Skip to content

BHA edges Stettler in junior B play

Stellar goaltending. Three solid forward lines. Depth on defence. Although it’s early, it appears the Banff Hockey Academy may have the ingredients for a playoff-bound team.
BHA goaltender Dan Slater shuts the door on the Stettler attacker Sunday during Banff’s 3-2 win.
BHA goaltender Dan Slater shuts the door on the Stettler attacker Sunday during Banff’s 3-2 win.

Stellar goaltending. Three solid forward lines. Depth on defence.

Although it’s early, it appears the Banff Hockey Academy may have the ingredients for a playoff-bound team.

The BHA Bears went undefeated over the weekend, highlighted with a 3-2 win over Stettler on Sunday (Oct. 23) at the Fenlands Rec Centre.

Kyle Stephan scored twice and goaltender Dan Plater made 39 saves in the win, which improves the team’s record to 3-7 in the Alberta Junior Heritage Hockey League.

“Slowly we’re building some confidence and making better plays. In our first six games we played with a lot of apprehension. I think they’ve gotten used to what’s going on,” said BHA president Bill Doherty.

The Banff squad started off slowly as Stettler dominated play, firing 14 shots at Plater, who was stellar between the pipes. The team managed to weather the storm, but Stettler managed to score the only goal of the period.

Zack Wildman opened scoring for Banff with a highlight reel goal, breaking through the defence with deft stickhandling, switching from forehand to backhand before sending a perfect shot between the Stettler goalie’s legs. The rugged player has added more skill to his game and had eight points over the weekend, as the Stettler team had no answer for his skill set.

Stephan then took matters into his own hands minutes later when he walked around the Stettler defence and roofed a perfectly-placed shot to make it 2-1.

Stettler tied it up, but Stephan struck again when he grabbed a loose puck on the Stettler goalmouth to make it 3-2. That proved to be all Banff needed, as they held onto the lead.

Doherty said the team played a gritty game, which led to a successful weekend and hopefully a successful season.

“We were strong in the gritty areas,” Doherty said. “This kind of result is realistic. Our goal is to make the playoffs.”

He pointed to several positives, such as the play of Plater.

“Dan played a fabulous game. He was a game breaker. We think we have, with Dan, probably the best goalie in the league and he’s backed up by someone who will challenge that statement in Spencer Gunning,” Doherty said.

He was also happy with his offence, which is more balanced this season. Last year’s leading scorer Mitch Humphries was out of the lineup, and other players stepped up.

“Stephan played well. He’s a talented young man and he’s learning where to take the puck,” Doherty said.

Stephan was born in Banff, but moved away at the age of six. However, he seems to have found his touch in scoring goals for the academy.

“I feel like I’m coming home,” Stephan said. “We have an unbelievable setup here.”

Self-described as an ‘all around player,’ he showed flashes of offensive and defensive acumen.

“I like to give hits, take hits, play gritty with some skill,” Stephan said.

Wildman, a punishing hitter with a newfound nose for the net, is happy with his new role.

“I changed it up so I’m more of a goal scorer now. Before I was more of a grinder, but had to switch it up. I have a lot of help from linemates,” Wildman said.

He’s impressed with this year’s squad, which is showing promise earlier than last season. Doherty said the fact there are several returning players has helped.

“Those guys are contributing to the culture in the dressing room. Also, the guys are proud of this home.”

Injuries have struck the team, as they played without Humphries, Chris Nelson and Bungo Mizusaki.

The team also had to contend with a 20-minute delay in the third period when the fire alarm went off at the arena. Protecting their skates with their socks, the players had to exit the building and wait outside until the alarm was shut off.


Rocky Mountain Outlook

About the Author: Rocky Mountain Outlook

The Rocky Mountain Outlook is Bow Valley's No. 1 source for local news and events.
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks