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Bisons to play Russians in Mac's warm-up

A pair of 16-year-old Okotoks hockey players were born well after the Cold War, but they still get excited to hear: ‘The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming.

A pair of 16-year-old Okotoks hockey players were born well after the Cold War, but they still get excited to hear: ‘The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming.’

Sam Johnson and Josh Betinol were in the lineup for the UFA Midget AAA Bisons when they played Russia HC Severstal last night in High River.

They will take on the Russians again on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Bisons’ home ice in Strathmore in a warm-up for the Mac’s Midget tournament which starts Dec. 26 in Calgary.

“It’s going to be kind of strange because I have never played any European teams before,” said Betinol. “I’m excited. I don’t think they will be very physical but they will pass well. I think they are more of a finesse team.”

Johnson agreed playing a team from Russia is exciting, but he does not see it as an “us versus them” kind of thing like it was back in the days of Espo, Henderson, Tretiak and Karmalov in the 1970s.

“It’s going to be a cool experience to play an international team,” said Johnson, a Grade 11 student at Foothills Composite High School. “But it still feels like I am playing for UFA and not for Canada. It still says Bisons across my jersey and not Team Canada.”

He admitted he doesn’t have the hard feelings towards the Russians like Canadians did back when Paul Henderson scored his famous goal in the 1972 Summit Series.

“We don’t hear much about the 1972 series,” Johnson said with a chuckle. “Now the biggest rivalry is Canada versus the U.S.”

The Bisons and Russia HC Severstal will be using the two exhibition games as a tune-up for the Mac’s Midget AAA Hockey Tournament Dec. 26 to Jan.1 in Calgary.

It’s a tournament for which Johnson has watched as a volunteer, but he has not had the opportunity to hit the ice at one of Canada’s most prestigious Midget hockey tournaments.

“I’ve been to it but just as a spectator and a volunteer,” Johnson said. “I always wanted to play in it, it’s always been such a big deal.”

Johnson is having a good rookie season with the Bisons. He was in 11th place in the Alberta Major Midget Hockey League scoring race with 28 points (18 goals, 10 assists) as of Dec. 15.

The UFA Bisons are third place in the Chrysler (South) Division of the league with a 13-5-4 record.

The Bisons made it to the Mac’s final last year and he’s hoping they can continue their success at the Mac’s.

“You always want to be in the final, but we just have to worry about one game at a time and play our game and then we will have some success,” Johnson said.

One of the players who were in the Bisons’ lineup last year was Johnson’s former Okotoks Bantam AAA Oiler teammate Keaton Lubin.

“I talked to him about the Mac’s and he said it was really a cool experience to play in the Saddledome and everything… I’m looking forward to it, just to play in that atmosphere and the people watching,” said Johnson.

Some of those people watching will be scouts, ranging from representatives from the Alberta Junior Hockey League to top university programs.

“It’s in the back of the mind that they are there, but if you think about it too much it will affect the way you play,” he said.

Betinol said he is also looking forward to the Mac’s.

“It has been a goal of mine for a long time, it feels good to finally be there,” Betinol said. “I think it’s an accomplishment just to get there.”

His older teammates have warned him there is a different feel to the Mac’s.

“They told me it’s really intense, but it’s really fun,” he said.

His long-term goal is to play Junior hockey, either at the Junior A level, or possibly the Western Hockey League.

“I think the Mac’s will give me a lot of exposure because a lot of scouts will be there,” he said.

However, he added he won’t worry about the scouts — the top priority is helping the Bisons win.

Betinol has seven goals and five assists with the Bisons this season.

Midgets

Following is the schedule for the UFA Bisons at the Mac's tourney in Calgary Dec. 26-Jan. 1Dec. 26: UFA vs. Valley West Hawks , Father David Bauer, 12:45 p.m.Dec. 27: UFA vs. Winnipeg Wild, Max Bell, 2:30 p.m.Dec. 28: UFA vs. Red Deer Optimists, Father David Bauer, 8 p.m.Dec. 30 UFA vs. Prince Albert Mintos, Max Bell, 11:45 a.m.
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