Walk into the Murray Arena on any given game night and you are just as likely as the goaltenders themselves to know who the Okotoks Bisons’ starting netminder is going to be.

Not that it matters who the Bisons’ coaching staff decides to put in net when they have two hot goaltenders.

Okotoks Bison Jesse Lyall (right) battles Coaldale Copperhead James Foxall in front of Coaldale goalie, Danny Wilk, Sunday at the Murray Arena. The Bisons won the game 7-2. photo by Bruce Campbell

“We are both equal and we are both playing really well, so it’s kind of an easy choice for (head coach Mike Hannigan) just throwing us in, one and two,” said Bison goaltender Bryce Scherschel.

Scherschel and his counterpart, Christian Chivilo, lead the Heritage Junior Hockey League with a combined 2.34 goals against average. Scherschel has the better average of the two at 1.46 but Chivilo leads the team with 1,214 minutes played. Scherschel also leads the team with a save percentage of .954 compared to Chivilo’s .920.

Both goalies have 14 wins and two losses. Chivilo was in net for both of the Bisons’ ties this season.

It’s a testament to the goaltending tandem that the Bisons also lead the league in shorthanded goals scored with 12. Knowing either Scherschel or Chivilo has got their backs gives the penalty kill crew confidence to jump on loose pucks for a shorthanded scoring opportunity according to Scherschel.

“They’re confident in us and we are confident in them,” said Scherschel.

Chivilo deflects the credit for all the shorthanded goals onto his blueliners.

“I think when you have good goaltending it lets the defenceman be a little more creative with the puck, which can lead to more offensive chances moving the puck up the ice,” said Chivilo, who has a goals against average of 2.72.

“(At the season’s start) I could tell that (Scherschel) was a good goalie. So I knew for sure if both of us were playing near the top of our game we weren’t going to let in a whole lot this year,” said Chivilo.

Aside from working at a Calgary hockey equipment store, the goaltending tandem is quite different when it comes to playing styles. Scherschel is more of the stand-up style who likes to use his body to stymie opposing forwards.

“I’d like to play like Carey Price, hopefully I’d consider myself a little more consistent than him. Maybe a guy like (Jean-Sebastien) Giguere,” said Scherschel.

“I’m a little more comfortable getting that big torso in the way than my hands.”

Comparing Chivilo to a pro goaltender is a little tougher. Quick reflexes or not, Chivilo does not flop around on the ice making highlight reel saves like ex-National Hockey League goaltender Dominik Hasek.

“I’d say quick reflexes, I don’t like the term flop around,” said Chivilo.

“I think he’s got a lot better hands than I do, he’s a lot quicker.” said Scherschel of his teammate. “I wouldn’t call him like Hasek, because he doesn’t flop around.”

Neither goaltender is looking for individual accolades. They’d much rather see a Bisons’ championship banner hanging from the rafters of the Murray Arena at the end of the year.

“I think the league championship would be the only recognition that we’d want,” said Scherschel.

The pair has differences when it comes down to teachers and influences as well. Scherschel said he owes everything to Tyler Love, now a coach with the Portland Winter Hawks.

“All my on-ice stuff that I learned was definitely through him,” said Scherschel.

Chivilo is more of a product of learning over the years.

Bisons corral Copperheads

At home on Sunday, the Bisons downed the Coaldale Copperheads 7-2 thanks to five unanswered goals in the final two frames.

Luke Mohns and Dylan Kendrick scored two goals each, including Kendrick’s game winner in the second.

Max Thevenot struck first for the Bisons on assists from Andrew Krushelniski and Cody Ellerby.

Also scoring for the Bisons were Derek Schlamp and Alex Morris.

The Bisons play two of their last three regular season games at home before the playoffs begin.

On Feb. 5, the Bisons play the High River Flyers in High River before a return engagement with the Copperheads at the Murray, Feb. 7 at 1:15 p.m. On Feb. 12, the Medicine Hat Cubs visit Okotoks for the Bisons’ final regular season game.

Playoff schedules have not been announced.

http://www.heritagejuniorb.com/sites/3333/page.asp?Site=9951&LeagueID=9951&page=news_league

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