Okotoks Bisons
{{Short description|Ice hockey team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox hockey team
| team = Okotoks Bisons
| colour = #00468c
| colour text = white
| logo = Okotoks Bisons logo.png
| city = Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
| league = Heritage Junior B Hockey League
| conference =
| division = South
| founded = {{Start date|1985}}–86
| arena = Murray Arena
| colours = Navy Blue, red, white
{{Colour box|#00468c}} {{Colour box|#B91400}} {{Colour box|white}}
| coach = {{Flagicon|CAN}} Brad Cobb
| GM = {{Flagicon|CAN}} Trevor McFarlane
| website = [http://www.okotoksbisons.com/ www.okotoksbisons.com/]
| name1 = Okotoks 85ers
| dates1 = 1985–1990
| name2 = Foothills Bisons
| dates2 = 1990–2002
| name3 = Okotoks Bisons
| dates3 = 2002–present
}}
The Okotoks Bisons are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League (HJHL). They play their home games at Murray Arena.
History
:Division titles won: 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022, 2023, 2024
:League Championships won: 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022, 2023, 2024
:Alberta Provincial entries: 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023, 2024
:Alberta Provincial titles: 2013, 2024
:Keystone Cup titles: none
Founded in 1985, the Bisons were originally known as the Okotoks 85ers and played in the Southern Alberta Junior Hockey League. They moved to the Calgary Junior Hockey League in 1989 – changing to the Foothills Bisons one year later – before settling in the Heritage Junior B Hockey League (HJHL) in 1991.
The Bison’s have been the most successful franchise in HJHL history, earning 20 League Final Appearances, 17 1st Place Finishes, 14 HJHL Playoff Championships, 10 Provincial Medals and 1 Western Canadian Championship Medal. The program is also seen as one of the best across Canada with recent national rankings of #1 in 2023-24, #2 2022-23 & #4 in 2021-22.
The Bison’s were at their all-time high between 2011 and 2014 where they made league history by being the first and only team since to win four consecutive league titles in the HJHL. A feat they had come close to in 2001–2003 winning three consecutively. Today, the Bison’s look to capture their fourth consecutive league championships as they have most recently been crowned League Champs in 2022, 2023 & 2024.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||||||
| Season || GP || W || L || T || OTL || Pts || GF || GA || PIM || Finish || Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | 37 | 33 | 3 | 1 | — | 67 | 304 | 97 | — | 1st, Overall | HJHL Champions |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 1996–97 | 36 | 30 | 6 | — | — | 60 | 233 | 110 | — | 1st, Overall | HJHL Champions |
| 1997–98 | 37 | 25 | 12 | 0 | — | 50 | 224 | 154 | — | 4th, Overall | Lost in Semifinals |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 1998–99 | 37 | 27 | 8 | 2 | — | 56 | 214 | 116 | — | 3rd, Overall | Lost in Finals |
| 1999–00 | 37 | 32 | 3 | 2 | — | 66 | 306 | 122 | — | 2nd, Overall | Lost in Semifinals |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2000–01 | 37 | 30 | 5 | 2 | — | 62 | 285 | 115 | — | 2nd, Overall | HJHL Champions |
| 2001–02 | 38 | 30 | 7 | 1 | — | 61 | 231 | 116 | — | 2nd, Overall | HJHL Champions |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2002–03 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 0 | — | 60 | 207 | 76 | — | 1st, South | HJHL Champions |
| 2003–04 | 36 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 241 | 75 | — | 1st, South | Lost in Finals |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2004–05 | 37 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 314 | 90 | — | 1st, South | HJHL Champions |
| 2005–06 | 38 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 73 | 352 | 74 | 1406 | 1st, South | HJHL Champions, 2–0 (Vipers) |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2006–07 | 36 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 62 | 210 | 112 | 1486 | 1st, South | Lost Round Robin Finals, 1–3 (Wranglers) |
| 2007–08 | 36 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 47 | 166 | 132 | 1225 | 4th, South | Lost semifinals, 3–4 (Generals) |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2008–09 | 36 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 194 | 135 | 1122 | 3rd, South | Lost semifinals, 3–4 (Generals) |
| 2009–10 | 36 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 63 | 178 | 83 | 1100 | 1st, South | Lost semifinals, 1–3 (Vipers) |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2010–11 | 36 | 25 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 172 | 103 | 995 | 1st, South | HJHL Champions, 2–1 (Wranglers) |
