The Strathmore UFA Bisons defeated the Northwest Calgary Athletic Association Flames in two games straight to take the south division quarterfinal last weekend.

The Bisons had a slow start to the series, down 2-0 in game one until almost 50 minutes of Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League playoff hockey had passed at home on Feb. 19, before coming back to win 3-2.

Game two was back-and-forth, seeing the Bisons succeed 5-3 at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary on Feb. 21.

Airdrie local Austin Cameron had some insight from the blueline.

“We came out and tried to do too much, but then I think we cooled it down and played our game and confidence came back,” said the senior defenceman.

In game one, Bisons’ Joshua Bishop got the scoring started at 10:19 in the third period, followed 25 seconds later by Airdrian Barrett Sheen’s first goal, assisted by local teammate Gary Haden and Austin Wong. Sheen struck again (Haden, Sebastian Kilcommons) a minute and a half later on the power play to win the game.

Sheen also started the scoring for the Bisons in game two, after they went down by a goal in the first six minutes. The Flames took the lead again with 3:38 to go in the opening period, but Kyle Gordon answered back 30 seconds later to tie.

The Bisons started to show signs of dominance in the second period, with William Conley scoring for the lead halfway through, only to see the Flames tie it up in the final minute of the second.

The third period was all Bisons on the score sheet, as Davis Sheldon tallied the game winner, followed by some assurance from Sheen with seven minutes to go.

Bisons coach Dan MacDonald said he was relieved.

“For us to beat them in two is good for us,” he said. “They were a good team.”

Airdrie`s Gary Haden noted his line with Sheen and Gordon has been on fire since Christmas.

“We haven’t cooled off, so I’ll take it,” said the 15-year-old forward. “We believed we could beat these guys the whole time.”

Local goaltender Kurtis Chapman had the start in both games, making 26 and 29 saves for the wins.

“I was just battling for every puck, giving the team opportunities and just keeping them in there,” said Chapman, who was met with a lot of hugs after one reach-across, paddle save kept the puck from crossing the goal line late in the third.

“I think that’s one of our best characteristics is we never give up,” said the goaltender, who modelled the attribute along with his teammates.

Airdrie-based leading scorer Jordan McConnell gained an assist on the third goal of game two, and local teammate Zachary Cox assisted the game winner.

The Bisons started the second round, best-of-five division semifinal versus the Calgary Royals in Calgary on Tuesday, with results in after press time.

They will host game two at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, followed by game three in Calgary at the Stu Peppard Arena at 2:15 p.m. on March 1.

Cameron is confident.

“We know we can beat them,” he said after game two versus the Flames. “This series definitely helped pull our confidence up.”