For the second year in a row, the Airdrie CFR Chemical Bisons had the opportunity to compete in the Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament, held in Calgary from Dec. 26, 2018, to Jan. 1. While the Bisons did not move past the round-robin stage of last year’s tournament, the Airdronians made it to this year’s quarterfinals before being knocked out. The Bisons won three of its five games, finishing the tournament with 23 goals for and 19 goals against. Head coach Dustin Taylor said he was impressed with his team’s performances each night. Throughout the week, the Bisons took on opposition from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and as far away as New York. “It’s always good for the kids to experience playing non-traditional teams and to get that exposure,” Taylor said. “We played a number of teams that are in the top percentile of their respective divisions. To have success against those teams instills a reaffirming sense of belief in the players.” Playing in Pool 5, the Bisons started its tournament on Boxing Day with a 5-3 win over the Fort Saskatchewan Blazers. The team then suffered its first defeat of the tournament – a 6-4 loss against the New York Jr. Islanders – the following day. Airdrie bounced back from its defeat to beat the Saskatoon Contacts 4-2 and the Fort Saskatchewan Boston Pizza Rangers 6-3 to finish second in Pool 5, behind New York. The team’s record earned it one of the three wildcard berths to the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, the Bisons’ run came to an end on New Year’s Eve with a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Saskatoon Blazers. Airdrie’s top scorer at the tournament was right wing Jake Petrie, who finished with five goals and six points. Forwards Jett Jones and Jacob Cathcart also put forth strong individual showings – each ended the tournament with three goals and two assists. “I think we did really well,” said Petrie, who was playing at his second Mac’s tournament. “We weren’t too high in the standings in our league, and we didn’t expect too much, but I felt we were the underdog and we really stepped up in the Mac’s.” Petrie, who was the Bisons’ top scorer at the Mac’s tournament last year, as well, said the event’s atmosphere brings out his best performances. “I find it really exciting,” he said. “There are so many people and it’s so exciting having everyone there. “I had a brother a couple years before me who went, and his team did very well. That made it so much more [important] for me to improve and get there.” Considering the prestige of the Mac’s tournament – it’s one of the most recognized midget hockey tournaments in North America, and teams must be invited to participate – Taylor said it was an honour for the Bisons to compete for the second consecutive year. “For the players, many of them have grown up watching it every year,” he said. “I’ve heard countless stories of players telling me, ‘after Christmas, the next thing our family does is go watch the Mac’s tournament.’ “For them to go and be a part of it and play in the tournament – it was a special moment for a lot of them.”
