It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
The 38th Annual Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament is in full swing as hockey teams from all over Canada, Europe, and the United States have flocked to Calgary in hopes of winning one of the most prestigious prizes in the hockey world.
One of those teams looking to write its name into history is the Foothills CFR Chemical Bisons.
The team, has six returning Mac’s veterans including Cochranites Zach Vinnell and team captain Kyle Gordon.
“It’s my second time here,” Gordon said. “So, it’s nothing new to me. I’m used to the pressure that goes with it.”
Last year, the Bisons were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Calgary Buffaloes (4-3), and this time around, the team is looking to improve on their performance.
“We definitely want to get past where we got to last time,” Gordon said. “We’ve won our first two games so we’re on pace to make a run.”
Bisons opened their tournament account on Dec. 26 at Father David Bauer Arena against Yorkton Rawtec Maulers. Powered by goals from Gary Haden (three) and Liam Izyk, Bisons comfortably ran out 4-1 winners.
Gordon (two), Vinnell (two), Brett Trentham, Tanner Foster, and Cameron Shorrock all contributed assists.
The team next continued their run on Dec. 27 playing Ontario Avalanche (from California) at Max Bell Centre.
Vinnell, Izyk (two), Shorrock (two), Haden, Zach Cox, Quaid McBean, and Jackson Salt all scored as Bisons thumped Avalanche 9-1 in an impressive performance. Gordon, Vinnell (two), Haden (three), Izyk, Shorrock, Trentham, Foster, Cooper Kraus, Thomas King, Liam Rycroft, and Matt Halkovic all had helpers.
“I was honestly a little disappointed with today’s game,” said Bisons head coach Sandy Henry said after the Avs game.
“When you play a team that is a little scrappy, and not quite as structured, you have a hard time gaining energy out of that. We got out of the gates good, and got our goals early but then the game mucked out into a scramble fest.
“Having said that, goals a and b are accomplished, we wanted to wins early on and now we get into the meat of the pool.”
Henry believes that his team’s fate now rests on the next two group games against Lloydminster Bandit Pipeline Bobcats and Cariboo Cougars; encounters that will test his team to the max.
“When we looked at our pool, we knew that it would be tough,” he said. “We’ve played Lloydminster twice in regular season games this year, and lost both times, but they’ve been good games. We know we’re in their ballpark so this next one should be a really good game as well.
“You always want four wins from the group round. Usually three and one is good enough, but there’s been the odd time in the past where teams that have finished three and one in their group have been knocked out, so we don’t want to leave ourselves out there.”
Gordon and Vinnell have been key players for Bisons so far in the tournament and in the regular-season, something that hasn’t surprised Henry who has been looking to his veterans to step up and help rookies shake off the jitters of playing in a big tournament.
“The number of eyeballs on players in this tournament is a little intimidating for the guys,” Henry said. “A lot of them get a good opportunity out of this tournament, and some of them will not help themselves here. In the end though, it’s just a game. Once you lose the crowd and get focused it’s no different than any other hockey game.
“Zach was player of the game today, that’s what I expect from him. Kyle’s line is the top one in our league this season. Those guys have created their own expectations, dangerously I might add, because now that high standard is expected all the time. I expect them to be in the top three or four guys every night.
How does Henry feel his team stack up compared to Bison teams from the past?
“I think we’ve got a solid chance at this,” he said.
“If we play like we can every game we’ve got a chance, this thing is up for grabs 100 per cent. It’s about who gets hot. Who has the hot goalie, and who scores that important goal when they need it. That is gonna be the team that wins this thing.
“Right now from what I’ve seen there’s ten teams that have a shot. There isn’t a superstar team this year that would have to fall on their face not to win.
“There’s a scrap of meat hanging there and ten dogs are going for it.”
On Dec. 28, Bisons lost 5-0 to Bandit Pipeline Bobcats. The loss leaves Bisons second in their pool with a record of 2-1.
