Dec 2: Bisons End 2017 on a High Note
MANITOBA BISONS 6
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS 3
Links:
LeagueStat: [Summary] : [Report]
CW Hockey Tech: [Summary] : [Report] : [Text]
Boxscores: [US/CIS] : [CW] : [UofM*]
Stories: [UBC] : [rp @CW] : [rp @UofM*]
GoBisons Friday: [Game Story] : [Boxscore]
The final game of 2017 for both sides could well set the stage for two teams heading in opposite directions. The T-irds are now on an 8-game losing skid and face a life-and-death struggle down the stretch just to make the playoffs. The Bisons will open their Christmas presents and ring in the New Year as a 3rd place team.
In roster notes, the Bisons were back to 5 defencemen as
Austin Douglas was out, and
Calvin Spencer in. The T-irds dressed just 19 bodies. After being short-staffed several times earlier in the season, they are once again having injury troubles. They could use some big prairie boys.
The Bisons' top line were the three stars and that says a lot about them. Here's the goals:
Scorers
1st 06:13 – Man Kamerin Nault (9)
2nd 05:09 – Man Blake Heinrich (1) (PP)
2nd 14:12 – Man Lucas Skrumeda (1)
2nd 17:11 – UBC Chase Clayton (3)
3rd 03:17 – UBC Jerret Smith (2)
3rd 06:32 – Man Kamerin Nault (10)
3rd 09:24 – UBC Tyler Sandhu (5) (PP)
3rd 12:17 – Man Michael St. Croix (6)
3rd 17:50 – Man Liam Bilton (4) (EN)
The Herd built a 3-0 lead, oddly with two first-of-the-season goals from defencemen. Through two periods, the Bisons held a 27-22 lead in shots and were more-or-less controlling the play.
To give the T-irds credit, they must have sensed their predicament and threw everything but the kitchen sink at the
Byron Spriggs in the Bison net. Yet each time they scored, the Bisons replied with their own goal about 3 minutes later, then threw in an empty-netter to boot.
So who had Kamerin Nault scoring 10 goals by Christmas? Who had him dressing for 10 regular season games? Each player on the line had a 3 point night (Nault 2G 1A,
Michael St. Croix 1G 2A,
Zach Franko 3A).
There was a ton of action in this game. Spriggs got the win with 39 saves on 42 shots. UBC also switched starters from Friday night, going with
Rylan Toth, who made 33 saves on 38 shots.
Since this was an afternoon encounter, the teams had to shower up, grab some snacks, and tune in to see what was happening elsewhere. The Bisons knew they'd be in 3rd place, and UBC was either going to be tied for 6th, or alone in 7th.
After a month off for exams and Christmas holidays, the teams return to action on January 5th. The Bisons will host the Evil Monkeys, whilst the T-irds fly to the Town of Bedrock to face the Dinos.
OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES 6
REGINA COUGARS 5
Links:
LeagueStat: [Summary] : [CWHT Summary]
Boxscores: [US/CIS] : [CW]
Stories: [UofR] : [rp @CW] : [rp @UofS*]
Once again, the Banjo Cats gave the Banjo Mutts all they could handle but came up a goal short. Their celebratory moonshine will have to stay in the still for another year, I guess. Sask got off to a quick 3-1 lead, causing the Kittens to yank starting goaltender
Michael Herringer after barely 5 minutes. He gave up 3 goals on 8 shots. Regina came back to tie it at 3-3, and the game was later tied 4-4 and 5-5. Sask got the winner with just 92 seconds left.
Jordon Cooke got the win, but 5 goals on 28 shots will damage his save percentage.
Dawson MacAuley lost from the bullpen, and stopped 36 of 39 shots. Mutt forward
Andrew Johnson was the only one with 2 goals. Regina packed in a crowd of 1,020! That offer of a free pair of used socks for a lucky fan sure drew them in.
LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS 4
CALGARY DINOSAURS 3
(in overtime)
Links:
LeagueStat: [Summary] : [CWHT Summary]
Boxscores: [US/CIS] : [CW]
Stories: [UofC*] : [rp @CW*] : [UofL*]
The Hørny Ønes were down 4 men in their roster and 3-0 in the 2nd period before they rallied for an OTW. The win vaults them into 6th place and that elusive final playoff berth.
Mitch Cook had 2 goals for the Dinos, and goaltender
Jordan Papirny was working on a shutout, but in the end gave up 4 goals on 23 shots. The rally was sparked by 2 goals (including the winner) from
Connor Sanvido and the goaltending if
Garret Hughson (who stopped 29 of 32 shots). The single point leaves the Dinos two points in arrears of the Bisons in the race for 3rd.
MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS 2
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS 4
Links:
LeagueStat: [Summary] : [CWHT Summary]
Boxscores: [US/CIS] : [CW]
Stories: [UofA] : [rp @CW] : [rp @MRU]
After the Bison game was done, I was able to watch most of this one. It was one of the better games of the season so far. It doesn't hurt that the crew in Edmontown puts out an extremely high quality broadcast, either. The Bluegars held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in a very close-fought encounter. The last goal was an empty-netter, but the rest were all on the powerplay.
Zach Sawchenko got the win with 19 saves, and
Cam Lanigan took the loss with 25 saves. Don't be surprised to see the Bluegars close the season strong. This was anybody's game.
STANDINGS
OUT EAST
Ontario
Dec 02 Carleton 3 R.M.C. 0
Dec 02 Guelph 1 Windsor 4
Dec 02 Laurentian 4 Concordia 9
Dec 02 Nipissing 3 McGill 4
Dec 02 Ottawa 2 Queen's 3 (ot)
Dec 02 Toronto 2 Brock 4
Dec 02 U.Q.T.R. 2 U.O.I.T. 3
Dec 02 York 2 Ryerson 5
Atlantic
Dec 02 New Brunswick 3 Acadia 2 (ot)
Dec 02 St. F.X. 3 Moncton 2
Dec 02 U.P.E.I. 4 Saint Mary's 5
Links:
• [US/CIS S&R]
• [OUA S&R]
• [AUS S&R]
NEXT UP
Non-conference Games
Dec 09 N.A.I.T. (ACAC) at Alberta
Dec 10 Team Poland at New Brunswick
Dec 28 Guelph at Lakehead
Dec 29 Guelph at Lakehead
Dec 29 Ryerson at New Brunswick
Dec 30 McGill at Clarkson (NCAA)
Dec 30 Ryerson at New Brunswick
Dec 30 Windsor at Miami of Ohio (NCAA)
New Year Regular Season Openers
Jan 03 AUS Saint Mary's at Moncton
Jan 04 OUA Toronto at Guelph
Jan 05 CW Alberta at Manitoba
Jan 05 CW Mount Royal at Regina
Jan 05 CW Saskatchewan at Lethbridge
Jan 05 CW U.B.C. at Calgary
* indicates link not active as I post