While some wait in line for the sale of the season a Blackie family packs the stands.
Boxing Day marks an annual tradition for the Wells family where Foothills CFR Chemicals Bisons centre Blake Wells is set to follow in the footsteps of older sister Kassandra and skate in his first Mac’s Midget Hockey Tournament.
“We’re always there watching whether it’s my sister or this year it will be me,” Wells said. “It’s become a family thing to do, our relatives come and watch.
“I always thought if she could do it, I could do it. There’s that little bit of sibling rivalry going on with that. I always wanted to be like her and looked up to her growing up.”
Kassandra, a hard-nosed blueliner four years older than Blake, played for the then Highwood Raiders at the tournament in 2011 and was the team’s alternate captain skating on a defence pairing with Longview’s Kaylin Snodgrass in 2013.
While watching Kassandra play in two tournaments, the younger brother was struck by the sheer amount of attention participating players received.
“It just seemed that it’s a really big deal for both the girls and the guys,” he said. “It seemed like so much fun having that big of a crowd come out and watch.
“She said not to worry, that there is lots of people watching, but just to play a normal game and you’ll be fine.”
Wells would be well served to keep doing what he’s doing for the Bisons.
One of the last cuts on the Bisons 2015-16 team, the 1999-born forward is taking full advantage of his freshman campaign in Strathmore.
With the expectation of a strong summer of training the coaching staff saw huge opportunity for the versatile centre to progress on the club.
“He brings an honest game every night,” said Bisons head coach Sandy Henry. “The thing with Blake is he’s a big guy now, a big strong kid and skates as good as anyone in the league. That combination of size and being able to get yourself around the ice like that is a real asset for him.”
Relied on as a prototypical 200-foot player, Wells has increasingly shown a knack for finishing.
He’s fourth on the Bisons with 23 points in 24 games, good enough for top-20 standing amongst the Alberta Midget Hockey League leaders.
“We talked to him a little earlier in the year when he was getting those chances, but he had his head down a little bit and maybe wasn’t seeing the net,” the coach added. “Lately, he’s really picking his head up when he gets the puck and making quality shots on goal and now it’s translating onto the scoresheet.”
He’s quick to credit his teammates and the coaching staff of the back-to-back Chrysler Division champions for his offensive breakthrough.
“It all comes from the team, the coaching staff and my linemates,” Wells said. “If the team is having great success then it transfers over to individual success. I’m more worried about the team winning.”
No problems on that front.
The Bisons opened the season on a 19-game unbeaten run which ended earlier in the month. The team sits tops in the province and has to be considered one of the tournament favourites.
“Winning Mac’s would be a big deal for all of us,” Wells added. “I feel like we’re one of the top teams in there and feel like we can play really well and possibly win it all.”
The action kicked off on Boxing Day for the Bisons who are pooled alongside the Alaska Oilers, Red Deer Chiefs, Moose Jaw Generals and Greater Vancouver Canadians.
The other Foothills area athletes on the Bisons are Okotoks’ Jackson Salt, Peyton Krebs and Hunter Young, Millarville’s Zach Huber, Turner Valley’s Tyson Scott and Aldersyde’s Tyson Terretta.
The Mac’s runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 in Calgary.
Go to macstournament.ab.ca for the latest tournament information.
