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Bisons keep division title hopes alive

Time is of the essence and the Okotoks Bisons aren’t letting it tick by.
Okotoks Bison Kyle Becker digs for a rebound versus High River Flyers captain Cole Miller during the Bisons’ 6-4 win on Jan. 24 at Murray Arena. The victory clinched
Okotoks Bison Kyle Becker digs for a rebound versus High River Flyers captain Cole Miller during the Bisons’ 6-4 win on Jan. 24 at Murray Arena. The victory clinched the season series sweep for Okotoks over their rivals.

Time is of the essence and the Okotoks Bisons aren’t letting it tick by.

Okotoks wrapped up its final three-game weekend of the season with a sweep to keep its South Division title hopes alive with just four games remaining in the Heritage Junior Hockey League regular season.

“It’s extremely important and something we’re striving towards,” said Bisons forward Zak Johns. “Finishing first has so many benefits. First two teams get that bye, but if we can finish first it gives us the ability to play that weaker team out of the first round.

“That’s our goal to end the drive here and it’s what keeps us motivated.”

The three-game sweep places the Bisons four points back of the division leading Cochrane Generals with one game in hand.

Okotoks clinched the perfect weekend by scratching and clawing for a 6-4 result over a much-improved High River Flyers squad, Sunday at the Murray Arena.

“High River has been doing pretty well lately and had some momentum coming into the game,” said Johns. “We were a little tired coming in. Not the start we wanted but we also weren’t playing bad, just kind of the way the bounces were going.

“Really we were building it shift by shift and eventually the tables turned in our direction.”

Buoyed by a coaching change which saw Tyson Avery promoted to bench boss, the Flyers came out with all the jump on Sunday. Markers from Damon Turner and freshman Michael McTighe gave the visitors a two-goal advantage midway through the contest.

Okotoks got some life late in the second period when Stephen Shikaze’s partial breakaway shot took a bounce and went through the Flyers’ Tyler Fornwald. On the next shift, Spencer Barlow was on the doorstep to level the dogfight all within the span of 49 seconds.

Millarville’s Josh Younker restored the visitors’ lead minutes later on a friendly bounce off the boards. The teams exchanged goals through a shorthanded marker from Okotoks’ Connor Tudor and even-strength tally from High River’s Mason Mazur.

Johns would step up and deliver the final blow for the visitors on a backhander after sustained pressure with linemates Tudor and Robbie McLean.

“It was a good cycle game by the line and once I came out of the corner I noticed no one was on me,” Johns said of the game-winner. “With all that space it was easy to walk in and take a shot.”

Barlow added his second into the empty net to sew up the two-goal triumph.

The victory gave Okotoks the clean season series sweep over their neighbours to the South though round four of the Battle of the Foothills was easily the most competitive chapter.

The Bisons had won the previous three by a combined margin of 26-2.

“They’re battling to increase their positioning for playoffs and we’re chasing down first so it was a good game,” said Bisons defenceman Bryce Honish. “We just seemed to hit the switch and turned it around.

“Tough last game of a three-game weekend and we battled through it and came out on top.”

Okotoks opened the weekend flexing its offensive might in blitzing the Three Hills Thrashers 9-4 Friday on home-ice.

Keifer Schaufler and Mark McLeod scored a pair each, Tudor chipped in with a goal and five points while McLean registered a season-high four helpers.

“We really had a whole team effort,” Honish said. “We came out, played like a team, got success and that’s all we can ask for.”

The Bisons then took their show on the road and beat up on the Strathmore Wheatland Kings by an 8-3 count on Saturday.

Barlow and McLean scored a pair. Johns, Shikaze, Luke Loomer and Kyle Becker also bulged the twine in the comprehensive victory.

Tudor took home HJHL player of the week honours in recognition of registering two goals and nine points in three games.

“We’ve got a strong team so these three game weekends are good to build and work on things going into playoffs,” Johns said. “We’re pretty happy with the weekends we’ve had, but we’re definitely glad to have them out of the way and be able to rest.”

The Bisons finish their penultimate weekend of regular season hockey by welcoming the Banff Bears on Friday (8 p.m. at Murray Arena) and travelling up to Blackfalds on Sunday for a battle with the Wranglers.

For more information on the team go to okotoksbisons.com


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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