A new season in the Alberta AAA Midget Hockey League (AMHL) is officially underway for the Airdrie CFR Chemicals Bisons, following a pair of games Oct. 5 and 6.
Playing against the Calgary Royals, the Bisons got off to a poor start in its season-opener, losing 6-1 at the Stu Peppard Arena.
“Our opening game was a bit unfortunate,” said head coach Dustin Taylor. “The Royals probably played their best game yet, and we played our worst game, when adding up the preseason exhibitions. It was a perfect storm for the Royals.”
Airdrie’s only goal came from James Quaiffe in the second period.
Despite the loss, Taylor said he liked the effort his players put forward, as well as the goaltending of 2003-born Freddie Halyk, who made 43 saves in his AMHL debut.
The following afternoon fared better for the Bisons, in the team’s first home game of the season. Playing at the Ron Ebbesen Arena, Airdrie tied 3-3 with the Calgary Buffaloes.
“Our play away from the puck was much better,” Taylor said. “We kept that same competitive excellence from start to finish.”
Parker Jorginson, Tanner Chapman and Jared Schrock scored their first goals of the season, while returning goaltender Garrett Fuller saved 52 shots.
Taylor said his players' shooting was more accurate in the game against the Buffaloes.
“After the first, we were up 1-0, with only five shots on net, and after the second, we were up 3-2 with only six shots on net,” he said. “We were very opportunistic, which is a good thing, and our goaltending helped us hang on for a tie.”
The Bisons will head north Oct. 12 and 13 for games in Edmonton against the Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings and the St. Albert Nektar Raiders.
Thunder wins twice
It took three weeks, but the Airdrie Techmation Thunder junior B hockey team enjoyed its first four-point weekend of the 2019-20 Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) season, with a pair of wins against the Rocky Mountain Rams and the Coaldale Copperheads.
Airdrie – the defending HJHL champion – came into the weekend with two wins and two losses. The team improved its .500 record by downing the Rocky Mountain Rams 6-3 Oct. 4, thanks to a spirited four-goal showing in the third period at the Ron Ebbesen Arena, before beating the Coaldale Copperheads 9-7 on the road Oct. 6.
“We were extremely happy to get the four points, and for the most part, there were a lot of positives in our game,” said head coach Derek Stamp. “There are obviously things we need to correct, and I think our guys are aware of that, but we’re happy with the four points and we’ll keep going.”
Thunder newcomer Kyle Bracko was the team’s star offensive generator, registering two goals and five assists across the two games. With 12 points in six games, the 19-year-old currently leads the HJHL scoring charts.
"It feels really good, especially after a pretty slow season for me last year, points-wise," said Bracko, who joined the Thunder from the Strathmore Wheatland Kings. "It feels great to finally start playing well and have good chemistry with my linemates."
The team has been missing a few key players due to injury in recent weeks, according to Stamp.
“That’s not an excuse – everyone goes through it – but when it happens right at the start of the year, it makes developing that team cohesiveness a little more tricky,” he said. “We’ve weathered that storm. We still have a couple of guys we’re waiting on, one being [captain] Jordan McConnell, but we expect him back soon.”
Airdrie, now in second place of the north division with a 4-2-0 record, will host the unbeaten Okotoks Bisons in its next game. Puck-drop is slated for 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Ron Ebbesen Arena.
"We just have to stick to our game plan and execute, and we'll do fine," Bracko said.
