Local kids excelling with Herd

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

Team camaraderie is an immeasurable and indefinable attribute that is critical for team success.
For the CFR Chemicals Bisons, their success could be tied into — in the immortal words of Zach Galifianakis — having the “three best friends that anyone could have.”
Strathmore natives Kaden Hanas, Joel Krahenbil and Cole Clayton attended Bison games as kids, dreaming of one day donning the red, white and black.
For Hanas and Clayton, their dreams became a reality last season, but their younger companion Krahenbil didn’t get the call until this past fall.
“I would watch a couple of their games last year and stayed in touch with them throughout the season,” said Krahenbil. “They kept encouraging me, telling me that this is where I needed to be next year.”
All three were raised in Strathmore, playing together from Timbits hockey up to the Wheatland Athletic Association peewee Braves and bantam Warriors, before heading off to play bantam AAA elsewhere.
“They helped me out a lot last summer,” said Krahenbil. “We spent a lot of time together, they told me what to do to get better, what coaches are looking for and what it was like playing for the Bisons.”
Sharing a line with Boaz Bassen and Blake Wells, Krahenbil has chalked up five goals and 14 points, playing in every game. With the Rockyview Raiders minor midget AAA last season, Krahenbil racked up 17 goals and 48 points in 33 games.
“Joel is really smart out there,” said Hanas. “He is a big body, he skates well and he has the ability to score from anywhere on the ice.”
The 6-foot-2 rookie winger was thrilled when the coaching staff told him he would be a part of the squad with his two friends, especially since Clayton and Hanas were named alternate captains this year.
For Clayton, the Bisons are part of his genetic makeup; his dad Bruce played for the Bisons for the 1992-93 season.
“It was a great feeling and a huge honour to be named one of the alternate captains for an organization with such history,” said Clayton. “I was super surprised to be named to the team last year as one of the younger guys. This year, I just wanted to get the season going and try to live more in the moment.”
Clayton plays a sound defensive game and recorded two goals and seven points in 24 games. He has earned the trust of the coaching staff to play with affiliated defencemen when they get called up.
While Hanas’ father might not have suited up for the Bisons, he still realizes the impact of rolling out local talent on the big stage for a small town.
“We see the kids in the stands. Hopefully it gives the kids playing for the Storm the dreams that we had, and they keep working hard to play for this team one day,” said Hanas, who has three goals and eight points this season. “It’s kind of cool having them look up to you.”
“It means a lot to have local kids on the team,” said Bisons general manager Wayne Hansen. “I’ve been watching these three play since peewee and now they get to play for us, it’s great. The community has always backed this team, but this only builds up their interest even more.”
While the trio might have all dreamt of playing for the Bisons one day, they probably didn’t see this season coming.
The Bisons are hotter than a pistol and off to the greatest start in franchise history at 18-3-3. Focused on the day-to-day and shift-to-shift tasks, there are a few big events circled on their calendars.
The Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament might be on the forefront right now, an AMHL playoff run with a crack at the Telus Cup still remains the task at hand.
“My parents took me to the Mac’s tourney as a kid, so it’s pretty cool knowing that we have a good enough team to make a run at it and hopefully continue to build towards the end of the year when it matters the most,” said Krahenbil.
Practice, workouts, school, off-ice workouts, hangouts; the three are constantly around each other. Life will only be like that for a short time, as all three are well on their way to productive junior hockey careers in separate towns.
In the meantime, they are soaking up their one last season together while remaining focused on the end goal.
There’s no doubt that the Bisons have aligned themselves nicely for a strong second half and expectations are sky high as they try to add a few more trophies to their crowded case.
“I’ve never won a trophy before,” said Hanas. “I can’t imagine a better team or a group of guys to win one with than this team, this year. It would be something I would cherish for the rest of my life.”