Blackfoot Express lead Kings

Times Editor

 

Near the end of October, Wheatland Kings head coach Doug Murphy was in the process of assembling new forward lines.

It’s a common task for coaches to shuffle players in an attempt to spark his troops.

One specific trio – Leslie Doore, Racey Big Snake and Ross Fox – has withstood the test of time and remains an important piece to the Kings success.

The combination, also known as the Blackfoot Express in the dressing room, is starting to take control of games.

“The last part of November – the first part of December is when (the line) really started coming together,” said Murphy. “If you were trying to define the roles, Racey certainly seems to be more of the playmaker, (while) Ross is the guy that will go in (the corners) and get the puck – but he also has, like the guys say, ‘absolutely sick hands.’ He makes some moves and your mouth drops open.

“Leslie is always in the right place. I think the other thing they do exceptionally well is they communicate with each other.

“Now it’s like they have a sixth sense.”

The Blackfoot Express has been an instrumental part of the King’s three-game winning streak, including two home wins this past weekend.

The Kings defeated the Settler Lightning for the first time in their history, an 8-4 win on Jan. 22, before posting a 3-2 triumph over the Mountainview Colts the following day. During the past three games, the trio has compiled 22 points.

That sort of production has forced opposing teams to take notice, while providing much needed scoring assistance to the team’s leading point-getter, Lucas Ford, who has 41 points in 26 games.

“We’ve got a lot of depth,” said the coach. “We look now at what our fourth line is this year and they may be as good as our second line in our first year, or even last year. The bar is going up.

“We said it would take three years to put together a competitive team. I think we’re there (now) and what we do in the playoff run and in the playoffs is going to give us a much better indication of our skill level and competitiveness.”

On Saturday night, the Kings got the proverbial monkey off of their backs, when they defeated Stettler for the first time ever.

Big Snake registered a goal and four assists, while Fox and Nathan Voytechek each recorded a hat-trick for the Kings. Doore scored the team’s other goal, while Ford chipped in a pair of assists.

“It felt really good – (but) we should have beaten them in Stettler earlier in the year,” said Murphy. “Stettler is not doing as well as they have in past years, but they are still a very good team, very fast. We certainly don’t take them lightly at all.”

On Sunday, Brennan Grasdahl scored twice to pace the Kings attack, while Mark Goodman and Mike Samoil each added a pair of assists.

Doore scored the King’s other lone goal, while Miles O’Keefe and Brandon Neufeld each added helpers.

“We went into Sunday down three guys who were suspended for a little altercation the night before,” said Murphy. “Mountainview is a tough, strong, grinding type team – big tough farm boys.

“We had some interesting refereeing. We had three goals disallowed – that has to be a new record.”

Wheatland is currently in fourth place in the South Division, two points back of the third place High River Flyers. The 12-16-0 Kings will now travel to Airdrie on Jan. 28 to take on the Thunder at 8 p.m. They will return to the confines of the Strathmore Family Centre the following day at 8 p.m. to host the Medicine Hat Cubs.