Kings draw Flyers in first round

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The Strathmore Wheatland Kings will not be hitting the playoffs with any sort of momentum after dropping their final three regular season games last weekend.
In a tale of two seasons this year, the Kings closed out the final two months of the Heritage Junior Hockey League regular season with a 2-8-2 record and a minus-30 goal differential.
The Kings finished 12-21-3 with 27 points, which ranked the second-fewest point total in franchise history and the third fewest wins. Last year, the Kings finished 16-18-4 with 36 points.
Finishing fifth in the Southern Division one point ahead of the Medicine Hat Cubs, the Kings will take on the High River Flyers in the best-of-three first round of the postseason. This will be the first postseason meeting between the two clubs.
“It’s been close between us all season and all the games have carried a lot of intensity. I know that we’re going to go out there and fight to get it done,” said Kings forward Brad Tingey.
The Flyers finished 10 points ahead of the Kings in the division with a 17-16-3 record after taking the season series with the Kings 3-1.
All four regular season matchups were tightly contested, but the Flyers took the edge outscoring the Kings 18-17.
“We know that Strathmore is a well-coached team, they work hard in every aspect and they will push us to the limit. A lot of our guys are excited to play them with the little rivalry we have going on,” said Flyers Head Coach and Manager Tyson Avery. “It’s going to be a good series.”
In those meetings, the hottest Kings were George Montour with one goal and six assists, and Austin Holmes with four goals and one helper.
Kings netminder Calum Humble and the defence core of the Kings will have their hands full trying to contain the second leading scorer in the HJHL, Davis Sheldon. The 20-year-old averaged more than two points per game this season, finished with a league-high 41 goals to go with 37 assists in 35 games. In four meeting against the Kings this year, Sheldon recorded six goals and three assists.
“His awareness on the ice, his speed and the way he gets his feet moving at all times makes him so dangerous. He knows where his line mates are and has the ability to get into open space whenever he wants to get off a pretty dangerous shot,” said Avery.
Game 1 is slated for Feb. 16 (8 p.m.) at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex. Game 2 will be held at the Strathmore Family Centre on Feb. 17. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. Should there be a third game, that would take place back in High River Feb. 18 and begin at 4 p.m.