There continues to be no place like home.
The Okotoks Jr. B Bisons improved to a perfect 6-0 in the friendly confines of the Murray Arena with a two-game homestand sweep over the Mountainview Colts and Stettler Lightning last weekend.
“From a player perspective we’ve got a renovated room they’re very comfortable in and we’ve been getting some good crowds which helps,” said Bisons general manager Jay McFarlane. “Home-ice advantage with any team is always there and in particular it seems to be a trend for us at least to start the year.”
One week removed from its third loss of the season at the hands of the Colts, Okotoks had a point to prove on Friday. Outshooting the team with the best record in the league by a 45-24 count, the Bisons handed Mountainview just its second loss of the season by a 5-3 score.
First-period goals from defenceman Jaret Bordt and gritty forward Stephen Shikaze followed by a three-goal middle frame put the herd in charge.
In the 20-shot second period, powerplay markers from Mark McLeod and new addition Michael Janz along with an even-strength marker off the stick of captain Darren Bordt gave Okotoks the 5-3 advantage they would hold onto in the final stanza.
Matthew McDonald made 21 saves to pick up his fourth win with Okotoks.
“They’re a physical team that finishes their checks and we sort of matched their game,” McFarlane said.
“Having looked at them now the two times we get to see them before playoffs if that does occur, I felt offensively and goaltending wise that was the difference for us.”
Okotoks rode an efficient powerplay to its second win of the weekend.
On the man-advantage, Janz scored twice along with a single from defenceman Caleb Eefting, his first of two goals on the afternoon, to pace the Bisons to a 5-4 win. Darren Bordt also scored in the victory.
Stettler caught lightning in a bottle late in the third-period with a pair of goals to set-up the nervous one-goal finish.
Rookie goaltender Draven Rees stopped 28 shots to also pick up win number four.
“We’re very satisfied so far,” McFarlane said of the two netminders. “Up to this point I think they do challenge each other. Younger goalies, which is, from a development standpoint and our long-term thinking, ideal.”
While the home results are outstanding, it’s been hit-or-miss for the herd on the road.
Okotoks (9-3) puts its 3-3 record away from home on the line this weekend for a trio of road dates. The Bisons (9-3) face their first sprint in the marathon Heritage Junior Hockey League season this weekend in a three-game road set.
Okotoks is in Cochrane to battle the division-leading Generals on Friday, heads north to joust with the always tough Red Deer Vipers on Saturday and tackles their first taste of the Foothills rivalry in a Sunday showdown in High River versus the Flyers at 1:15 p.m.
“It’s an endurance run. We always look at it as a preparation for what provincials look like,” McFarlane said. “You’re looking at number one in the South, Cochrane, on Friday then provincial hosts in Red Deer on Saturday before you even get to think about High River again.
“It’s a big weekend for us and we will see how mentally and, in particular, physically we’re ready for it.”
Okotoks is back at the Murray for a Sunday matinee on Nov. 22 versus the visiting Three Hills Thrashers at 1:15 p.m.
For more information on the team go to okotoksbisons.com
