Bisons on fire to start season

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

After a 4-0 start on the road, the CFR Chemical Bisons might want to show up to their next home game a few hours earlier so they can do a few laps of Strathmore on the bus to simulate another road trip.
The Bisons starched the SSAC Boston Pizza Athletics 11-2 on Oct. 16 in Edmonton.
“We’re off to a pretty good start right now, we’re a little ahead of where I thought we’d be at this point,” said Bisons head coach Sandy Henry.
The Sherwood Park J. Ennis Kings are the only other remaining unbeaten team at 6-0.
Athletics forward Gavin Olito got slapped with a five-minute major and game misconduct for a crosscheck from behind in the second period. On the ensuing power play, the Bisons buried three goals and never looked back.
Peyton Krebs sniped a hat trick and two assists, Tyler Petrie finished with two goals and one helper, Zach Huber recorded two goals and two assists, with other goals coming from Blake Wells, Brandon Machado, Joel Krahenbil, Tarun Fizer.
Bisons picking up assists were Jackson Salt (2), Tyson Terretta (2), Cole Clayton (2), Liam Belcourt, Cayde Augustine, and Fizer.
“It was a pretty long road trip for us. We took off Friday morning and didn’t get back until Sunday night,” said Henry. “These guys did a great job taking care of themselves away from the rink with regards to nutrition and their sleep, so they were able to come to the rink ready to go.”
Hunter Young got the call between the pipes and made 33 saves while picking up one assist.
The Bisons were without forward Kaden Hanas and he will be out two more games following a questionable slew-footing penalty he received during Saturday’s game in Lloydminster.
The Bisons trailed for the first time this season, but mounted a comeback with a large second period to down the Lloydminster Bandit Energy Bobcats 6-2 at Centennial Civic Centre Arena.
Hanas’ hit occurred in the second period when he had his man pinned up against the wall.
“Well, Hockey Canada changed their thoughts on the slew foot rule this year,” said Henry. “I thought it was a good body check, the refs viewed it differently and now he is out.”
Hanas received a game misconduct that forced him to sit out Sunday and he will be suspended another two games.
The Bisons trailed 2-0 after yielding a pair of power play markers three minutes into the second.
“For the first time this year we were faced with a decision,” said Henry. “We could have either got all pouty and quit, or bear down and try to make a difference in this game.”
Choosing the latter, the Bisons stormed back with four goals to close out the second period.
Clayton broke the seal and was followed by goals from Trentham, Krebs, Petrie, Wells and Huber.
Following a 17-goal weekend, the scoring leaderboard is crowded with Bisons. Krebs sits in first with six goals and 15 points; Huber is second with six goals and 12 points with Salt in fourth with three goals and nine points.
Ben Laidlaw turned away 27 shots for his third win.
The Bisons return to the friendly confines of the Strathmore Family Centre when they host the Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings on Oct. 21 (8 p.m.) and the Athletics the following day at 5:15 p.m.
Friday’s game will be a rematch of the Bisons fourth game of the season when they trimmed the Oil Kings 5-1 back on Oct. 9.
Henry and his staff are mulling over picking up a few affiliated players for this weekend, with Hanas forced to sit out and Krebs playing in the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary.
Along with a few small injuries, Henry wants to make sure he has a full deck to play with this weekend.