The quest for a three-peat has started for the herd.
The Okotoks Carstar Bisons kicked off exhibition action with a two-game set versus the High River Brewing Co. Flyers last weekend with the Heritage Junior Hockey League regular season within sight for the two-time defending champions.
“It’s nice to get back to the rink after a summer off and get into an actual game instead of just systems and scrimmages,” said Bisons captain Lucas Watkins. “It’s pretty much the same as the last two years. We want to win it again, that’s our mindset. It’s the last year for a lot of us this year and we want to go out with a bang after coming short in provincials two years in a row now and we want to bring that one home this year.”
The Bisons finished with a league best 35-3 record in the regular season and then swept their way through the postseason to take its second consecutive HJHL championship.
Okotoks then skated to a silver medal finish as hosts of the Hockey Alberta Junior B Provincial Championships in the spring.
“It was bitter for sure,” Watkins said. “Working all year to get to that point and then to come up short in the final, that definitely stung for a couple of weeks and we’re looking forward to not having that happen this year.”
Okotoks opened its five-game exhibition series with a home-and-home split with the Flyers.
The herd skated to a 4-2 result at home on Sept. 8 with the Flyers getting a measure of revenge the following night at the Bob Snodgrass Recplex in a 7-4 triumph.
For Watkins, there are a few goals for the preseason.
“It’s setting our standard to where we need to be and hopefully by the end of the preseason we’re exactly where we want to be and where we should be in the way we play,” he said.
“It’s pretty much getting the legs back, getting into game shape and being ready for the year.”
Though the Bisons will have a significant number of returning players, most of whom are 20- and 21 year-olds, an infusion of youthful energy will help balance out the roster, the captain added.
“It will be good to get a new infusion of youth coming through,” he said. “I think that will help the dynamic of the team a little bit.”
The exhibition action continues with two straight versus the Airdrie Thunder, the first in Okotoks on Sept. 12 followed by a road date on Sept. 15. The preseason concludes Sept. 17 in High River.
The Bisons open the regular season away from home with stops in Airdrie and Strathmore on Sept. 22 and 23. The home opener is Sept. 29 against the Red Deer Vipers.
For more information, visit okotoksbisons.com.
