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Bisons extend home winning streak to eleven games

Hockey: Okotoks gets past Three Hills and Medicine Hat on weekend
SPORTS-Bisons v Three Hills Thrashers BWC 9919 web
Okotoks Bisons forward Scott Brown battles the Three Hills Thrashers for possession at Murray Arena on Dec. 10. Okotoks won by a 5-1 score.

Home cooking continues to do the Okotoks Bisons good. 

Okotoks (23-2-1) completed its home schedule prior to the holiday break with a 12-1 record, including eleven straight victories at the Murray Arena, by knocking off the pesky Three Hills Thrashers 5-1 on Dec. 10 as part of a four-point weekend for the Heritage Junior Hockey League squad. 

“Our fans have been awesome lately, getting behind us and keeping us in the game, cheering loud and it’s easy playing here with them,” said Bisons forward Scott Brown. “Lots of played here (at the Murray) for pretty much our whole careers so it’s easy to read the bounces and that stuff.” 

Okotoks was far from at its apex on Friday after a strong opening frame was punctuated by a rough final 40 minutes. Brown and Daniel Tainton scored in the opening frame with the Bisons pouring 21 shots on goal.  

“In the first we had our feet moving and were doing everything right,” said Brown. “And then in the second and third, I think Three Hills got in our head a bit so we started playing down to their level.” 

Jake Snashall and Jaevon Buschlen tallied in the middle stanza with Nolan Metzger getting one back for the visitors. Buschlen then added an empty-netter, his 17th goal in just 12 games, to seal the deal in the final 90 seconds of regulation.  

SPORTS-Bisons v Three Hills Thrashers BWC 0100 web
Bisons forward Jake Snashall is dogged by a Three Hills Thrashers player at Murray Arena on Dec. 10. Brent Calver/OkotoksTODAY

“We’re playing all right for all of the injuries we’ve had and suspensions, we haven’t really had a full lineup yet so it’s tough to play to our potential,” Brown added. “Three Hills is at the bottom of the standings so it was easy to look past them.”  

Bisons rookie goaltender Dylan Fries had 29 saves to record his eighth straight win in between the pipes and improve to 8-1 with a .909 save percentage.  

Along with Layton Draper, the HJHL wins leader, the Bisons have benefited from a strong tandem on the last line of defence.  

“It’s been fun battling in practice with Draper seeing who gets the start every weekend,” said Fries, who calls Stavely home. “It’s made me feel good (to pick up wins), the boys are rolling.  

“I think my battling has been really good this year, keeping us in there.” 

The Bisons completed the weekend with an impressive 5-2 triumph over the Cubs on Dec. 12 in Medicine Hat. 

Adam Kirkpatrick scored twice, AJ Belanger added his 18th of the season with Travis Thorhaug and Simon Smith-Burness adding the other markers.  

With the two points, Okotoks has a 13-point advantage over Medicine Hat and the Coaldale Copperheads who are tied for the second-seed in the Southern Division. Okotoks is 12 points north of both the Sylvan Lake Wranglers and Cochrane Generals.  

Okotoks takes its show on the road for one more weekend before the holidays with stops in Kainai and Vulcan to battle the Braves and Lakers, respectively, on Dec. 17- 18.  

The Bisons’ next home date is Jan. 7 versus Strathmore. For more information go to okotoksbisons.com 


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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