Bisons decide on roster

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The bleachers were packed as fans filed into the subarctic Strathmore Family Centre for the first time to lay their eyes on the 40 hopeful players in the Red and White exhibition game, determining who might play for the CFR Bisons this winter.
“There’s always interest in this game,” said Bisons’ head coach Sandy Henry, who enters his fourth season with the organization. “It’s great to see the fans come out and support these kids and get a look at what the team might look like.”
The fans were treated to a fast-paced, energized exhibition game as the White team skating past the Red team 5-2.
“I thought the game started out a little shaky, the guys were probably nervous putting on the Bisons jersey for the first time,” said Bisons’ general manager Wayne Hansen. “We were treated in the second and third periods when the players opened up and showed us their talents.”
While the score was important, the coaching staff and players had the thought of another round of cuts looming in the back of their minds.
Following the game, Henry and his staff released a large group of players.
“Cuts are always tough and they’ll continue to get tougher and tougher as we move along,” said Bisons’ assistant coach Paden Grant, who is experiencing his first camp as a member of the coaching staff.
“It won’t be a fun day, but it’s necessary,” added Henry, who has had two sons pass through the Bisons organization.
Of the six goalies in camp, Ben Laidlaw was watching from the stands and successfully made it to the next round.
It can be an awkward scenario for some, playing with and against players that are competing for the same roster position, but for Laidlaw, it’s no big deal.
“Most of us know each other from coming here year after year and having met through other tournaments like Alberta Cup,” said Laidlaw, who is in his third camp with the Bisons. “So yeah, you’re competing against each other but you’re all buddies.”
While goalies don’t need as much chemistry to prevail during a showcase game, forwards and defencemen need to know the general area and ideas of their linemates to complete a successful shift.
Colton Cameron, who sniped nine goals and 19 points with the Airdrie Lightning of the SCAHL last season, netted a goal and an assist in the feature game.
“You want to work hard and play well with the guys out there and hopefully something works out,” said Cameron, who also survived the cuts following the game.
Wheatland County will be represented strongly with this season’s version of the Bisons. Henry figures at least half of the kids on his final roster will be local.
“We got a lot of good players here and they are all good guys; the surrounding associations have been represented by top quality players. It makes this decision hard, but at the same time that’s what we want,” said Henry.
Players can breathe easy, for a little while. The Bisons have released a roster for the Strathmore Invitational Tournament that begins Thursday, Sept. 15 as the Bisons host the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs.
The Bisons have the full tournament schedule posted on their website along with a roster. The roster will not shrink prior to the tournament, but names could be added as other Junior A camps whittle down their rosters this week. The tournament runs through the weekend with a consolation and a championship game Sunday at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The Bisons open the regular season at home with the Lethbridge Hurricanes Saturday, Oct. 1.