Skip to content

Bisons to break the ice in international showcase

Hockey: Okotoks to play two exhibition games versus University of Korea
SPORTS-Bisons v Flyers BWC 8034 web
The Okotoks Bisons will hit the ice against the University of Korea for a pair of exhibition games on home ice on Aug. 27 and 28.

An international icebreaker will reintroduce fans to the herd this weekend.

The Okotoks Bisons will open their exhibition play ahead of schedule with a pair of preseason home dates versus the University of Korea on Aug. 27-28.

“If I looked back at when I played baseball or hockey, you remember championships, but the other games that I remember are not a Saturday or Friday night against Cochrane,” said Bisons general manager Ryan Rarick.

“It’s those times that I remember playing international teams so that’s why we did it. For some of these kids, some of our players, this may be the only time they play someone like that.”

The University of Korea hockey team is in southern Alberta for its training camp this year during which it will see action against the Bisons as well as the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Calgary Canucks, among others.

“I don’t know what to expect, I don’t know if they will be at a higher level than us, the same level,” Rarick said. “It’s hard to say. If they’re like other universities they’re probably going to be older with kids that have aged out of junior.

“It will be interesting.”

Rarick conceded the timing of the games isn’t ideal given the Bisons haven’t broken for training camp and not everyone has been back for informal skates thus far.

“I knew the dates were before we would start our camp, but I didn’t want our kids to lose out on that opportunity,” Rarick said. “They will remember that, whether it’s good or bad, for the rest of their lives.”

Both games are 7 p.m. starts at Okotoks’ Murray Arena, with free admission.

With the addendum that rosters are fluid at this early juncture, Rarick is expecting a strong core to return from last year’s Heritage Junior Hockey League championship squad for the 2022-23 campaign.

Brad Cobb is returning behind the bench for his second season as head coach of the herd with assistant coach Trevor Bueckert also back along with stalwart athletic trainer Dr. Cale Granson.

Following training camp, the Bisons continue exhibition season on the second weekend of September with home dates versus High River and Airdrie on Sept. 9 and 11, respectively.

The puck drops on the regular season on Sept. 16 as Okotoks hosts Cochrane in a rematch of the HJHL championship.

For more, visit 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]
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks