Written by: Scott Savard
High River, AB (December 5, 2025) – The High River Flyers couldn’t conquer their Foothills rivals in the Carstar Okotoks Bisons, as the Bisons took the final meeting with a convincing 8-3 win over the Flock to take the season series 3-2.
Erich Baxter made the start for the Flyers, making 27 saves in the Flyers’ first game of December. Baxter would face 34 shots in the first two periods alone. Carson Jerome tended the goal for the Bisons and only had to make 16 saves for the win.
The first period is one where the Flyers will try to forget as the Bisons went up 4-0 by the 11-04 mark of the first frame. Former Flyers Brandon Jarman and Jonah Thomas would each collect a goal, with Nathan Flanagan and Zephyr Laplante adding a goal each. The Flock answered back with a power play marker courtesy of assistant captain Isaac Cayetano, with assistant captains Lucas Hughes and Ethan Burgeson picking up the helpers.
The Bisons took back their four-goal lead in the second period, with Hunter Cobb putting the puck past the Flyers’ netminder. Former Bisons McCallum Bakken got revenge by answering back just over two minutes later with a shorthanded unassisted goal. Dryden Harding gave the Bisons a five-goal lead to close out the second period as he added two goals before the buzzer.
Flanagan added his second goal of the night 5:50 into the third period to give the Bisons a commanding 8-2 lead. Tempers would flare between the two as former Flyers, Thomas and Lucas Gough, both got into tilts with Grayson Griffith and Drew Armstrong. Owen Campigotto and Noah Fontana would also exchange some fists as the Fotthills rivalry boiled over. After everything was settled, Liam Canasa responded with his first career HJHL goal just before the 10-minute mark of the final period. Emerett Norleen would pick up the lone assist.
Tomorrow night, each HJHL team has the night off as the 2025-2026 HJHL All-Star game will be in full swing in Strathmore.
