A young hockey player is trying to make the next step to be a Bison for life, not just a Bison in training.
Kyle Hartle, 17, was one of 26 young men at the Murray Arena last week hoping the famed Okotoks Bisons’ motto — “Once a Bisons, always a Bison,” will ring true for him this season.
“I was really excited,” Hartle said about attending the Okotoks Bisons main camp from Aug. 30-Sept. 4. “I’m fighting for a spot. That’s what I felt about it.
“I am pretty happy about the camp.”
He admits he is in tough spot as a Midget-aged player. He said the play was a bit different from his experience with the Okotoks Midget Green Oilers last season — some of the players were bigger, stronger and faster than what he experienced at the Midget level.
Although the Bisons’ new head coach is not fighting for a spot, last week was Chris Beston first time on the ice with the Bisons.
As a born-and-raised Okotokian he is fully aware of the Herd’s proud history in the Heritage Junior B Hockey League.
He’s up for the challenge.
Beston’s been coaching his daughter’s team in the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association the past few years.
“It’s all the same, when you get down to it, it’s all just coaching hockey again,” Beston said. “The main camp was run really well. I had Ryan Howse run a lot of it for me.
“So, Ryan (Carson) and I just kind of sat back and watched.”
Carson is the Bisons’ new assistant coach. Although he and Beston knew of one another in the small Okotoks hockey community — Carson was also previously involved with local female hockey — this was the first time they worked together.
“We are all pretty comfortable together,” Beston said after the Bisons’ final session on Sept. 4. “Ryan and I know what kind of players we were growing up and what kind of style we want to go with.
“Today was the first time we actually got on the ice together because Ryan (Howse) was running things. It felt really good.”
They also had some good players on the ice.
Although 26 players doesn’t sound like a lot, the main thing is there was plenty of talent.
“It was quality not quantity — we had 26 quality players and that helped us run a good camp,” Beston said.
There were also plenty of older quality players on the ice.
There were six 21-year-olds on the ice and the Bisons can only carry four.
Three of the four, Kyle Becker, Josh McCulloch and Robbie McLean, were in the top four in team scoring last year. Beston wasn’t about to call the trio a lock to make the team, but said they have a strong chance to stay with the Herd.
Also returning as a 21 year-old is defenceman Taylor MacNeill, who has played more than 30 games on the Bisons’ blueline for each of the past three years.
Brennan Fuoco, who had eight goals and 23 assists as a rearguard for the Bisons last season is also vying for one of the overage spots.
The sixth 21-year-old is forward Matthew Balagus, who also was a part of the Herd in 2016-17.
The Bisons had three goalies in camp including Matthew McDonald who has played the last two seasons with Okotoks, getting in 24 games last year.
Matthew Baba from Okotoks is also fighting for a spot between the pipes for the Bisons.
Some tough decisions are ahead for the coaching staff, but it’s like going into a final exam well prepared. There is plenty of hopeful anticipation.
“We are excited,” Beston said. “Going into exhibition season we are exactly where we want to be.”
The exhibition season gets started this weekend against long-time HJHL foe the Cochrane Generals.
The Bisons will host the Generals at 7:30 p.m. at the Murray Arena on Friday. They then head to Cochrane for a Saturday evening tilt.
For more information go to okotoksbisons.com
