Where did last year’s Bisons end up?

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

While last year’s playoffs might not have ended the way many of the CFR Chemicals Bisons players would have liked, several of the graduating class have moved on and are experiencing success at the junior level.
The goaltending tandem that split time between the pipes last year have conditioned their puck stopping ways this past month.
Ryan Simpson was recently named Heritage Junior Hockey League goaltender of the month for the Cochrane Generals in October.
“It feels really good. I’ve got great teammates in front of me that have made my job a lot easier,” said Simpson.
Sitting 9-0, he is the only unbeaten goalie with a 0.916 save percentage and owns the third best goals-against average, 2.29 for the first place Generals (16-2).
“He attended a few Junior A camps; he was a little unfortunate that he didn’t get a better look, but we were lucky enough to have him come here and push our other veteran in net,” said Generals first year head coach Dan Gendur.
The Airdrie product credits the Bisons for working on stabilizing his mind during the game, not getting too high or too low, for his early success.
“I’m adjusting really well here. They welcomed me with open arms and it’s a good fit. Hopefully this is a stepping stone towards a more consistent game,” said Simpson.
Last year, Simpson went 9-5-1 with a 0.917 GAA and 2.28 save percentage for the Herd.
Sharing the crease with him last year was Hunter Virostek, who has now landed with the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
After 11 appearances, Virostek sits 6-5 with a lovely 3.00 GAA and a 0.899 save percentage. He went 10-6-3 with a 2.37 GAA and 0.921 save percentage last season.
Last season’s captain for the Bisons, Kyle Gordon, has also landed on his feet in the AJHL. In 19 games he has racked up three goals and 12 points for the Okotoks Oilers.
Staying in the AJHL, Zach Cox is off to a good start with the Drayton Valley Thunder. In 18 games, the left defenseman has three goals and a pair of assists.
Liam Izyk, now playing for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the AJHL, has three goals and eight points in 19 games. He scored the overtime winner against the Grand Prairie Storm Nov. 3 at the Casman Centre. Tanner Foster has yet to register a point in 16 games for the Whitecourt Wolverines.
The 12-5-1-0 Medicine Hat Tigers are off to a great start in the Western Hockey League and are just sitting on the outside of the Top 10. Airdrie product and centreman Gary Haden has one goal in eight games.
Forward Matt Davies sits second in Kimberley Dynamiters (Kootenay International Junior Hockey League) rookie scoring with seven goals and 11 points in 12 games.
Defensemen Cooper Krauss has a pair of assists in 16 games for the Columbia Valley Rockies, Matt Halkovic has a goal in 16 games for the Sicamous Eagles and Liam Rycroft has recorded one assist in eight games for the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.