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Bisons out of sync in opener

Try as you might, team chemistry can’t be created overnight.
Okotoks Bisons forward Josh McCullough leaps over Coaldale Copperhead goalie Dillan Kelly in search of a rebound. Coaldale doubled up Okotoks by a 4-2 score in the HJHL
Okotoks Bisons forward Josh McCullough leaps over Coaldale Copperhead goalie Dillan Kelly in search of a rebound. Coaldale doubled up Okotoks by a 4-2 score in the HJHL season opener, Sept. 16 at Murray Arena.

Try as you might, team chemistry can’t be created overnight.

With seven players making their debut in team colours, the Okotoks Bisons saw their home opener spoiled by the veteran laden Coaldale Copperheads in a 4-2 defeat Friday night at the Murray Arena.

“The first half of the game we played well,” said Bisons alternate captain Connor Tudor. “They have 19 returning guys, they know what they’re all about. Together, they’re more of a unit, more of a wolf pack right now than what we’ve got.”

“The chemistry isn’t there yet. It’s a little choppy right now, but only time will fix that.”

Okotoks was anything but choppy to start the contest, going stride for stride with the defending South Division champions through the first 30 minutes of the Heritage Junior Hockey League tilt.

Winger Aidan Geiger gave the hosts a dream start, finding the back of the net on the first shot inside 25 seconds from puck-drop on a set up from linemate Tudor and debutante defenceman Brennan Fuoco.

Okotoks would double the lead early in the second stanza when first-year Bisons forward Josh McCullouch cashed in on a Coaldale giveaway in the defensive zone for an unassisted marker.

That would be all the offence the herd could muster on opening night.

The Snakes crawled back into the contest with three unanswered in the middle frame. Clay Vogt got the visitors on the board and in short-order Brady Parenteau levelled the scored on the first of two breakaway goals in the period.

Coaldale took its first lead through an unlikely source. Pugilist Dustin Houghton took advantage of a sloppy clearance in the neutral zone, sneaked in a breakaway and fired the puck past Okotoks’ Matthew McDonald in goal on a buzzer beater.

The Copperheads added a third period insurance marker on the powerplay through blueliner Austin Huculak after McDonald had kept his team in it with back-to-back sparkling saves on point blank chances from Calvin Swanson.

The second year netminder stopped 43 of 47 shots on a busy introduction to the campaign.

“It’s the first time we’ve actually had the full unit together,” said Bisons head coach Mike Hannigan. “Even in exhibition we never really had the full team going. That’s a learning experience for everyone, we know where we have to be. That’s a team that you gauge yourself against.”

Playing with just five defencemen on the night, including three freshman Bisons, the Snakes took advantage of Okotoks with an emphasis on stretching the play up the ice.

“We were shorthanded on the back-end and they were trying to expose that,” said Hannigan. “I thought we did pretty well for being undermanned.”

Okotoks fell to 0-2 on the campaign following a 6-4 defeat on the road in Strathmore on Sunday. Geiger, Fuoco, Mark McLeod and Spencer Bender scored in a losing cause.

The Wheatland Kings erased a 4-1 second period deficit to trump the Bisons.

Tudor, one of four 21 year-olds and 12 returning players on the roster, expressed optimism with the group assembled even if it might take some time to gel as a unit.

“It’s a really good group of guys. Lots of smiles in the room, everyone is super friendly,” Tudor added. “We’re going to be a quick team this year. We’re very fast, we’ve got lots of depth up-front. Our d-corps is strong. Two returning goalies, that helps a lot.”

Ice Chips

The Bisons entered the first contest having won three straight home and season openers. The team’s last loss to start a campaign came in 2012 when the High River Flyers upset their regional rivals in a 2-0 victory.

Okotoks’ next date is against those same Flyers when it makes the trek south to battle its divisional foes at the Bob Snodgrass Recplex on Sept. 23 at 8:15 p.m.

For more information go to okotoksbisons.com

Try as you might team chemistry can’t be created overnight.


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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