Bisons making statement at Telus Cup

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Telus Cup Game 1 (April 20): UFA Bisons vs. Grandiers de Chateauguay
The UFA Bisons led 3-1 after two periods over the Quebec representatives in the Grandiers de Chateauguay, but could not hang on in the opening game of the Telus Cup on April 20 in Riviere-du-Loup, Que.
The Herd found themselves in unfamiliar territory, being shorthanded for most of the third, and watched the Grandiers score four answered markers to win 5-4.
Assistant coach Dave Atwood was thrilled with the start the team had, but the result was a much different feeling.
“We got the start we wanted and probably where it started to turn on us is that we started to get out of sync because we were taking a few penalties. When that happens, things get a little bit out of place because you have your penalty killers out there and they’re playing a little extra, guys are not getting out there when they should be,” said Atwood. “For the first game in the tournament, we haven’t had a result like that in quite some time, it was different for us. The other team took advantage of that and scored four unanswered goals.”
Frustration appeared to be evident amongst the players and that was a factor in not playing their games.
“We got a little frustrated with ourselves because it’s out of character for us and took a moment to shake that out of our system,” said Atwood.
Atwood tipped his hat to the Grandiers for capitalizing on their chances.
“You have to give that team credit because they are a good team. I don’t want to take anything away from them,” said Atwood.
Will Conley and Shane Fraser scored power play goals in the first while Zachary Cox added one in the middle frame.

 

 

Telus Cup Game 2 (April 21): UFA Bisons vs. Albatros du College Notre-Dame
A quick turnaround for the UFA Bisons may have been all the team needed to forget about the tournament opener.
The club gave up a shorthanded goal to the host club in the first, but quite handily controlled the game en route to a 7-1 victory.
Head coach Dan MacDonald admits in a short tournament, it was pivotal to win the second one.
“They get to be (important) fast because you don’t know how things are going to shake out,” said MacDonald. “You just have to be ready to win some games off the bat and yesterday was such a tough game because of all the turmoil we went through,”
MacDonald felt that even though both teams were tied after one, that his club was able to find a groove in the second and play with it.
“Once we get on a role, we’re really good, and that’s what happened – we got two quick goals. Everybody believed in themselves and that’s the big thing with this age level, you can really change the game fast,” said MacDonald. “You need a bond if you’re going to succeed, the guys really like each other and work hard together, you know they’re going to rally behind each other when things are tough.”
Forward Gary Haden admits there was no better feeling than getting the win to avoid having an elimination feeling in the early stages of the tournament.
“It was really important, we thought going in it was a must win,” said Haden. “After giving up the 3-1 lead going into the third (in Game 1), it was really good to come back and get this one so we don’t have our backs against the wall.”
He felt after they got the first one, the momentum just continued the rest of the game.
“We said stick to the plan, the first 10 minutes we didn’t play our game, and we were watching them and they’re a real quick team,” said Haden. “Then once we got going near the end of the period we got one goal and we got all the momentum and ended up potting four in four minutes (in the second period).”
Kyle Gordon led the way with two while Haden, Will Conley, Markus Lavallee, Trygve Many Guns and Davis Sheldon rounded out the offense.