Former Bisons wrap up successful WHL campaigns

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

Life in the Western Hockey League can be tough at times, even for a high bantam draft pick that excelled at the midget AAA level.
For the Millarville product and former Foothills CFR Chemicals Bisons forward Zach Huber, it took longer than he would have liked to get his career going with the Calgary Hitmen.
It was a big year for Huber, as he entered the all-important 17-year-old season. Getting reassigned by the team for a second straight year would have all but ended the possibility of him carving out a career in the WHL. Luckily, he broke camp with the team last September and remained with them throughout the entire season.
“I was super excited to make the team,” said Huber. “I worked all summer for this and I wanted to be here as soon as possible. I put my work in to be an everyday guy here in the lineup.”
Making the team is one thing. Turning into a contributor is another.
Working with a new head coach and general manager, Huber struggled to be a mainstay in the lineup in the first half of the season.
“It was definitely frustrating,” said Huber. “I’m a competitor and I wanted to be in the lineup. But I soon realized that most young guys in the league go through the same thing. Hopefully next year is a different story.”
After being the trigger man alongside Peyton Krebs last season and racking up 35 points in 33 games, Huber struggled to find the back of the net. It was only until the final weeks of the season where Huber scored his first career WHL goal. Two nights later, he added his second of his career. That all wrapped up a stretch where his line was playing better defensively and he dropped the mitts in his first career fight.
“It just kind of happened. We were cross-checking each other and the adrenaline took over when he asked me to go,” said Huber. “This year proved that things take time and it’s hard work to produce in this league. Hopefully it comes more often next season.”
Huber wasn’t the only member of the 2016-17 Bisons to struggle in the scoring department this season.
Last year’s overtime hero Brandon Machado went 37 games before he found the back of the net against Huber’s Hitmen. Playing 60 games for the Saskatoon Blades this season, Machado added three more assists to his total.
Cole Clayton was in a similar position as Huber: a 17-year-old who got cut the year prior and looking to make an impact with the Medicine Hat Tigers this year.
He was also in and out of the lineup, being one of the younger guys on the roster. Injuries opened the door for playing time, as he registered two goals and seven points in 56 games for the Central Division-winning Tigers. They now host the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round best-of-seven series.
Clayton’s teammate, Gary Haden, had a much more impactful year as an 18-year-old in the lineup. He smashed his career high of eight points by sniping 17 goals and adding 25 assists in 70 games.
Making the difficult jump from the Alberta Midget Hockey League to the WHL at the age of 16 was Tarun Fizer of the Victoria Royals. Fizer appeared in 45 games, scored two goals to go with five assists. The Royals finished second in the B.C. Division and will take on the Vancouver Giants in the first round of playoffs.
Missing the playoffs was Krebs and the Kootenay Ice. Krebs was a highly touted 16-year-old, entering the league two years after being selected No. 1 overall in the draft. Krebs lived up to the hype and is the front runner for the Rookie of the Year award, after finishing with fourth on the Ice in points with 17 goals, 37 assists and 54 points. During the Ice Fan Appreciation Night, Krebs was named the team’s Rookie of the Year.
A pair of blue liners who were teammates with Krebs in Strathmore last year also completed seasons in the WHL. Liam Belcourt battled injuries and was buried in the Tri-City American depth chart that boasted the best blue line in the league, while Tyson Terretta suited up in 42 games for the defending WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds and recorded one assist.
Eighteen-year-old Zachary Cox made his WHL debut with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this season. Cox played for the Bisons from 2014-2016. In 58 games with the Hurricanes, the right winger recorded two goals and six points. The Hurricanes will host the Red Deer Rebels in their opening playoff series.
There were more than just rookie contributions by former Bisons in the WHL this past season.
Left winger Barrett Sheen suited up in 18 games with the Ice, scoring two goals and adding seven points before getting dealt to the juggernaut Moose Jaw Warriors, where he played in 42 games, scoring three goals and 14 points in his fourth year in the WHL. The Warriors will host the Prince Albert Raiders in the first round.
In his final season in the league, Mason McCarty was named an alternate captain for the Rebels and helped the greatest turnaround story in the league by scoring 38 goals, 36 assists and 74 points in 69 games for the Rebels.
Lastly, Brady Reagan was released by the Hitmen to start the year, but he landed on his feet with the Kamloops Blazers and hung around long enough to play in his 300th career game. This season, Reagan tallied 14 points in 65 games.
Locals can follow the playoff drive with the former Bisons online at the whl.ca or on the dubnetwork.ca.