For one period, the Banff Hockey Academy Bears played like they could hang in there with one of the top teams in the HJHL.
The team’s potential is there, said Bears forward Mikulas Novotny, and he wants the team to step up when it counts.
The Okotoks Bisons broke out with five goals in the final frame, though, to rout the Bears 8-0 on Sunday (Jan. 3). It is the Bears’ third loss in a row.
“I thought we were going to win this game to start the year,” said Novotny. “It’s 2016, let’s turn the page and win the next game.”
The Bears take on the Strathmore Wheatland Kings at the Banff Rec Centre this Friday (Jan. 8) in a game that could potentially affect playoff rankings in February.
The division rivals are currently tied for fourth with 23 points – the top six teams in both north and south divisions make the playoffs. Last year, Banff clawed into the playoffs for the first time with 27 points.
Novotny is looking forward to getting into the win column this year, but thinks the team’s mental game needs progression in the remaining 10 games of the regular season if they want a crack at extended playoff action.
“We need to stick together and realize it’s time to change things because we are a good team, that’s for sure,” Novotny said. “There’s something in our heads that makes us not step up when we’re supposed to step up and we need to fix that.”
Three “sloppy” goals in the first period of Sunday’s game lead to the team’s most competitive play during the second. Both teams held each other’s offence at bay in the middle frame.
One of the Bears’ best scoring opportunities in the second period came when Rei Kikuchi broke the D-line and got an up close shot away, but his attempt was brick-walled by Bisons goalie Matthew McDonald.
“I think we played really good in that (period). We didn’t let them score at all, we had a few chances, but we just weren’t lucky enough to score,” Novotny said. “Then the third came and we bailed out.”
The Bisons’ offence overwhelmed Banff after a quick powerplay goal 24 seconds into the third period to swing momentum early.
“I think we were supposed to be ready for this game, absolutely. There are no excuses today, but we proved we are a good team in the second period.”
The Bears close out this weekend at home Sunday (Jan. 10) against the north division’s third place Red Deer Vipers before heading out on the road against the High River Flyers, who are nipping at the Bears’ heels in the south standings.
