Bisons edge out Team Canada

Times Reporter   

 

With a win at stake to increase league standings, the UFA Bisons faced off against the Canadian National Women’s Team on Jan. 17 at Canada Olympic Park. For the Olympians, it was a chance to practice before leaving for Sochi this week, but with two weeks remaining in the AMHL season, the Bisons wanted as many points as possible before the playoffs.

The Bisons were leading after the first period, with goals from Mason McCarty and Clay Murray. Team Canada came storming back in the second, with a three-goal effort from Hayley Wickenheiser, Rebecca Johnston, and Lauriane Rougeau. Up 3-2, Wickenheiser took a hooking penalty near the end of the third period, which led to the game-tying powerplay goal by Bisons’ captain Mackenzie Bauer, with less than a minute remaining.

“That’s an enthusiastic, young team we played tonight,” Team Canada Coach Kevin Dineen said. “We’ve got a bigger picture coming down the line. I think when you’re in a season it’s obviously a big two points that counts in their schedule. For us, we’re still building towards the tournament setting in a couple weeks.”

The game was considered a 3-3 tie under the AMHL points system, but after no results through overtime, the two squads went head to head in a shootout to decide an unofficial winner.

Defenseman Tristan Thompson was the lone goal scorer, giving the Bisons the win in the third round of shooters.

“Last year, I had a chance to shoot in the shootout as well, and I didn’t do so good. This year, I wanted to put it in,” Thompson said. “It was good to win because we were trying hard that whole game, especially with that last minute tie.”

“We were glad we got a point. We weren’t at our best tonight,” said Bisons coach Dan MacDonald, noting it was a late game during the boys’ exam week at school. “We’re playing the best teams and you have to be at your best. That’s always your goal. When we get into the playoffs, that’s how it’ll be too. You have to rise to the occasion.”

The Bisons had played Team Canada in the pre-season as well; the ladies have played every team in the AMHL for some competition prior to the Winter Games, winning only three of 18 matchups.

“I thought we played pretty well, we just had some unlucky bounces,” said Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser. “I think we carried the play for the majority of the game. We had penalties late in the game, and that cost us.”

Throughout the matchup, Team Canada seemed much more structured in their defensive game, but the Bisons offensive style looked to throw them off.

“It’s always hard to play a team that’s more scramble-y for sure. You have to positionally try to stay strong but their size and their reach makes it difficult at times,” Wickenheiser said.

The Canadian National Women’s Team is currently preparing to leave for the Sochi Olympics this week.

“It’s great to play these games and to have the support of people here in Calgary, who come and watch us, cheer us on. We’d like to get a win here before we head to Sochi, but these midget games really help us prepare for the grind,” Wickenheiser said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”