High River, AB (September 26, 2025) – The High River Flyers took the first meeting between the Foothills teams, taming the Okotoks Bisons 6-4 tonight at Bob Snodgrass Rec Plex.
The win for the Flock marks the first victory of the 2025-2026 HJHL season and extended the Bisons’ losing streak to three games. The next time the two Foothills teams meet is on October 18, in Okotoks.
“That’s a big win, it feels amazing,” Flyers Head Coach and GM Jeff Gardner said after the win. “Faced a lot of adversity early on in the season, we needed this one. The boys and I were pretty jacked up, and I think we’re just going to continue to work now. The Flyers have always been a team that has gotten better throughout the year, but to have a starting point like this, it’s freaking amazing.”
Kaiden Fulton made the start for the Flyers and was solid in net, making key saves at important times, including stopping Seamus Garagan on a penalty shot late in the third period, right after the Flyers had tied the game. Gabriel Bergeron was the netminder for the Bisons.
“Kaiden was amazing tonight. He’s a veteran presence back there. When things get a little unsettled, he finds a way to settle us down by making a big save when we need it. Couldn’t ask for a better tender back there,” Gardner said.
Physical hockey was to be expected in this game, as both teams usually bring the best out of each other while continuing the tradition of the rivalry. Gardner and Co-coach Tom Bradbury were ready to have their guys play a physical brand of hockey tonight.
“We want guys to hit hard. We want to be a really tough team to play against. We’re gritty and that’s how we’ve always played, and we got a lot of heart here,” Gardner added.
The Flyers opened the game with the first goal coming from Ethan Burgeson, his first of the season. Captain Wout Rehorst and assistant captain Lucas Hughes collected their second assists of the season on Burgeson’s marker. Nolan Smith, brother of former Flyer Connor Smith, tied things up before the first period came to a close to end the frame tied 1-1.
Just over two minutes into the second period, Riley Potts collected his first goal as a High River Flyer after ripping a shot past Bergeron. Rehorst and Hughes would get the assists for the second time in the game. 6’6 defenceman Nathan Matikowsky picked up his first of the season over a minute later to give the Flyers a two-goal lead early in the frame. Zachary Warriner got the helper for his first point of the HJHL season.
The Bisons answered back with three goals to take their first lead of the hockey game. Nathan Flanagan and Jakob Semeniuk’s goals came in the second period, with Dryden Hardings in the third. Both Semeniuk and Harding’s goals were on the power play.
Isaac Cayetano wouldn’t let the Bisons hold onto the lead for long as he tied the game up at 4-4 with less than six minutes remaining. Rehorst would collect his third point of the evening, with Burgeson getting his second point of the night by adding the helpers.
Rehorst wasn’t done as he added the short handed game-winning goal for the Flock over two minutes after Cayetano tied it up. Phoenix Flett picked up his first point of the night with the primary assist and Hughes added his third point of the night with the secondary helper.
Burgeson cemented the game with an empty net goal with 1:09 left in the game.
Flyers held a lead three separate times in the hockey game, and only trailed once for a four minute time span.
“Yeah, I think we got to get more disciplined, not take the tough penalties and to make sure when the bad calls happen against us, that we keep our mental game and focus on what’s important now, just (kill the penalty),” Gardner said about keeping a lead.
The Flyers will have tomorrow off and then hop on the bus to Coaldale to face the Copperheads at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday (Sept. 29)
Written by: Scott Savard
Photo credit: Scott Savard
