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Bisons clobber Coaldale to win series

For the second consecutive year, the Okotoks Junior B Bisons are division champions dispatching the Coaldale Copperheads 4-1 in their best of seven series to move on to the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) semi-finals.
Okotoks Bisons forward Chase Fallis (right) breaks towards the Coaldale goal while the Copperheads’ Devery Edmonds is in hot pursuit. Okotoks claimed the 3-2 victory in
Okotoks Bisons forward Chase Fallis (right) breaks towards the Coaldale goal while the Copperheads’ Devery Edmonds is in hot pursuit. Okotoks claimed the 3-2 victory in overtime on Friday night at the Murray Arena and eventually won the series 4-1.

For the second consecutive year, the Okotoks Junior B Bisons are division champions dispatching the Coaldale Copperheads 4-1 in their best of seven series to move on to the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) semi-finals.

Now they play the waiting game.

“We’re sitting, waiting now for our next opponent and have about a week to do that,” Bisons general manager Jay McFarlane said.

The opportunity to have a layoff and heal from some nagging injuries is welcome for Okotoks, who played a grueling three games in a three-night stretch against Coaldale.

“I think that having a little break is well earned and required,” McFarlane added.

After claiming the first two games in the Coaldale series, the Bisons looked to take a 3-0 stranglehold on Friday night at the Murray Arena.

Although they managed to dominate possession through the first two periods, Okotoks found themselves down 2-1 in the waning moments of the third period.

However, Ty Fehr’s first of the playoffs (assisted by Lane Wagner and Christian Chivilo) erased the deficit and sent the game into overtime.

At 4:53 of the extra frame, the Bisons’ Chase Fallis converted a goal-line scramble into his fourth of the playoffs and the decisive marker.

The Bisons outshot Coaldale 49-38 for the game and managed to score the only powerplay goal.

Chivilo picked up his third consecutive win for Okotoks in goal, stopping 36 shots.

The Bisons headed to Coaldale on Saturday night looking to put an end to the series.

Unfortunately, the Copperheads were not ready to pack their lockers.

After jumping out to a 4-0 lead, Coaldale managed to hold on and take a 7-2 victory in Game 4.

McFarlane said he was not surprised by the desperation the Copperheads showed on Saturday.

“That fourth one is always the toughest one to win, especially if you’re not at your own barn,” he said. “Coaldale came out and caught us off guard.”

It was a determined Bisons squad that returned to the Murray Arena on Sunday for Game 5.

With their resolve on full display, Okotoks eliminated the Copperheads with a 4-1 decision.

McFarlane said he was pleased by the class shown by Coaldale in the game’s final minutes –particularly after the team’s had engaged in a few line brawls during the regular season.

“They were first class at the end,” he said.

In the end, it was the Bisons’ depth that was the determining factor in the series.

With four lines capable of scoring and a deep defensive core, Okotoks was able to control the puck for extended periods in the Coaldale zone.

The Copperheads eventually just wore down.

“We definitely have more depth,” McFarlane explained. “This is where having four lines that can go, strong D and great goaltending… to go the distance from an endurance standpoint, you need to have all that.”

With all of the other HJHL series still being contested, the potential scenarios for the Bisons’ opponent in the next round remain plentiful.

Due to their regular season seeding, Okotoks will only hold home-ice advantage if they face Three Hills in the next round.

As of Monday the Three Hills Thrashers lead the Cochrane Generals two games to one in the Central Division final and in the North the series between Blackfalds and Red Deer is tied at two games apiece.

For more information on the HJHL playoffs, visit http://www.heritagejuniorb.com/

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