Okotoks Bisons

History

Division titles won: 1996, 97, 2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 League Championships won: 1996, 97, 2001, 02, 03, 05, 06, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Alberta Provincial entries: 1996, 97, 2001, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 2011, 2012, 2013 Alberta Provincial titles: 2013 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 HJHL in 1991.

The Bisons have been the most successful franchise in HJHL history, capturing ten league championships, and representing the league in the Alberta Provincials eleven times, winning in 2013 and finishing as provincial runners-up in 2001, 2002 and 2012. Recently, the Bisons have frequently battled the Blackfalds Wranglers for dominance in the HJHL.

The Bisons were at their all-time high between 2011-2014. They made league history by being the first team to win four consecutive league titles in the HJHL, a feat they had come close to in 2001-2003 winning 3 consecutively. In addition the record breaking team also won their division and advanced to the Alberta Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship in each of those four consecutive years. The 2012-2013 season was arguably their best season overall. They won provincials and took home the Russ Barnes Trophy which advanced them to the Western Canadian Championships (AKA Keystone Cup) in which they eventually took home bronze. In the 2014-2015 season they ended their championship streak by being knocked out early in the playoffs. They failed to take the league championship and for the first time since 2010 did not advance to provincials. Over those 4 years the roster included many record breaking players. Phil Dillon, Matt Howatt, and Michael Savage are the only 3 players who were with the Bisons for all 4 championship seasons. Dillon ranks #1 in franchise records including the most all-time goals(98) and games played(147). He also ranks in the top 5 for other franchise records including all-time points(193), assists(95), points per game(1.313), points per season(64), and assists per season(37). Howatt ranks in the top 5 for franchise records including all-time assists(87) and games played(133). Other notable players between 2011-2014 include Dillon Loomer and Jeremy Smith who each played 3 seasons. Loomer ranks #1 in franchise records including all-time points per game(2.056), points per season(77), and goals per season(34). Loomer also ranks in the top 5 for other franchise records including all-time points(148), goals(68), and assists per season(43). Smith ranks #1 for the franchise record of all-time assists per season(47) and ranks in the top 5 for other franchise records including all-time goals per season(29), points per season(76), points per game(1.656), assists(91), penalty minutes(260), goals(63), and points(154).

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