Bisons win heavyweight bout

It's only the second week of the season.

But it's never too early for a battle of the titans.

Both the Okotoks Bisons and Coaldale Copperheads expect to contend for the HJHL's South Division crown.

After Saturday night, it's the Bisons who have the early lead in what will be a marathon race.

Tyson Scott's second goal of the game with 2:26 remaining in regulation time was the game-winner as the Bisons escaped the Snakepit with a 5-4 win.

Devyn Stewart also scored a pair while Ryan Bedard chipped in with a single for Okotoks (3-0), who will host the Sylvan Lake Wranglers on Sunday (1:15 p.m.).

Ty Abbott scored twice for the Coaldale, which also got goals from Brandyn Howg and Jason Creighton.

The Copperheads will visit the Strathmore Wheatland Kings on Sunday (4:15 p.m.).

Vipers 3, Lightning 2

Cole Hardman's powerplay goal late in the second period stood up as the game-winner as the Red Deer Vipers edged the Stettler Lightning 3-2.

Keaton Sawicki had a goal and an assist and Jarvis Gaume also lit the lamp as the Vipers improved to 4-0-0.

Brenden Tucker and James Switenky replied for Stettler 

Colts 3, Generals 2

Griffin Andrews made 39 saves and Laine Rothenbusch scored the game-winner on the powerplay as the Colts edged the Generals.

Zane Leatherdale and Josh Gette also found the net for Mountainview (2-1-0).

Ryan Davis and Taylor Girard scored for Cochrane (1-3-0).

Stampeders 7, Rams 2

Devin Anderson scored a hat trick and Kieran Bulloch had four assists as the Stampeders (2-0-0) beat the Rams 7-2.

Wade Lightburn, Kolton Muyers, Kodan Smallboy and Ethan Yellowbird also found the back of the net in a rough-and-tumble affair that saw 194 penalty minutes handed out.

Ryan Gettis and Rylie Mckain had a goal and a helper apiece for Rocky (1-2-0).

Wheatland Kings 5, Flyers 2

Garret Vander Ploeg and Lucas Muenchrath combined for 10 points as the Wheatland Kings won for the second time in as many nights on home ice.

Vander Ploeg (three goals, two assists) and Muenchrath (two goals, three assists) led the way for Strathmore (2-1-0), which welcomes the Coaldale Copperheads on Sunday (4:15 p.m.).

Liam Thiessen and Brennan McPherson scored for the Flyers (0-3-1), who will visit the Airdrie Thunder on Sunday (4:30 p.m.).