Tres Hombres. Could be a ZZ Top album title from 1973. Or, more recently, could be three Cochrane minor-hockey players who’ve advanced to Alberta Major Midget AAA Hockey League (AMHL) play.
Former Airdrie-Cochrane (AC) Avalanche players Kyle Gordon, Ryan Noble and Zachary Vinnell are at the Mac’s Major Midget AAA Hockey Tournament in Calgary, teeing it up for Strathmore-based UFA Bisons. All made the off-season jump from the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League.
The Bisons opened the four-game, round-robin portion of the Mac’s tourney with two wins. And the Cochrane hombres all figured in UFA’s convincing 7-3 Boxing Day win over Vancouver Northeast Chiefs and a 7-2 Dec. 27 decision over San Jose Jr. Sharks.
Vinnell, a forward moved to defence to fill in for suspended and injured Bisons rearguards, contributed three assists in UFA’s Boxing Day win. Gordon pumped in a goal and two assists on Boxing Day and added four assists Dec. 27 against San Jose.
Noble was busy steering attacking forwards into the corner, clearing traffic from the front of the net and feeding breakout passes to streaking wingers.
Bisons head coach Dan MacDonald likes his Cochrane Tres Hombres. All are first-year Bisons billeting with Strathmore families and going to school in the community 94 kilometres east of Cochrane.
“He’s mostly played forward for us. He went back on D and he’s done a really nice job,” MacDonald said of Vinnell’s versatility. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound 16-year-old has put up two goals and eight assists in 26 regular-season games for the Bisons. “He’s capable of doing anything. He’s a smart kid.”
Noble is a stay-at-home defenceman capable of knocking opponents off the play and immediately changing the flow with sharp outlet passes. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound 16-year-old defenceman is gaining confidence as the season progresses.
“He’s another guy who’s really improved dramatically for us,” MacDonald said of Noble. “He’s getting better every game. He’s taking charge out there.”
As for Gordon, the 6-foot, 190-pound forward is doing the expected; pouring in points on offence. The 16-year-old is going at almost a point-a-game clip with seven goals and 18 assists in 26 AMHL games.
“Kyle’s a bright guy. You saw some of the plays he made,” MacDonald enthuses. “And goals he scores, those are smart plays.”
The Mac’s tournament wraps up Jan. 1 with the final games going at Scotiabank Saddledome.
