Former Bison picks up weekly AJHL award

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: February 16 2018 Strathmore Times

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

Strathmore’s Will Conley was named the Canalta Hotels Alberta Junior Hockey League Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 5 to 11.
The 20-year-old Conley is playing in his third season with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and second as alternate captain.
Helping lead the Oil Barons to three victories last week, Conley netted five goals and nine assists over those outings to extend his point streak to seven games and 17 points. He is currently tied for second in scoring for the AJHL with 68 points (42 goals and 26 assists).
In his productive week, Conley was named Star of the Game twice. First, when he scored a pair including the game winner over the Camrose Kodiaks Feb. 9, and second when he racked up a five-point game (2G, 3A) over the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
The former UFA Bison has committed to the Holy Cross Crusaders of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for the 2018-19 season. This also marked the second time Conley was named Player of the Week this season. He first won the honour for the week of Oct. 9 to 15.
Conley is one of three former Bisons playing for the Oil Barons. Their captain, Shane Fraser, and alternate captain Liam Izyk were both former members of the Herd.
In 152 AJHL games – all but four of them with the Oil Barons – Conley has racked up 73 goals, 68 assists and 141 points. His Oil Barons currently sit in second place, two points behind the Viterra North division-leading Spruce Grove Saints.
Conley played two seasons with the Herd from 2013 to 2015. In 66 career games in Strathmore, he supplied 19 goals and 44 points. He was also part of the 2014-15 team that advanced to the Telus Cup, where he scored three times in seven games.
Hunter Virostek is another former Bison who picked up player of the week recognition earlier in the season.
A goaltender for the Drumheller Dragons, Virostek was named Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 25 to Oct. 1. In his second season with the club, he owns a 20-14-3 record with a shiny 2.79 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.
AJHL playoffs begin March 8.