Bisons learn lessons

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

Doug Taylor Photo

 

The CFR Bisons blew two separate 4-2 leads in both home games this weekend, with outcomes of a 4-4 tie with the Leduc Oil Kings on Dec. 5 and a 5-4 loss to the MLAC Beverly Optimists on Dec. 6.
“This is honestly a better lesson for us at this point than winning 6-2,” said head coach Sandy Henry. “We didn’t play good enough for enough of the game (on Sunday) to be entitled to a win.
“The sooner we learn that and get that mentality in there, I think when we saw that desperation kick in with five minutes left. How many scoring chances did we get, multiple, multiple. We own the game but the lesson is that desperation’s got to kick in way earlier.”
MLAC caught the Bisons by surprise with their physical start to the game and forced the home team to make uncomfortable decisions on the ice.
“I thought the first part of the second period we looked tentative,” he said. “I think it made us make some hasty decisions because we felt those footsteps.
“I thought at the 10-minute mark when we started skating and moving the puck we controlled the play and took over the game. There’s a lesson in that, teams are going to want to come play physical because they want to take something away from you.”
Henry pointed out the team seemed mentally tired.
“We’re in a bit of a down cycle,” said Henry. “I didn’t expect it probably this weekend. I thought it was coming at some point and showed up a little earlier. We’re going to sit back and regroup – starting tomorrow we’re going to get back to basics and we’ll see how (much) hungrier we are tomorrow.”
Kyle Gordon notched two goals while Tanner Foster and Cameron Shorrock scored one each in the tie against Leduc.
Gordon scored two, while Cole Clayton and Liam Izyk tallied one each in the loss.
The Bisons will host the Sherwood Park Kings on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. while the North Division-leading Lloydminster Bobcats will be in town on Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.