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2010-2011 Varsity
Recent Varsity Team News
Varsity Hockey team struggles to play complete game
“We played great for two periods of every game,” Buffalo Boys Hockey Coach Mike MacMillan said about the team’s recent holiday tournament in Duluth.
Unfortunately, there are three periods in hockey and Buffalo’s incomplete effort led the team to two losses and a tie in three tournament games.
“We’re not putting three periods together and we need to compete for 51 minutes when that puck drops,” said Co-Head Coach Cory Laylin.
Laylin said that the coaching staff has done its part to ensure that the team is ready to play each and every game. Now it’s up to the players themselves to put forth a full-game effort for each other.
“We’re trying to figure it out,” he said. “This is an issue that the boys are trying to figure out in the locker room. We’re stressing that they need to play as a team and bring it every time.”
The Duluth Tournament began on Tuesday, Dec. 28, with a game against Rosemount. Buffalo dominated the first period and led 1-0 after an unassisted goal from senior Christian Illies. But Rosemount took over in the second period and scored three unanswered goals (two on power plays) to take a 3-1 lead.
“The second period we basically gave them the game,” MacMillan said.
Buffalo got one goal back in the third period when junior Tyler Burg scored on a power play (junior Jack Becker and sophomore Aaron Rouse assisted), but it wasn’t enough and Rosemount won 3-2.
The next day Buffalo took on New Prague and came out flat in the first period as the Trojans took a 3-0 lead, but the Bison responded well in the fourth period and tied the game with three straight goals. Scoring for Buffalo were senior Tony Thein (power play), junior Sam Klein, and senior Cody Elletson.
Klein added a second power play goal early in the fourth period to give the Bison a 4-3 lead, but Buffalo couldn’t hold off the Trojans, who scored to tie the game in the final three minutes of regulation.
Buffalo and New Prague played an overtime period, but neither team scored. MacMillan said a shootout was held because of the tournament bracket, but the end result for the record books was a tie.
Blake Schmidt started in net but was replaced by Tim Harkness in the second period. Harkness stayed in goal for the remainder of the game.
On Thursday, Dec. 30, Buffalo played its final tournament game against Andover and lost 3-2. The Bison fell behind 2-0 before Rouse got the team on the scoreboard with a second period power play goal (assisted by Becker). Andover scored a power play goal late in the second period to take a 3-1 lead, and the Bison got one back late in the third to make it a 3-2 final. Junior Max Willard scored the final Bison goal with assists from Klein and Rouse.
“It’s a journey, it’s a process, and they’re getting there,” Laylin said. “We learned a lot about ourselves (on the trip). The close games are about building character.”
The Bison are now 2-7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Mississippi 8 Conference. Conference play resumes this week with a game against the Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake Moose on Thursday, Jan. 6. The game will be played in Monticello beginning at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Buffalo will host St. Michael-Albertville at 1 p.m.
Article courtesy of the Wright County Journal-Press
Bison Kick Off Season with 2010 Scrimmage Fest:
The Bison Hockey program hosted the 2010 Scrimmage Fest this year to kick off their season by bringing in again some of the top programs in the Metro and Outstate. This years field included: Edina, Maple Grove, Wayzata, Blaine, Benilde-St.Margaret, Rochester Century, Andover, Orono, Crookston, Armstrong, Hopkins, Providence , Spring Lake Park and Rosemount.
The Bison squared off with: Benilde, Spring Lake Park, Rochester, Crookston , Andover and Armstrong .
Of the teams in the Scrimmage Fest seven were pre-season top 20 in A and AA ratings.
Bison Varsity and JV Kick Off Season in Wayzata Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Tournament:
The Bison Varsity opened up the season with a non-conference game against pre-season #1 and last years state champs Edina in the Turkey Trot Tournament at Wayzata. The Bison lost 6-1 after trailing the Hornets 2-1 after two periods. Scoring for the Bison was Senior Tony Thein. More info can be found on: www.mnhockeyhub.com
In the 3rd place game the Bison fell to 10th ranked Maple Grove in a hard faught game. The Bison and the Crimson were tied after one period 1-1, but fell behind 4-1 after two periods. The Bison struck first in the 3rd making it 2-4 but at the 1:30 mark the Bison pulled for an extra attacker and the Crimson scored an open net goal at the 1 minute mark. Scoring for the Bison were Senior Cody Elletson in the first and Tyler Burg in the 3rd.
