Expect playoff-like intensity in the first game of the season.
The Battle of the Foothills has a way of ratcheting up the emotions be it fall, winter or spring as the Okotoks Bisons jump into the HJHL 2019-20 regular season with two feet hosting the High River Flyers Friday night at the Murray Arena.
“I’m expecting a hard-fought battle, they get up for us and vice-versa,” said Bisons head coach Chris Beston. “It doesn’t really matter where either team is sitting in the standings, it’s going to be a battle and it’s going to be a war, especially coming out of the gate here where we’re both even teams.
“High River fans will be there, Okotoks fans will be there and I’m assuming the rink will be fairly full and it’s a fantastic way to start the season.”
Not only a geographic rivalry, there’s strong connections between members of both teams, be it former teammates or coaches on the bench.
Okotoks forward Connor Taylor and defenceman Devon Barlow were previously members of the Flyers.
“They get up for this game more than any other game,” Beston said. “They don’t want to lose because they left that team to come play with us.”
On the other side, Flyers forwards Josh Russo and Jharin Bantugan wore the Bisons sweater during their rookie seasons.
“I still think it’s competitive,” said Flyers head coach Colten Hayes. “We have a couple guys on our team that used to play for Chris and I when we were coaching together and that adds a bit of a competitive element.
“A lot of those guys are friends with a lot of guys on our team and it’s a nice competitive nature between the two teams.”
It’s not just competitive amongst the players.
Hayes was part of the Bisons coaching staff in 2017-18 before taking the head coach position in High River last season.
“I enjoy it every night,” Hayes said. “We were successful at the start of the year against Okotoks last year and hopefully we can kind of build on that.
“We’ve got a younger team than Okotoks this year, they loaded up pretty good this year. It’s going to be a hard game, but I enjoy the competition against Beston.
“We joke and have fun with it during the season and laugh about it in the summer.”
The teams split the season series over the past two years.
One thing that has defined the rivalry is the Flyers always bring their A-game against the Bisons.
“They’re right across the highway from us and Okotoks, they always have a great team and we’re just trying to match that,” Hayes said. “We come to the rink and don’t want to lose against Okotoks and that’s kind of the mentality that we’re going to need to be having throughout the year.
“It bring that compete level out of everyone. It’s going to be a fast-paced game, I’m sure a lot of people are probably going to be at the game and it gives our younger guys a chance to realize it’s going to be like this all year.”
Puck-drop is 8 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the Murray Arena. The Bisons close opening week with another Southern Division tilt against the Strathmore Wheatland Kings on the road on Sept. 21.
For more information go to okotoksbisons.com
