What’s old is new again.
The reunited hometown line of Darren Bordt, Harrison Smith and Mark McLeod combined for two first-period goals to spark the Okotoks Bisons to a 5-1 trouncing of the Medicine Hat Cubs Friday on home-ice to remain unbeaten in the Heritage Junior B Hockey League.
“We played really, really well. I think it’s chemistry from last season probably carrying over into this year,” said Smith, in his first game back from an appendectomy. “We’ve got really good friendship off the ice so I think that translates on the ice.”
Within five minutes of a delayed puck-drop, the alchemy yielded an early goal.
McLeod tallied on an odd-man rush followed by a rebound marker from hulking rookie forward Ryan McLean. Before the end of the frame, Smith teed up a one-timer from the top of the circle to slam home a three-goal advantage heading into the intermission.
“This year we’re ready to be a concrete line throughout the whole year,” Smith added. “We’ve got tons of speed. I feel like we can definitely be a top-line in the league, for sure.”
Following a lengthy delay from a Zamboni malfunction at the junction, the Cubs cut into the lead through Bradley Paradis in a penalty-filled middle frame to make it a 3-1 contest.
One of Okotoks’ other forward lines got in on the offensive parade in the final stanza.
First-year centre Tyler Rohl, sophomore winger Aiden Geiger and third-year Bison Luke Loomer combined for a pair in the third period to put the tilt on ice.
First, the smooth-skating Geiger broke free on a breakaway and tucked the puck under a sliding Cole Shafer in goal on a sublime forehand deke.
Then in the final minute, Rohl set up Loomer on a two-on-one and the Calgarian didn’t miss from the top of the slot to round out the four-goal victory.
“We tried to work it down low, work their defence,” said Loomer. “We could get around them pretty easy so we just tried to use our speed and win battles.
“We’re a really fast team and we’re trying to use our speed and create chances for each other.”
In goal, Okotoks minor hockey product Griffin Segboer was dynamic in turning aside a pair of breakaway opportunities and picking up his first win as a Bison.
“We’ve got a fast team and the guys are coming together,” McLeod said. “It’s good to see so far early in the first couple games.
“All the lines are going, all the lines are scoring. It’s good to get some balance one through four.”
The Bisons’ winning ways on home-ice didn’t carry into their first road game of the season.
Okotoks fell 3-0 to the division leading Cochrane Generals on Oct. 3.
Okotoks, fourth in the South Division with a 2-1 record, hosts its next home date on Oct. 9 versus the kings of the north, the Blackfalds Wranglers, in a meeting of perennial championship contenders. The two teams have combined for five of the past six HJHL banners.
Puck-drop for the marquee match-up is set for 8 p.m. at Murray Arena.
For more information on the team go to okotoksbisons.com