The Bison JV finished the Turkey Trot with a 0-1-1 record after facing Edina in the first round in a 0-6 loss the Bison bounced back with a 1 -1 overtime tie with Maple Grove in the 3rd place game. The Bison had a goal called back in the OT.
The Bison Varsity face’s Section 7 – Cloquet Lumberjack’s in its home opener at the Civic Center this Saturday at 3:00pm with JV at 1:00pm. All Bison Youth Players will get in free to game with a Jersey!!
Bison Alumni Report
The following Bison are continuing to play this season at the Pro, Junior level and College Level.
Playing this season at the Pro Level are:
2003 Captain – David Marshall – Rochester American’s of the AHL.
Playing at the College Level are:
2006 Graduate – Nick Mattson – Northland College
2007 Graduate – Ross Trousdale – St.Olaf College
2008 Graduate – Jon Zitur – Augsburg College
2009 Graduate – Alec Ackmann – Gustavus College
Player at the Junior A Level are:
2009 Graduate – Zach Blaisdell – Springfield of the NAHL
2009 Graduate – Cole Meyer – Port Huron of the NAHL
2010 Graduate – Buzz Tryegeseth – Alaska of the NAHL
2010 Graduate – Josh Gaughan – Alexandria of the NAHL
Bison 2010 Coaching Staff Updates and News:
The Bison open the season with some new faces and responsiblilities behind the varsity and junior varsity bench for the 2010-11 season. The biggest move is Cory Laylin(1st) will be joining Coach MacMillan as Co-Head Coach of the Bison. Coach Laylin has spent 16 years playing professionally in Europe. He has been back in Minnesota for the past 2 years and is current Development Director for Maple Grove Youth Hockey. Cory was a 4 year letter winner at the University of Minnesota prior to playing in Europe. He spend the past two seasons as assistant coach at Hamline and this past fall was assistant coach in Upper Midwest Elite League. He has also worked with Coach MacMillan with Minnesota Hockey High Performance Programs. Coach MacMillan(16th) was recently appointed, USA Hockey National Coach-In-Chief and currently serves as Minnesota Hockey High Performance(Player Development) Director.
Rounding out the Bison Varsity staff will be 5th year assistant Dave Carothers and Tom “Doc” Ahrens. Doc was previous JV Head Coach and one of the founders of BYHA and Bison HS Hockey will be serving as 1st year Varsity Assistant.
The Bison will have a new JV Head Coach this season – Scott Goodmanson will take over the reigns after serving as Doc Ahren’s Assistant Coach. Scott has spent the past 8 years coaching at every level of youth hockey and being part of the high school staff. Joining Coach Goodmanson behind the bench will be former Bison Captain and 2006 Alumni Corey Meyer. Corey spent the past 4 years at Gustavus College and will be a great asset as a former Alumni!
The Bison staff is rounded out by Goalie Coach – Eddie Roethke and Strength and Conditioning Coach Jason Karn. Coach Roethke also serves as the HS Girls Assistant Varsity Coach and Coach Karn is the Head of the Buffalo High School Physical Education Department and Track Coach. Volunteer staff thi s year will be Shane Steinmetz and Tyler Goodmanson.
Buffalo Youth Hockey Days!
The first - Buffalo Youth Hockey Day - will be Saturday, December 4th at 3:00pm against the Cloquet Lumberjacks!!
60 players and 17 business’s participated in this years Bison Hockey Golf Classic at the Wild Marsh Golf Club in Buffalo to benefit high school boys, girls and youth hockey. The winning team consisted of 2 former Bison and one future Bison. The Zitur Team won the tournament with a 18 under par! The Zitur team consisted of Former Bison and youth coach Dave Zitur, Future Bison Ben Zitur and current Augsburg goalie and 2008 Bison Captain John Zitur. Other Bison players, parents and alumni participated in the event. Current Bison tee’d it up – Tommy Olson, Joe Hayes, and Reid Trousdale. Also working the event were: Sam Klein, Nick Jones, Jack Becker, Cody Elletson and Tony Thein. Former Bison on the course in addition to the Zitur’s were: Mitch and Davis Ackmann, Josh Wachter and Ross Trousdale. Bison Varsity Coaches also participated – Dave Carothers and his team finished 2nd with a 17 under and Coach MacMillan’s team trailed at 10 under. Coach Goodmanson sponsored a team and also the Hole In One contest through Ryan Chev.
Bison Rap Up Summer Training
- 08/15/2010, 1:53pm (CDT)
