Senior captain Wilson Anderle put up 6 points on the week
Senior Jake Michalko takes on the Viking defense, Michalko finished with 4 points
The Buffalo Bison faced a hectic schedule last week. With the bone-chilling weather cancelling Monday and Tuesday’s school activities, the Bison were forced to adjust their routines and play with very little practice time.
On Wednesday, the Bison travelled to Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake to face the Moose in an important conference game after the game was scratched the evening before.
The Bison could not find the consistent effort and grit it takes to win tight games and found themselves on the losing end of a 2-1 game. MAML’s Mason Vetsch and Oliver Winsor scored first period goals and the Moose kept the Bison scorers at bay. The Bison could not beat Darien Jones until senior Justin Laven scored for Buffalo with seven seconds left in regulation.
Despite outshooting the Moose 39-23, Bison head coach Aaron Johnson was let down by his team’s intensity, “I’m disappointed for the guys because they couldn’t overcome the adversity of the week but also because they weren’t able to play their best. We let a chance to get better slip away because we couldn’t play with the effort it takes to win. It’s a tough lost.” The loss dropped the Bison to 7-2 in the conference.
On Thursday night the Bison hosted the River Falls (WI) Wildcats in the teams’ first ever meeting. The Bison utilized the quick turnaround to get over the previous night. The Bison played with the sustained effort they were missing against MAML and beat the Wildcats 6-1.
Senior assistant captain Loren Lindvall got the game started with a goal just 55 seconds into the game. Lindvall carried the puck across the blueline moved laterally and fired a wrister as goalie Logan Otterson opened his 5-hole.
After the Wildcats tied the game, Jake Ramsey continued his strong play scoring on his own rebound late in the first period. Gunnar Goodmanson collected the assist on the play.
Junior defensemen Reed Morehouse scored consecutive goals in the second period. The first came on a nifty fake shot and wrister with assist to Wilson Anderle. Morehouse’s second came on a classic tic-tac-toe passing play. On the power-play, Goodmanson received a pass at the top of the right circle, rolled to the center blueline, and fed Ramsey at the bottom of the left circle. Ramsey quick touched a backdoor pass through the penalty-killers to Morehouse driving the net.
Ramsey scored his second of the game on another backdoor pass. This time the assists went to Anderle and Hunter Thompson. Thompson finished the scoring early in the third on a deft net-front tip. Lindvall and Michael Sawdey assisted on the play.
Mikey Otten stopped ten of eleven shots and earned his eleventh win of the season.
Coach Johnson saw positive improvement from the night before and was pleased with the in-game progress. “We worked hard throughout the game but we played with better poise and purpose as the game went on.”
Saturday brought another newcomer to the Buffalo Civic Center as new Mississippi-8 member North Branch played its first game against the Bison. North Branch has really struggled in the new conference and little changed on Saturday. The Bison scored early and often as they piled up a season high 13 goals and held the Vikings scoreless.
Scoring highlights included hat-tricks from Thompson and Jerame Schuetzle. Jake Michalko scored once and assisted on three others. Morehouse had four helpers while Goodmanson collected six assists. Anderle and Ramsey each had three points. Nearly every senior collected points. Sophomore goalie Ben Zitur earned his second win and shutout.
Saturday was Senior Night and the Buffalo honored eleven Bison hockey players. The seniors were celebrated before and after the first period and all eleven played a role in the win. “It is so important to recognize and honor the players that have given so much to the hockey program,” coach Johnson explained, “these guys have welcomed our staff into the program and set a high standard for the future.”
The Bison face-off with St. Francis and Hopkins this week and have just four remaining games.
Morehouse (25) collected 6 points while Thompson (11) had 7 during the week
Thompson scored a hat trick on Senior Night
