Kings decimated by injuries

Times Editor

 

The Wheatland Kings were looking to snap a two-game losing streak against one of the premier teams in the league.

Things looked very promising for the local Junior-B team after they stormed out to a 3-0 lead over the Cochrane Generals in their lone game of the weekend Dec. 3 at the Strathmore Family Centre.

However, injuries reared their ugly head for the Kings, who at one point went down to three defencemen and needed to recruit a player from the forward ranks.

When it was all said and done, the Kings fell 6-4, losing their third game in a row. They now have only one win in their last six outings.

“It started out well, but it didn’t finish well,” said head coach Doug Murphy. “There is a pattern starting to develop that we are not liking. Having said that, we ended up losing four players to injury during the course of the game. 

“The guys got out to a really good start, we got up to a 3-0 lead, then the injuries started. We lost our momentum and Cochrane is good and experienced. You let down for a little bit and they’re right in on top of you.”

According to Murphy, there were a lot of breaking points to the game.

“You get running with a short bench, guys are tired, you have guys that are partially hurt and guys not used to playing defence – (stuff) happens),” said Murphy.

The team is now preparing for a pair of games this weekend, when they travel to Medicine Hat to take on the Cubs on Dec. 9 (8:15 p.m.) and host the Okotoks Bisons the following night (8 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.