Okotoks Bisons
Encyclopedia
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.
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 HJHL in 1991.
The Bisons have been the most successful franchise in HJHL history, capturing seven league championships, and representing the league in the Alberta Provincials
eight times, finishing as provincial runner-ups in both 2001 and 02. Recently, the Bisons have frequently battled the Airdrie Thunder
for dominance in the HJHL.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Okotoks
Okotoks, Alberta
Okotoks is a town situated on the Sheep River, south of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The town is a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership, a cooperative of communities within the Calgary Region. Okotoks has become a popular bedroom community for the City of Calgary...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They are members of the South Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League
Heritage Junior B Hockey League
The Heritage Junior B Hockey League is a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Alberta, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The HJHL was founded in 1987 and is made up of teams from southern and central Alberta...
(HJHL). They play their home games at Murray Arena.
History
- Division titles won: 1996, 97, 2003, 04, 05, 06, 07
- League Championships won: 1996, 97, 2001, 02, 03, 05, 06
- Alberta ProvincialAlberta Provincial Junior B Hockey ChampionshipThe Russ Barnes Trophy is a trophy awarded by Hockey Alberta to the Alberta Junior B hockey champion. The winner moves on to the Keystone Cup Western Canada championship.-Tournament Organization:...
entries: 1996, 97, 2001, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 - Alberta Provincial titles: none (best finish: Silver in 2001 and 2002)
- Keystone CupKeystone CupThe Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
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
Calgary Junior Hockey League
The Calgary Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" ice hockey league based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is sanctioned by Hockey Canada, and operated by Hockey Calgary...
in 1989 - changing to the Foothills Bisons one year later - before settling in the HJHL in 1991.
The Bisons have been the most successful franchise in HJHL history, capturing seven league championships, and representing the league in the Alberta Provincials
Alberta Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship
The Russ Barnes Trophy is a trophy awarded by Hockey Alberta to the Alberta Junior B hockey champion. The winner moves on to the Keystone Cup Western Canada championship.-Tournament Organization:...
eight times, finishing as provincial runner-ups in both 2001 and 02. Recently, the Bisons have frequently battled the Airdrie Thunder
Airdrie Thunder
The Airdrie Thunder are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League...
for dominance in the HJHL.
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| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 Red Deer Vipers The Red Deer Vipers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League . They play their home games at Red Deer Arena.- History :... ) |
| 2006–07 | 36 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 62 | 210 | 112 | 1486 | 1st, South | Lost in Round Robin Finals, 1-3 (Wranglers Blackfalds Wranglers The Blackfalds Wranglers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Blackfalds, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League... ) |
| 2007–08 | 36 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 47 | 166 | 132 | 1225 | 4th, South | Lost in HJHL Semifinals, 3-4 (Generals Cochrane Generals The Cochrane Generals are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League... ) |
| 2008–09 | 36 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 194 | 135 | 1122 | 3rd, South | Lost in HJHL Semifinals, 3-4 (Generals Cochrane Generals The Cochrane Generals are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League... ) |
| 2009–10 | 36 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 63 | 178 | 83 | 1100 | 1st, South | Lost in HJHL Semifinals, 1-3 (Vipers Red Deer Vipers The Red Deer Vipers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League . They play their home games at Red Deer Arena.- History :... ) |
| 2010–11 | 36 | 25 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 172 | 103 | 995 | 1st, South | HJHL Champions, 2-1 (Wranglers Blackfalds Wranglers The Blackfalds Wranglers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Blackfalds, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League... ) |