Kings can’t capitalize on hot starts

Posted on: Staff Writer

 

Mario Prusina

Times Editor
 
The Wheatland Kings Junior B hockey team got off to the starts they wanted when they took on the Banff Bears and the Mountainview Colts this past weekend.
Despite scoring first in both games, the Kings settled for one win, which disappointed head coach Doug Murphy.
“Another split and another one that got away from us,” said the coach referring to the weekend.
The Kings scored just 20 seconds into their home game versus the Banff Bears on Dec. 4, en route to a 6-3 win at the Strathmore Family Centre. However, the following day in Didsbury, not only did the Kings score first, they took a 2-0 lead, before giving up three straight goals in a 4-3 loss. 
“We got off to a good start, (then Tyler Brandon suffered an injury) and the guys kind of let down after that,” explained Murphy. “We let them back in it – in a stretch of four minutes, they scored three goals. We tried to battle back, but it was too little, too late.”
Lucas Ford scored twice, while Brennan Grasdahl scored once to pace the Kings offence.
On Saturday night, Tom Mikrut scored once and added a pair of helpers, while Lucas Ford and Ross Fox each registered a goal and an assist to lead the way over the Bears. Racey Big Snake, Brandon Neufeld and Hayden Warrack also tallied for the Kings, while Leslie Doore added a pair of helpers in the win.
“We came out really strong, we scored in the first 20 seconds of the game,” said the coach. “The first two or three shifts everyone had, it looked like it was going to be a real blowout. Then the guys kind of went to sleep – it’s sort of the unfortunate thing about playing the lesser teams in the league. Guys don’t think that they have to work as hard and we almost let them back in before we woke up again.”
The Kings will look to improve on their 7-14-0 record this weekend when they host the Okotoks Oilers Dec. 11 (8 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre. After playing their final home game of 2010, the Kings will travel to Medicine Hat on Dec. 12 (2:30 p.m.) to tangle with the Cubs.