Kings decimated by injuries

Times Editor

 

Injuries have taken their toll on the Wheatland Kings.

After one of their best starts in franchise history, the Kings were mired in a seven game losing streak, before breaking that trend this past weekend.

And injuries have played a huge part in the Kings demise.

“Finally we’re getting healthy again,” said Kings bench boss Doug Murphy. “The last little stretch here – between the flu and injuries – we’ve had six or seven guys out of the lineup.

“This league is a little tough to go without seven bodies – seven very key bodies.”

The Kings extended their losing streak to seven games with a 10-1 road beat-down at the hands of the Cochrane Generals on Nov. 12. Brandon Neufeld provided the lone goal for the Kings.

However, the team snapped the number in the loss column with an impressive 6-5 win over the Coaldale Copperheads on Nov. 13 at the Strathmore Family Centre.

Tyler Brandon scored the first two goals of the game, and added an assist, to lead the scoring barrage for the Kings. Lucas Ford added a goal and an assist, while Brennan Grasdahl, Ross Fox and Brandon Neufeld also added goals. Mark Goodman collected two assists in the victory

“It was great to snap (the losing streak) against a team leading our division,” said Murphy. “It sets us up (to make) a real good run here over the next couple of weeks.”

The Kings will look to build on their win when they host the Medicine Hat Cubs Nov. 20 (8 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.

The team will then travel to Banff on Nov. 21 (4:15 p.m.) when they take on the Bears.