The Okotoks Bisons are Heritage Junior Hockey League champions after a convincing 7-3 victory over the Blackfalds Wranglers to win their best-of-three games series 2-1 on Sunday at the Murray Arena.
It was the Bisons’ first league championship since 2006 and the significance of hoisting the championship banner is not lost on the players.
“This is basically the Stanley Cup for us,” said Bisons captain Derek Schlamp.
The Bisons were dealt a major blow when starting goaltender Christian Chivilo went down with an injury in Game 2 on March 26.
First-year backup Tyler Hughes stepped in for Okotoks in Sunday’s decisive Game 3 and earned his second-consecutive series clinching victory.
The 18-year-old Hughes said he was pleased he could help deliver a championship for the Bisons’ veterans.
“My motive was to win it for all the fourth-years (and) have them end their season with a trophy,” he said. “I just had to make the saves.”
After a Jeremy Smith hat trick gave the Bisons a 6-3 victory and a 1-0 series lead on March 23, the series shifted to Blackfalds for Game 2 on March 26.
The Wranglers got goals from Kyle Maas and Derek Wiedmer to jump out to a two-goal lead after the first 40 minutes.
With Chivilo went down, Hughes kept Blackfalds at bay over the final period, but the Bisons only managed a goal from Phil Dillon.
Blackfalds’ 2-1 triumph drew the series even and set up a decisive third game at the Murray Arena on Sunday, March 27.
After leaping out to a four-goal lead on Sunday, Hughes and the rest of the Bisons were able to hold off the hard charging Wranglers in the final 20 minutes to win the league title.
With the victory, the Bisons accomplished two of their goals. They earned a higher seed in next weekend’s provincials in Leduc and they halted the Wranglers’ bid for their second consecutive HJHL title.
“We wanted to come back and repeat but we couldn’t do it this year,” Wranglers coach Jared Waldo said.
Following the final whistle, the Bisons took their time passing around the championship trophy on the Murray Arena ice.
Schlamp was at a loss to describe the moment.
“I’ve been waiting for this since I came to the Bisons (four years ago). It’s surreal right now, I can’t even believe this is happening,” he said.
“I’m going to carry this memory for the rest of my life,” Hughes added.
The play of the Bisons’ goaltender came as a surprise to the Wranglers who thought they would have an advantage in the series-clinching game.
“When the guys saw Chivilo go down I think they thought that maybe things might come a little bit easier,” Waldo said. “I didn’t think we tested (Hughes) through two periods today.”
The HJHL championship was the perfect finish to an up-and-down season for Okotoks.
After hitting rock bottom in a December home loss to the Strathmore Kings, the Bisons rebounded to win their division and four consecutive playoff series.
As Schlamp explained, the key was to maintain an even-keeled attitude throughout the year.
“It’s unbelievable to see how far we’ve come since the start of the year,” he said. “For everyone to come through the way they did, it’s a great thing to see.”
While the Bisons will cherish their moment in the sun, they won’t have much time to celebrate.
The Junior B squad will leave on Thursday morning for provincials in Leduc (March 31 to April 3).
This edition will also try to do something no Bison team has ever done — win a provincial title. Despite having numerous strong teams compete at the provincials over the years the Bisons have never done better than silver at the provincial championships.
“We’ll celebrate right now but we’re on a clean slate come provincials,” Schlamp said.
The runners-up Wranglers will have a chance at redemption as they also earned a chance to play against the province’s best.
“You’d hate to go this long into a season and not come home with something,” Waldo said.
If Chivilo is unable to go for the weekend, Hughes said he is ready to take the reins.
After winning series-clinching games against Red Deer and Blackfalds, the rookie netminder said he feels confident he can win the final prize.
“I think I can carry that load. (Chivilo) did his part getting us here and I think I can finish it for him,” Hughes said.
The Bisons will play their provincial opener against the North Peace Navigators on March 31 at 4 p.m.
The tournament final is scheduled for Sunday, April 3 at 1:30 p.m. in Leduc.
