After a big win last weekend versus Coaldale, the Okotoks Junior B Bisons appear to have turned the corner.
The Bisons won back-to-back road games on the weekend with wins in Ponoka and Medicine Hat to improve their record to 14-9 for 28 points, three points back of first-place Coaldale in the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s South Division.
Okotoks kicked off the weekend’s action with a Saturday clash in Ponoka against the Stampeders. The Bisons entered the game severely shorthanded, due to suspensions and injuries stemming from last Sunday’s brawl versus Coaldale.
“We were terribly shorthanded in terms of a roster. We had five suspensions and an injury from the Coaldale game with that line brawl,” said Bisons’ general manager Jay McFarlane.
With only four defensemen, an affiliate goalie as a backup and an entire forward line missing, the Okotoks squad looked to be in tough.
“In the four years that I’ve been there, that’s the first time that’s ever happened,” Bisons’ captain Derek Schlamp said.
Not to be deterred, Schlamp set the tone with two second period goals, only seven seconds apart, to make it 2-0. Even the goal scorer was surprised to hear how quickly those two goals were scored.
“It was just one of those games where the puck found your stick,” he said.
After Ponoka’s Ryan Blades made it 2-1, Schlamp completed a remarkable second period hat trick with his 15th goal of the season to restore the two-goal lead.
The score would remain that way until 5:16 of the third period when Bisons’ forward Phil Dillon notched his 12th of the year to put the finishing touches on the 4-1 victory.
Remarkably, the decimated Okotoks side dominated the game statistically, outshooting Ponoka 39-20 and scoring the only powerplay goal.
Bisons goalie Tyler Hughes picked up his seventh win by stopping 19 of 20 shots.
With so many players missing, the Bisons knew they would have to conserve energy in order to last 60 minutes.
“We wanted the win, we knew it’d be ugly so it worked for the best,” McFarlane said.
Okotoks continued its road trip on Sunday night in Medicine Hat. The Cubs came into the contest as the last-place team in the South Division with a lowly 7-17 record.
The Bisons jumped on the locals quickly and after a dominating first two periods, Okotoks emerged with an 11-4 road decision.
“It’s a good way to finish off 2010,” McFarlane said.
Schlamp said he was pleased with the victory but, like his teammates, he continued to stress they can play better.
“I think we let up in the third. We need to play (a) consistent 60 minutes,” he said. “For us to be a top-four team, we’ve got to be consistent.”
The win gave the Bisons some peace of mind heading into the holiday break.
While playing shorthanded is hardly ideal, the team-building aspect of last Sunday’s brawl with Coaldale will be a rallying point for the Bisons going forward.
“You want avoid suspensions if you can but it’s also quite an emotional lift and bonding as a team to come together like that and protect each other,” McFarlane stated.
“I think our team’s back. It’s good to go into the break on a positive note,” Schlamp added.
Okotoks will resume action on Jan. 9 as the Strathmore Wheatland Kings come to town. Puck drop will be at 1:15 p.m. at the Murray Arena.
