You couldn’t dream of a better way to open a playoff series.
So when United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) Bisons skated out of Calgary’s South Fish Creek Rec Centre with a 9-1 win over Calgary Buffaloes, it was a dream come true. Bisons lead the Alberta AAA Midget Hockey League Chrysler Division best-of-5 final 2-0. The Strathmore-based team’s trio of 16-year-old Cochranites Kyle Gordon, Zach Vinnell, and defenceman Cole Noble, are front and centre in the team’s success.
“We just stuck to the game plan and moved the puck well, moved our feet,” said Vinnell following UFA’s Game 1 win by a TD and 2-point convert over Buffs. “That’s how we play. We work hard and never give up. That’s how we were successful today.”
That the Bisons have played 40 games this season, including Mac’s Major Midget tournament over the Christmas break and a first-round sweep of Calgary Royals, makes the dream that much more unreal.
They are at the point of the season where they need to be, doing what they need to do – keeping their foot on the gas and going all in.
The results, so far, are a nightmare for UFA opponents. In seven playoff games, Bisons have out-scored their opposition 40-15.
“We made our statement,” said Noble outside the Bisons dressing room. “Keeping our foot on the gas is probably the most important thing we can do at this point. Just continue playing our game and working our hardest.
“If we continue to play our game, we all know we can do this.”
Gordon is feasting on playoff competition, tied for first in playoff scoring with teammate Barrett Sheen (6 g, 9a each) in seven games. But Gordon isn’t playing favourites.
““It doesn’t really matter what line,” Gordon insisted. “All four of our lines can make their lines look like they’re not midget-level. When we’re on our game, I don’t think a team can touch us, really.
“We have all four lines going, so they can’t really key any line because we bring the same thing with every line.”