| 2011–12 | 38 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 262 | 130 | — | 1st, South | HJHL Champions, vs. (Thrashers) Russ Barnes Trophy Alberta Silver Medal |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2012–13 | 38 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 69 | 223 | 95 | — | 1st, South | HJHL Champions, 3–0 (Vipers) Russ Barnes Trophy – Alberta Champion Keystone Cup – Bronze Medal |
| 2013–14 | 36 | 26 | 9 | — | 1 | 53 | 165 | 116 | — | 1st, South | HJHL Champions, 3–2 (Wranglers) Russ Barnes Trophy eliminated pool round |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2014–15 | 38 | 23 | 13 | — | 2 | 48 | 162 | 123 | ? | 3rd, South | Won Div. Qualifier, 0–2 (Academy Bears) Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 (Generals) Lost Div. Finals, 0–4 (Copperheads) |
| 2015–16 | 38 | 29 | 9 | — | 0 | 58 | 214 | 119 | — | 2nd, South | Lost div. semi-finals, 2–4 (Copperheads) |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2016–17 | 38 | 26 | 11 | — | 1 | 53 | 194 | 135 | — | 2nd of 7, South 4 of 14, HJHL | Lost div. semi-finals, 3–4 (Copperheads) |
| 2017–18 | 36 | 24 | 10 | — | 2 | 50 | 179 | 115 | — | 2nd of 7, South 3 of 13, HJHL | Div. Quarterfinals — bye Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 (Generals) Lost Div. Finals, 1–4 (Copperheads) |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2018–19 | 38 | 27 | 7 | — | 4 | 38 | 171 | 93 | — | 2nd of 7, South 4 of 14, HJHL | Lost div. semi-finals, 1–4 (Generals) |
| 2019–20 | 38 | 35 | 2 | — | 1 | 71 | 232 | 84 | — | 1st of 7, South 1st of 14, HJHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 (Flyers) Incomplete Div. Finals, 2–1 (Generals) |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2020–21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | – | 0 | 6 | 18 | 4 | – | colspan="3" | Remaining season lost to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2021–22 | 36 | 33 | 2 | — | 1 | 67 | 248 | 67 | — | 1st of 7, South 1st of 14, HJHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 (Wheat Kings) Won Division Finals 4–2 (Cubs) Won League Finals 3–0 (Generals) HJBHL CHAMPIONS Advance to Russ Barnes Championships |
| style="background:#eeeeee"
| 2022–23 | 38 | 35 | 3 | — | 0 | 70 | 188 | 76 | — | 1st of 6, South 1st of 14, HJHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 (Wheat Kings) Won Division Finals 4–0 (Cubs) Won League Finals 3–0 (Wranglers) HJBHL CHAMPIONS Host Russ Barnes Championships |
| 2023–24 | 38 | 34 | 3 | — | 1 | 69 | 185 | 68 | — | 1st of 6, South 1st of 13, HJHL | Won Quarterfinals, 3-1 (Flyers) Won Semifinals 3–0 (Rams) Won League Finals 4-2 (Wranglers) HJBHL CHAMPIONS Advance to Russ Barnes Championships |
| 2024–25 | 38 | 32 | 5 | — | 1 | 65 | 186 | 82 | — | 1st of 6, South 2nd of 13, HJHL | Won Quarterfinals, 3-1 (Generals) Won Semifinals 3–1 (Cubs) Lost League Finals 1-3 (Wranglers) |
Russ Barnes Trophy
Alberta Jr B Provincial Championships
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#dddddd;" |
|Year | Round Robin | Record | Standing | Semifinal | Bronze Medal Game | Gold Medal Game |
| 2003 | W, St. Paul Canadiens 5–2 W, Calgary Royal Gold 3–1 W, Spruce Grove Regals 6–3 | 3–0–0 | n/a | L, Fort St. John Huskies 1–3 | W, Lloydminster Bandits 7–5 Bronze Medalists | n/a |
| 2005 | L, North Peace Navigators 2–4 W, Calgary Bruins 7–0 T, Beverly Warriors 4–4 | 1–1–1 | n/a | L, Calgary Stampeders 4–6 | L, North Peace Navigators 1–3 | n/a |
| 2006 | W, N Edmonton Red Wings 5–3 W, Calgary Stampeders 6–2 T, Grande Prairie Wheelers 6–6 | 2–0–1 | n/a | L, Red Deer Vipers 2–3 | W, N Edmonton Red Wings 5–4 Bronze Medalists | n/a |
| 2011 | L, North Peace Navigators 6–8 L, Beaumont Chiefs 3–6 W, Calgary Blazers 4–2 | 1–2–0 | n/a | Did not qualify | n/a | n/a |
| background-color:#dddddd;"
| 2012 | L, Whitecourt Wolverines 3–4 W, Spruce Grove Regals 2–3 W, Killam 6–0 | 1–2–0 | n/a | W, Edmonton Royals 5–2 | n/a | L, Whitecourt Wolverines 1–5 Silver Medalists |
| 2013 | T, Wainwright Bisons, 2–2 W, Sherwood Park Knights, 6–2 W, Calgary Rangers, 7–1 | 2–0–1 | n/a | W, Red Deer Vipers, 7–2 | n/a | W, Sherwood Park Knights, 8–4 GOLD MEDALIST Advance to Keystone Cup |
| 2022 | W, Wainwright Bisons, 4–0 T, Sherwood Park Knights, 6–6 W, CBHA Rangers, 2–0 | 2–0–1 | 1st of 4 Pool B | L, Fort St. John Huskies 2–5 | W, Sherwood Park Knights 5–2 Bronze Medalists | n/a |
| 2023 HOST | W, Fort St. John Huskies, 5–4 W, Sylvan Lake Wranglers, 4–0 W, Sherwood Park Knights, 6–3 L, Wainwright Bisons 4–5 | 3–1–1 | 1st of 6 | no semi's | n/a | L, Wainwright Bisons 1–3 Silver Medalists |
| 2024 | align=left| W, St. Albert Merchants, 6-5 L, La Crete Lumber Barons, 1-5 W, North Peace Navigators, 5-3 W, Wainwright Bisons, 4-3 | 3-1–0 | 2nd of 6 | n/a | n/a | Won 6-3 La Crete Lumber Barons Gold Medalists' |
Awards and trophies
HJHL Championship
- 1995–96, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2021–22, 2022-23, 2023-24
ALBERTA Championship
- 2013, 2024
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.okotoksbisons.com/}}
{{Russ Barnes Trophy}}