The Airdrie CFR Chemicals Midget AAA Bisons featuring five Cochranites took on the Canadian women’s Olympic team on Oct. 3 in the Esso Series to prepare the Olympians for the upcoming Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The Canadian women’s team defeated the Bisons by a score of 9-1.
The team consists of 2000 to 2002 born players from Cochrane and surrounding areas such as Airdrie, Claresholm, Lethbridge and Calgary. The five players who represented Cochrane are: Tyrel Bauer, Caleb Willms, Nickolas De Beurs, Ethan Strang and Damon Agyeman, while forward Jacob Cathcart who is also from Cochrane, was out nursing an injury.
Bauer, a second round draft pick of the Seattle Thunderbirds in last year’s Western Hockey League draft and was signed by the team in June, says playing the Olympic team was an experience he’ll remember forever.
“The game itself was a great experience. Although we lost rather badly, it was super cool to be playing against Olympic athletes,” Bauer said.
“Not to mention they have won Olympic gold medals in the past.”
The National Women’s team will be playing eight other games against the best Midget AAA teams in Alberta to prepare for the international tournament in February.
The Olympic team has won gold at the past four Olympic tournaments in 2014, 2010, 2006 and 2002, while adding a second place finish in the inaugural women’s tournament in 1998 losing to the United States.
Bauer said the game was a good test for the team, as they’re in the early stages of their midget season.
“Yeah, we’re early in our season and although our record isn’t quite where we would like to see it, I truly believe our team can be successful in the league… we just need to come together and put in the work,” Bauer said.
“The Olympic team showed what it takes to be successful. Their work ethic, communication and desire proved that teamwork is a major part of their success. It was definitely a wake up call and I think the guy’s realized what we need to do to be a top team in this league.
Bauer also said it was easy to see why the women’s team has won four straight Olympic gold medals.
“The main thing was how much trust they had in each other and how much of a team they were… that’s what makes them so good,” Bauer said.
“They knew where each other were on the ice, and they communicated well all the time, calling for passes and letting each other know where they were. They had perfected they’re systems and trusted everybody would do their job in that system.”
The Bisons are currently 1-2 on the season and will have a pair of road games on Oct. 14 and 15 when they take on the Sherwood Park J. Ennis Kings and the Knights of Columbus Pats.
