The Okotoks Bisons used a quick-strike offence from one of the dominant lines in the league to put what was a challenging road game out of reach in the second period.
The Bisons’ scoring line, centered by Chase Fallis, scored two goals on one shift in the middle frame en route to a convincing 8-4 win over the Strathmore Wheatland Kings, Nov. 17 in Strathmore.
“Everything seemed to be going in for us and the last couple weekends we were snake-bitten so it was nice to see the puck go in for all three of us,” Fallis said. “We’re just working it down low and getting it to the net and getting a good forecheck and starting off from there.”
The Bisons captain and his wingers Jeremy Smith and Dillon Loomer combined for five goals and 12 points and out-dueled the Wheatland Kings, the Heritage Junior Hockey League’s (HJHL) leading offensive club with 103 goals.
“They’re playing really well together,” said Bisons coach Trevor Snodgrass of Fallis’ line. “They’re all older guys that have been around and know what they’re working for and they’re having success by working hard.”
Fallis opened the scoring three minutes in when he walked out from the right hashmarks and beat Strathmore’s Richie Hubbell with a low far-post shot.
The Bisons would dominate the opening minutes of the period before Strathmore’s Ross Fox converted on the Wheatland Kings’ first rush of the game.
Fox then drew a penalty and scored on the subsequent powerplay on a wrap-around beauty past Okotoks goalie Tyler Hughes to give the hosts the 2-1 lead.
“It was tough going about eight minutes without a shot in the first period,” Hughes said of his rocky start. “It’s tough but over the years I’ve kind of got used to playing with the Bisons and getting back into the groove and staying focused for the full 60.”
Strathmore’s advantage would prove to be short-lived as Phil Dillon converted on a two-on-one break by tapping the Anthony Guzzi saucer pass into the top corner.
Okotoks regained the lead in the late stages when Loomer worked to the slot and tapped in a pass from Smith who did the grunt work behind the net.
The ice truly began to tilt in Okotoks’ favour in the second stanza.
Zach Baba was left all alone in the slot for his third goal of the season before Loomer again bulged the twine and in doing so chased Hubbell from the Strathmore net. Weston Joseph, a former Bison, took over between the pipes and was unceremoniously welcomed to the game by being beaten on his first shot from Smith.
Strathmore’s speedster Brennan Grasdahl added a late marker to make it 6-3 for the second intermission.
The Wheatland Kings made it interesting three minutes into the period when Sam Lonnberg potted a tap-in past Hughes.
Strathmore’s Evan Elaschuk was then sprung on a clean breakaway, but was stymied twice by Hughes in what proved to be a rally killing series of events for the hosts.
“I love breakaways because there’s only three moves the player can pull, he can go left, right or shoot,” Hughes said. “He took the shot, I got it and I beat him to the rebound.”
Kevan Mikkelsen added the Bisons’ seventh goal off great work on the cycle from Darren Bordt and Joel van der Velden and Loomer completed his hat-trick after an enormous second effort from Brodie Eisbrenner along the boards to set up the tally.
The Wheatland Kings feature the league’s leading scorer in Andrew Bergmann who was keyed on by the Bisons’ defence. Okotoks held the Airdrie native from scoring for the second time this season though Bergmann’s linemates Ross Fox and Sam Lonnberg did combine for three of Strathmore’s four goals.
“We talked about it before that if you’re on the ice against (Bergmann) to be aware of where he is and finish your checks on him,” Snodgrass said. “We had a few breakdowns in our end so we just need to make things a little more simple. Turnovers you can’t have or good teams will kill you.”
The Bisons (16-2-1) extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games with a 10 to 1 romp over the basement-dwelling Ponoka Stampeders on Sunday.
The Bisons are closer to home this weekend as they make the short trip south to High River for the Foothills derby on Friday at 8 p.m. The team then travels north to Carstairs for a meeting with the Mountainview Colts on Saturday. For more information on the Bisons go to www.okotoksbisons.com
