The most dangerous offence in the Heritage just added another weapon.
Fourth-year Bisons forward Kyle Harrison marked his long anticipated return to the Okotoks Bisons lineup on the weekend after being sidelined for 441 days recovering from a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus.
“It was a little strange,” Harrison said. “It was nice to be around the boys again and get back into it. For the first couple games here I was just worried about getting my feet wet and feeling things out.
“And fitting in wherever they slot me and trying to make an impact any way I can.”
The Calgarian had surgery last February and was allowed to return to the ice in January.
After months of rehab featuring running, cycling, stationary spin bikes, and extensive work with Panther Physiotherapy as well as Big Sky Fitness trainer Jeff Hope-Ross, Harrison laced up the skates once again for the Bisons in their Jan. 11 game versus Red Deer.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Harrison said. “Just stay positive, stay in the gym. I have a really good trainer who set me up with a program that kept both my mind and body engaged, just working through some stuff trying to get back in game shape.
“I feel comfortable with how it’s gone so far.”
The 21-year-old’s addition to the Bisons should be impactful on and off the ice.
Harrison put up 40 goals and 86 points in 83 games in his first three seasons with the club, highlighted by a career best 26 goals and 49 point 2017-18 campaign.
“Harry is a leader and this is his fourth year on the team,” said Bisons head coach Chris Beston. “He’s a highly-skilled offensive player and very talented.
“For him to come back gives everyone a little bit of a boost and it adds that extra depth that we were looking for.”
Okotoks also added forward A.J. Belanger to the roster prior to the Jan. 10 deadline.
The 2001-born forward played the start of the season for the AJHL’s Olds Grizzlys and was a highly productive member of the Calgary Midget AAA Northstars, tallying 13 goals and 29 points in 34 games in 2018-19.
Both forwards should only add to Okotoks’ league best goals for totals, 187 in 30 games, and add balance to a lineup led by the likes of league leading scorer Tyson Scott, playmaker extraordinaire Tyler Alger and workhorse captain Tyler Witzke, to name just a few.
For Harrison, he’s back on a Bisons team with a major uptick in skill from the last time he played.
“It definitely sucks not being on the ice with them,” Harrison said. “But at the same time when you have such a strong team, such a strong core, it’s easy to watch and easy to root for so I’m happy for everyone.
“There’s a lot of new guys that I haven’t had a chance to play with coming from last year and the beginning of this year. I’m just doing what I’m told and wherever I’m slotted I’ll do my best to make an impact.”
Weekend split
A rare loss was followed by a character win on home ice.
Okotoks (28-2) took its second road loss of the season on Jan. 10 in a 5-3 defeat to the red-hot Red Deer Vipers and bounced back the next afternoon at the Murray Arena by clipping the Medicine Hat Cubs by a 4-3 count.
“It was a gutsy effort,” Beston said. “It wasn’t pretty by any means, but we just found a way to get it done. We’ve had two practices in the last 20 days so we can’t expect big things, but they found a way to win.”
Riker Franczak scored twice on the powerplay, including the game winner with just under six minutes left in regulation. Defenceman Mitch Wolfe also scored on the man-advantage with Scott adding the other marker.
“That won us the game, our special teams,” the coach added. “I was very happy with that we didn’t even have a chance to practice that those two days so for them to step up and do it that way I was proud of them.”
The victory preserved Okotoks’ undefeated record at home and in Southern Division play this season.
“They work hard,” Beston said of the Cubs. “We have to match their effort and today we found a way. They’re a good team over there.”
The herd take to the road this weekend and tackle the Cubs for the fourth time this season on Jan. 17 and then skate against the Lomond Lakers on Jan. 18.
Okotoks’ next home date is Jan. 31 against Strathmore.
For more information go to okotoksbisons.com
