Calgary Bisons 6 - Airdrie Extreme 4 ( Calgary wins best of 5 series 3-0)
The Calgary Bisons have moved on to the AMBHL provincial championships for the 2nd consecutive season after completing a best of 5 series sweep over Airdrie on Monday night. The Bisons will await their opponent from the North which will either be SSAC or Lloydminster. Last nights game was a see-saw affair with Airdrie holding a 4-3 lead after the second period due to 2 goals in a span of 30 seconds late in the 2nd on goals from Barrow and Giroux. In the 3rd, the Bisons would tie it up with Brayden Brown scoring his 3rd of the game and then Braylon Shmyr scored the GWG and Merkley salted it away with about 2 minutes remaining.SSAC leads that best of 5 series 2-0 with game 3 to be played Friday night in Lloydminster and game 4 if necessary on Saturday, also in Lloydminster. If SSAC can wrap up that series, it will be the 2nd straight season the Bisons and SSAC meet in the final. Last year, SSAC earned a trip to westerns with a 3-1 series win in the best of 5.
Saskatchewan SBAAHL
Prince Albert Jr. Raiders 5 - Sask Valley Vipers 4 (Best of 3 series tied at 1-1)
The defending Saskatchewan bantam champion Prince Albert Jr. Raiders stay alive in the SBAAHL playoffs with a come from behind 5-4 victory on Monday night. Sask Valley held a 4-2 lead after the 2nd period after league scoring leader Terrell Draude scored his 2nd of the game. In the 3rd, Jordan Bryshun and Tanner Fiddler his 2nd tied things at 4-4 and then star forward Matthew Campese won it with just over 4 minutes remaining. Campese and Gunville each had 3 points for the Jr. Raiders. The 3rd and deciding game is Saturday night in Warman.
Tonight, the Balgonie Prairie Storm can punch a ticket to the SBAAHL South final with a win over the Regina Oilers. Melville and Weyburn will play game 2 of their South semi-final on Friday night in Melville.
15 comments:
Bisons were better in every aspect in this series--expected really as Airdrie not strong enough all season and were without some players--will be a tough series against north winner. Too bad Extreme player 2 handed Merkely on breakaway in final 2 mins--he scored backhand upstairs anyway and player received match penalty. This is the Bison's 3rd trip in a row to the provincial final--congrats to coach Tyler and his assistants John and Blair and trainer Alex for getting everyone ready and together at the right time. Thompson good at right time in net.
AP Matthew Meyer also had a goal for the Raiders. One can only guess that this kid was somehow overlooked by the Bantam Raiders! He is 6'+ and has scored 4 goals in five games. This kid deserves a serious look. Too bad he has played all five of his allowed AP games.
Bisons 3rd straight year to the AMBHL finals! nice.
congrats to the Bisons,
I can bet BWC wishes they could have Braylon Shmyr back in their attempts to compete with Cloverdales fire power.
Great season young man!
(regardless of what a few people say, you still make all of BC proud!)
The Bisons defense will really need to play better in the next round. I believe almost all the goals the Xtreme got were the result of defensive zone turnovers.
The Bisons defense seems very nonchalant with the puck in front of their own net, and they seem to want to hang on to it and handle the puck rather than make the quick out.
If they can stop the turnovers, nad move the puck, they have a great shot at winning the next series. If they continue to play like they did against the Xtreme, especially considering that SSAC (assuming) has more firepower than Airdrie, it will be SSAC in 3!
That 2-hander from Tristan Thompson on Merkley was a disgrace. Complete horse-sh!t!!
Braylon Shmyr has been a huge asset for the Bisons...he has the most pure skill that I have seen for years and could have a 30 minute video of highlight real goals this year. He is a quality kid, great teamate and was huge all year for the Bisons. Alberta is proud of him to! BWC loss was the Bisons gain.
Any idea what Thompson did to get the match?
Merkley had a clean breakaway in the last 2 minutes of the game and he wound up as hard as he could and 2-hand slashed Merkley in the arm. He could have broke his arm. The game was over at that point and there was no need for it. Win or lose you need to show respect. Seems like it may be a symptom of the style of coaching? ...in any case Bisons will move forward look to the next round.
funny thing is Merkley and Thompson played spring together for a couple of seasons.......Thompson left the ice shouting expletives at the ref
Re: the two handed slash on Merkley. Yes..it was wrong and for that Thompson was penalized...which may jeopardize his AB Cup play. But lay off already...he's 14 years old and he's not the first nor the last to get a penalty of this sort. I saw a Bison player X check an Xtreme player in the head in the third period in front of the net without a call. Amazingly...Merkley survived...I know it's hard to believe. I saw him smiling when he came out of the dressing room without any ice on his arm and if I had not watched the game I wouldn't have known he was ever injured. It's a tough game and sometimes players get carried away. I wish as adults we all carried the same composure the kids do...have you been to Friday night shinny lately?? So how about we do everyone a favour and relax and prepare for the Final against the SSAC.
I agree the ap Meyer should have been on the team. Along with 2 or 3 other players. Would have been a much BIGGER and better team. Go Figure.
PA Bantam AA Raiders...Go figure? It is called hockey politics and I'd say it was upfront and centre in PA this selection season. Not too familiar with PA players, but I am sure if there was one left off the roster, there were likely others. Seems like PA was playing for next year. Not sure that is fair to the boys that deserved to be there and the second years that did make it.
The PA boys must be alright. Upset a top three team in the first round and then went distance with hottest team in Western Canada and could be in a final in a day. Good luck to Raiders.
Who do you think the hottest team in Western Canada is. I am hoping you dont think Sask Valley is that team. There are so many dillusional posts on this website. And saying that about Sask Valley is one of them.
FINAL, far from it. The real team showed up.!!!! Can't wait for MIDGET looking forward to playing against some of those so called AA players. Don't be shy to go in the corners, men don't play within the faceoff dots. Good luck next year!!!
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