The Carstar Okotoks Bisons are currently tied for first place with an 11-3-0 in the Southern Division of the HJHL with the Medicine Hat Cubs during the 2024-2025 season.
Head coach of the Bisons Brad Cobb is happy with how the team has performed with a strong turnover from the previous years, though he still sees room to improve, which should be an exciting prospect for the Bisons fan base.
"Every year the Cubs have always been a really good challenge for our hockey club, and always been really good hockey games when we have played. It's another year, same kind of battle with them and we like playing against them," Cobb said.
With the turnover of players being higher than in recent years, Cobb said it was important for the new players to get involved with the returning players to build some chemistry.
He mentioned that he likes his players to shoot pucks instead of making pretty plays, and while it's been a challenge for some of the new guys, they have slowly but surely picked his style of hockey up.
Returning player Jack Snashall was awarded the team captain honours with veterans Caden Scott, Adam Kirkpatrick, and Easton Dean donning a letter as well.
"It's huge to have them all returning back to play again. They have gone through the trenches and the highs and the lows of winning throughout their last four years here. There were leadership groups before them that showed them the way in how to be successful. It's their opportunity to shine and be good leaders to the existing group here and they have already done a tremendous job," he explained.
While Snashall has just been breaking out and getting on the board with some points, Cobb has been loving what he brings this year. He's been doing the small things right, playing sound defensive hockey, and being all around the net.
Cobb said it was only a matter of time until some of those plays made their way into the net, and they have been as Snashall has three goals in two games.
A new member of the Herd, Sam Callahan has also made a strong impact on the team since joining from the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL last year, producing the league's best 18 goals and is coming off of a weekend that saw him rack up seven points in two games, including five goals in one game.
"I have known Sam since he was 13 years old, so I knew that if had the opportunity to get him to play for us, which we were lucky enough to get, that he could do some really good work in this league with his effort and his shot. I'm not surprised on what he's been doing, for sure," Cobb added.
Two other players that should be highlighted are newcomers to the Bisons McCallum Bakken and Brandon Jarman as they came over from their Foothills rivals, the High River Flyers.
"Huge, they are huge assets. They have always been hard-working players, hard-nosed kids to play against. They are starting to finally find their form and their spot on the Bisons, and getting opportunities to be successful. We are super excited to have both of those kids on our team," explained Cobb.
Cobb is also very happy with the goaltending displays of 20-year-old Dylan Walker and 18-year-old rookie Connor White. It was important for the Bisons to have veteran leadership in the net with Walker and to add youth to the position with White.
Recently, the Herd also brought back former players Kegan Law and Seamus Garagan. Law helps stabilize the backend for Okotoks, while Garagan adds offensive skill at forward. Both players know what it takes to win which is why the Bisons welcomed them back with open arms. In the two games Garagan has played in, he has posted a goal and two assists.