Kings bounce back

Times Editor 

 

After a pair of disappointing losses to teams below them in the standings, the Wheatland Kings responded with one of their best games of the season.

The injury-depleted junior-b team snapped a two-game slide by hammering the Coaldale Copperheads 5-1 on Dec. 1 at the Strathmore Family Centre. 

“The guys came out and worked hard,” beamed head coach Doug Murphy. “It was probably one of the better efforts we’ve had all season – everybody worked hard, we kept our discipline, our scoring was going and (goaltender) Richie Hubbell played great again.

“Our defence has been a little beleaguered, but they’re turning it around (and they) played really, really well.

“Coaldale likes to get you going – there are a few teams that like to drag you down and do stupid stuff, but we stayed out of it and made them play hockey.”

After Coaldale took numerous penalties, the Kings made them pay with three power play goals, including two consecutive in the second period. 

The King’s top line of Andrew Bergmann, Ross Fox and Sam Lonnberg combined for eight points in the win, which helped Bergmann maintain his position as the highest point-producer in the league with 60 points in just 19 games.

“He’s happy and he’s enjoying playing,” said Murphy of his star forward. “We got him part way through the season last year and I think in his second game, he broke his jaw. It took a while to find the right guys for him to play with and in the playoffs, we hooked him up with Fox and they’re like a school of fish out there. They know exactly where each other is going, and Lonny is right there with them. It’s really an incredible combination.”

However, the weekend didn’t start out well for the Kings. After suffering an embarrassing loss to Banff the week before, the team fell 6-4 to the upstart Cochrane Generals on Nov. 30.

Despite seven points from their top line, the Kings allowed 50 shots on goal in the loss en route to the loss.

“We got beat to the puck a lot,” assessed Murphy. “We didn’t come up with as strong of a game as we should have. We didn’t put the puck away when we had the opportunities.

“(Having said that), that’s not the same Cochrane team we beat 5-1. They’ve strengthened themselves, they picked up a new goaltender – it makes a huge difference. They’re getting back into their routine … they’ll go on a run here and they’ll be right back into playoff contention fairly quickly.”

The Kings will now prepare to have their hands full this coming weekend, when they hit the road for a pair of games. Wheatland will travel to Okotoks to face the top team in the league on Dec. 7, before heading north to face the upper-echelon Red Deer Vipers the following day.

The Kings next home contest is Dec. 15 (8 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre, when they host the High River Flyers in their Teddy Bear Toss game. When the Kings score their first goal of the game, fans are encouraged to toss their new stuffed animal on the ice. All stuffed toys will then be donated to the crisis shelter. 

The team will also be accepting donations for the Strathmore Christmas Hamper Society for the game versus High River. Fans can bring a non-perishable food item, a new unwrapped toy or a gift certificate under $25 and gain free admission to the game.

 

Busy Christmas season

The Wheatland Kings will remain busy with a pair of exhibition games this holiday season. 

The team will host the Czech National Team in an exhibition game on Dec. 26 (8 p.m.) and the German National Team the following day (8 p.m.).

“Hockey Canada is hosting a World Hockey School tournament, and as part of it, they’ve got a bunch of U17 teams coming over from the different countries,” said Murphy. “They wanted to get some games for them that are going to challenge them. We’re close to Calgary, we skate well and we don’t goon it up, (so Hockey Canada) contacted us.”

According to Murphy, it will be a treat for the Kings to host they exhibition games.

“The guys are really pumped about it,” he said. “Any time you have an opportunity to play another country … it’s great. We’re in Strathmore, but we’ll be representing Canada.

“Some of our guys have played teams from other countries before, but I don’t think any of them have played a National Team before. Of the guys who played in last year’s tournament, there were four players drafted to the NHL last spring.

“So it will be some very, very good hockey.”