Bisons and CAC deadlocked after two games

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The UFA Bisons just could not seem to capitalize on their chances in Game 2 of the best-of-five AMHL championship series and it cost them, as the CAC Gregg Distributors were able to squeak out a 3-2 win to tie the series at one game apiece.
Head coach Dan MacDonald was alright with the adversity faced in their first defeat of the postseason on March 22.
“I think we were a little nervous in the first and better in the second (period of Game 2),” said MacDonald. “I thought our third period was really good, but that’s the way it is, we’re playing a real good team. We’ve got to be ready sooner and be more prepared.”
He added that CAC just came ready to play hockey and his team did not quite match that compete level.
“They just played hockey the way it’s supposed to be played,” said MacDonald. “They skate, shoot and play hard, and got good size and we just didn’t counteract. They scored with 1:55 to go and we had some good chances that we didn’t score on and they scored on their one.
“You got two teams who win their divisions and you get those kind of games. We won last game with an empty net and they comeback and beat us.”
The Bisons, who are a great puck moving team, seemed to have taken until the third period to get going and something that needs to be better next game.
“The biggest thing for us is that we have to move the puck faster and we did that in the third period,” said MacDonald. “We have to move it more offensively.”
Kyle Gordon and Davis Sheldon provided the offense in the Game 2 loss.
In the Game 1 victory on March 20, MacDonald admits it was a good feeling to start the series on the right foot with a 4-2 win.
“I felt really (good) because we won and that’s the best I can say,” said MacDonald. “We weren’t our best that game and at this time of the season it’s where the chips fall. Sometimes you just don’t get that break, but you got to keep fighting to get those breaks.”
Barrett Sheen, Will Conley, Gary Haden, and Jordan McConnell with an empty netter, scored in the win.
Game 3 was on March 25 in Edmonton (result unavailable as of press time) and Game 4 is back in Strathmore on March 27 (8 p.m.). Game 5, if necessary, will be back in Edmonton on March 29 (2:15 p.m.).
Meanwhile, the Rocky Mountain Raiders triple-A bantam team – consisting of five Strathmore area kids; Lucas Muenchrath, Cole Clayton, Joel Krahenbil, Kelton Travis and Tyler Strath – were crowned provincial champions on March 24 as they defeated the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers 5-2 to take the series in five games on home ice.
With the win, the Raiders earned a spot in the Western Canadian Bantam AAA Championships from April 2-5 in Winnipeg.