supporting each other in tough situations. Respect all, fear nothing. As their motto said: Why not us!