Chiefs snuff Bisons at home

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

Last October, the Foothills CFR Chemicals Bisons scored 11 goals against the SSAC Boston Pizza Athletics.
On Jan. 15, they only mustered eight shots against the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs in a 4-2 loss at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The Chiefs and Bisons skated to a 2-2 tie earlier in the season, and recently, the Bisons stuffed the Chiefs 5-2 in their opening game of the Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament.
The Chiefs (16-4-7) might have started the season slowly, but have been gaining steam behind the Bisons in the standings, growing more confident and making adjustments along the way.
“They did a real good job plugging up their end of the ice,” said Bisons head coach Sandy Henry. “They out-worked us and we didn’t win any battles.”
The Bisons (20-4-3) previous low shot total was 22 on Nov. 6 during a 2-2 tie with the Fort Saskatchewan Boston Pizza Rangers.
“We knew that coming in this was a big game. We just got caught up trying to make too many fancy plans,” said Bisons centre Brandon Machado.
Justin Travis never had to make more than three saves in any period as the Chiefs spent quality time in the Bisons end on the man advantage. They finished three-for-seven on the power play.
The Bisons actually led 1-0 after the first period.
They next time Peyton Krebs sets up someone without using a saucer pass might be the first time. Krebs won a battle in the corner against Ethan Schlag, turning quickly, he spotted Jackson Salt on the other side of the net and flipped over a saucer pass. Salt hit it right on the button, putting the Bisons up 1-0.
Tarun Fizer hit Machado from behind the net, putting the Herd up 2-1 at the 4:12 mark of the second period. For Machado, it was his third point on the weekend, giving him 11 goals and 25 points this season.
“We are just trying to keep it simple out there. I play with great line mates who make it easy. My motto this year has been ‘team success brings personal success,’” said Machado.
Ben Laidlaw was strong, making 22 saves, but picked up his second loss of the season.
In the third, Fizer took a pass leaving his zone with his head down. Turning up ice, he got plastered by a Chiefs forward in the neutral zone.
Lying on the ice for a few moments, he had to be helped off the ice by trainer Rebecca Thompson.
Fizer, who leads the team with 31 points, joins other key forwards Blake Wells (23 points) and Boaz Bassen (11 points) as players out indefinitely with upper-body injuries.
Huber drilled his 12th of the season and the winner at the 3:15 mark of the second from Cole Clayton and Krebs. Tyson Scott supplied one goal, Machado finished with a goal and an assist, while Hunter Young made 23 saves for his eighth win.
Next for the Bisons, they will host the Calgary Northstars Jan. 22 (4:45 p.m.) on a night celebrating the billet families at the Strathmore Family Centre.