Historic weekend for Kings

Times Editor

 

For the first time in franchise history, the Strathmore Wheatland Kings have started the season with a pair of wins.

The local Junior B team opened the 2010-2011 campaign with a 6-5 road win in Rimbey on Oct. 1, before defeating the High River Flyers 6-3 on Oct. 2 at the Strathmore Family Centre.

“We’re really pleased to get such a good start,” said head coach Doug Murphy. “The team this year is very different – it is very positive. We had problems last year with a lot of different players and the negativity that they brought. This year, that’s certainly turned around – we’ve got a number of new guys that bring great energy, skill and a real positive attitude to the team.”

Murphy hopes those aforementioned traits, along with solid team play, will help build a winning, stable franchise.

After a miserable 7-25-1-3 record last season, getting off to a good start was something Murphy was looking forward to.

“It was really sweet – it was more of a relief,” laughed Murphy. “We have two new coaches and they bring a lot. The systems are working and the veterans are working with the younger guys.

“The (veteran) guys know what we’re doing and they understand why we’re doing it – it certainly makes it easier for us (teaching the younger players)”

Leslie Doore scored twice and added an assist, while Brandon Neufeld, Ashton Kathol, Lucas Ford and Racey Big Snake each scored once in the win over Rimby. 

Jordan Stimpson added a pair of assists, while Braydon Helfrich made 50 saves to collect the win for the Kings.

The following day, Ford had a goal and four assists to lead the Kings past the Flyers. Neufeld added two goals and an assist, while Brennan Grasdahl added a goal and an assist. Tyler Brandon and Doore also tallied for the Kings, while Mike Samoil added a pair of helpers. Helfrich made 43 saves in the win.

“We’re an offensive team – we play aggressively with a lot of speed,” said Murphy. “When we have everybody buying in and working the forecheck as they should, we just shut teams into their end and they can’t get out.”

The Kings will now play host to the Ponoka Stampeders this Saturday, Oct. 9 (8 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre, before traveling to Coaldale the following day.

“We need to dwell on the positives that came out of this (past) weekend,” said Murphy. “We need to make sure everyone understands why we had the outcome that we did – working hard, playing the system, playing as a team and staying focused on what the objective was. Our objective was getting two wins and that will be our same goal for next weekend.”