Bisons saw tremendous upside in weekend split

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Lloydminster Bobcats provided the CFR Bisons with a glimpse of playoff hockey as both teams ground it out for 60 minutes on Dec. 13.
Despite a solid effort by the Bisons, the Bobcats came out with a 1-0 win.
“It was two real good teams that played a real heavy, slugged-out game,” said Bisons head coach Sandy Henry. “I don’t think anyone found a lot of space out there. I think the work ethic was good. I’m impressed at how heavy of a game we played. That’s probably one of the heavier games we’ve played overall. That’s going to have to be a part of the arsenal as you get up into playoffs. That’s what playoff hockey looks like. I think we had as many chances to win that game as they did and they got one and we didn’t and that’s how it goes some nights.”
Henry said that Lloyminster played was different type of game than the Bisons are used to.
“The next levels are like that,” said Henry. “You garner attention. There’s five guys out there against you and someone is going to be leaning on you and they’re taking away your space and you got to learn how to find it and earn it, battle for it and make it yours.
“I think the guys learned, ‘you know what, this is going to be heavy and it’s going to be mucky’ and sometimes you got to get some blood in your nose to get what you want of the game.”
Goalie Hunter Virostek shed some light on the loss and thought the team played well in front of him.
“We played as a team for sure,” said Virostek. “We played way better than when we first played them. They let me see the shots all the way as much as possible. Just the last one squeaked through but it happens.”
On Friday night in the 7-1 win over Sherwood Park, Henry thought the boys were sloppy from the beginning as the energy did not transfer from pre-game onto the ice, but credits the goaltending for giving them a chance to win.
“Ryan Simpson really held the fort for us,” said Henry. “We didn’t deserve it that night but we got out of the period 1-0. Do we get paid back for having that? Well I think we were owed that one. In the second we got better. We had started minimizing their chances and increased ours. Once we got that one in the third then I thought we really got our legs going and we got that lead.”
Zach Cox led the way with two goals, while Tyson Scott, Kyle Gordon, Tanner Foster, Kaden Hanas and Liam Izyk scored in the win.
The Bisons will host the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Dec. 19 at 5:15 p.m. and end the 2015 portion of the regular season schedule on Dec. 20 at Max Bell Centre against the Calgary NorthStars at 3 p.m.
The Bisons will be hosting two pre-Mac’s tournament exhibition games next week with the first one on Dec. 22 at Strathmore Family Centre versus Belarus at 7 p.m. The second will be on Dec. 23 in Okotoks at the Pason Centennial Arena versus Austria at 7 p.m.
“For us to have them on a yearly basis is fantastic,” said Bisons General Manager Wayne Hansen of the exhibition games. “It’s great for our players, our affiliates and for our community that supports our team. They get to see some international competition come to Strathmore, which to me is awesome.”
One thing the players will have to do on the ice is adapt to a different style of play that is presented by their opponents whom they don’t get the chance to see very often.
“The odds are these teams play different systems and stuff we don’t see,” said Hansen. “They’re developed differently. With them being U17 national teams, they’ll be the best, you’re basically playing an All Star team.”
The team will play a split squad in both games and will add in affiliate players to fill out the roster.