Bisons pour it on in tourney final

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The CFR Chemical Bisons won when it mattered and captured their second straight Strathmore Invitational Tournament title with an offensive onslaught Sunday afternoon at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The Bisons dusted the Calgary North Stars 9-5, avenging their loss in the round robin.
The Bisons went 0-3 in the round robin, losing to the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs 5-3 (Sept. 15), downed 8-4 to the North Stars (Sept. 16) and were brushed back 7-2 by the Calgary Buffaloes (Sept. 17).
“It took a little bit longer to gel than I thought it was going to,” said Bisons’ head coach Sandy Henry. “But I’ve always said we got a good talent level here and it came through when it mattered.”
The Bisons took on the first-place Buffaloes in the second semifinal Saturday night and bested them 4-2.
“It’s a common thing for guys on the city teams or a team like Red Deer to grow up playing together, but we draw our kids from five different associations,” said Henry following the final. “Sure, they might know each other, but they probably haven’t played together that much. It takes guys a bit to figure out what other guys are doing, developing trust with other players, trusting that their teammates are doing their job so they can focus on their own job.
“Once we got a little more comfortable, it became easier for us.”
The Bisons spent the week working on skills rather than systems.
“We don’t do too much work with the penalty kill or powerplay just yet, we will add in detail after the weekend,” said Bisons’ general manager Wayne Hensen. “We wanted to see their skill, how quick they make decisions under pressure and then teach them from there.”
Tucker Zdunich tallied a goal and two helpers during the final. It was a strong showing in the tourney.
“I felt my feet were moving pretty good, my hands were working pretty good, everything felt smooth out there,” said Zdunich, who amassed 17 goals and 29 points in 36 games for the Rockyview Raiders of the Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League last season.
“I felt pretty good out there playing with Tyson Scott and Tyson Laduke. We worked hard and moved the puck, and the chemistry felt good.”
Laduke finished with two goals and an assist in the final, while Tyler Petrie sniped a pair. Cayde Augstine bagged a goal and an assist, and Joel Krahenbil and Spencer Chapman chipped in with a pair of assists each.
Other notable scorers were Tarun Fizer, Isaac Benoit and Boaz Bassen who recorded a goal each, and Luke Jensen, Kelton Travis and Blake Wells adding assists.
There was another round of cuts made following the trophy celebration.
“It’s a hard time of the year. Everyone has put in a great effort to make this team and I respect them for that,” said Henry. “Hopefully, these kids we release come back next year bigger and stronger and they will have another great chance to make this team.”
One notable from the cuts was Benoit, who led the team with four goals and two assists in the tourney.
“Isaac had a good showing, but he is one of the 16-year-olds here,” said Hensen. “He is a guy that needs to get a little bit stronger on the puck for next year. This is truly a league for 17-year-olds.”
The Bisons are rolling forward with an extra defenseman and two extra forwards, while the job between the pipes is set.
Hunter Young and Ben Laidlaw can sleep a little easier at night knowing they will be there when the puck drops on the season Saturday, Oct. 1, when the Lethbridge Hurricanes storm into town.
Young (16) also played for the Raiders last season, posting a 3.44 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage in 18 games.
Laidlaw (17) played for the Edge Prep Hockey School last season.
On tap for the Bisons is an exhibition game Sept. 22 in Calgary against the Flames (result not available as of press time). Following the game, the final cuts will be made.
The Bisons will travel to Red Deer for another exhibition to take on the Optimist Chiefs Saturday (Sept. 24), marking their first game as the 2016-17 Bisons.