The defending champions started their quest for consecutive Heritage Junior Hockey League titles in fine form.
The Okotoks Junior B Bisons routed the Banff Academy Bears 7-3 in their season opener at Murray Arena on Sept. 18. Bisons forward Ty Fehr tallied a hat trick, Phil Dillon added a goal and two assists, while Todd Callaghan finished with two helpers.
“We were clicking, all the lines were getting going and we had our systems going,” said Fehr, who admitted it felt great to notch his first career hat-trick with the Bisons organization.
“I think it was all my linemates,” he said. “I’m just standing there to put it in the net, they did it all.”
Bisons head coach Mike Hannigan said he skated a pretty strong lineup during what is still the evaluation process to decide the roster of the Junior B squad.
“I’m quite happy with the way we were passing and moving the puck,” he said. “I think all six defencemen played quite well in the first two periods.”
In their Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) opener, the Bisons jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two periods, but were guilty of being undisciplined and defensively irresponsible in the final frame in which Banff scored three late consolation goals.
“In the third period we kind of let up a little bit and it cost us,” said Hannigan. “We were trying to do a little too much, trying to get that extra goal and worrying about the offensive zone and leaving the defensive zone unattended.”
Fehr said the Bisons know they’ve got to put in a 60-minute effort in order to have any success this season.
“We can’t let up when we’re ahead like that because that’s what’s going to get us,” he said.
The game was a mismatch on paper as the powerhouse Bisons faced a Bears squad that totaled just five wins last season and finished firmly entrenched in the basement of the HJHL’s Central Division.
The shots on goal clearly reflect the Bisons’ dominance in the season opener, as Okotoks tallied 66 shots on net compared to Banff’s total of just 18.
Bisons’ netminder Tyler Hughes said it was difficult at times to stay focused during what was a quiet first 40 minutes.
“It was kind of different because you’re expecting to get all these shots. But you can’t do much when your team’s outplaying the other team and they’re not getting any chances,” he said.
It was truly a team effort for Okotoks, as 15 of the Bisons’ 18 skaters produced at least one point.
“We had a bit more firepower and we’re still rolling from last year on a high,” added Hughes. “There’s not much (the opposition) can do to beat a team that’s on a high right now.”
The Bisons will look to carry their strong performance into their next game when they travel to High River to challenge the rival Flyers on Sept. 23 at 8:30 p.m.
