Kings well-oiled machine stomps Stampeders

Times Editor  

 

The Wheatland Kings began the 2012-2013 season with a record-breaking weekend against the Ponoka Stampeders.

In their home opener, the local junior B team scored an astounding 15 goals – a new franchise record – en route to a 15-1 thumping of Ponoka on Sept. 22 at the Strathmore Family Centre. In the rubber match the following day in Ponoka, the Kings earned a 10-3 win.

“It was a really good start – we saw the offence we knew we had that was hidden away,” said coach Doug Murphy. “It was just a combination of things coming together finally. This is exactly what we were looking for (in training camp). We (added a couple of key players) and we can push the offence that much further.

“We’ve always has a great group of guys, but the chemistry this year is unbelievable. This is like a family here – they are really close.”

According to Murphy, a handful of players passed on the chance to play on a junior A team in order to remain with the Kings. 

An opportunity to play close to home with friends trumped playing elsewhere in an unknown capacity.

All that meant good news for the Kings, who flexed their muscle with a pair of wins on their opening weekend.

The star of the home-and-home series was Andrew Bergmann, who sits top the league scoring leaders after registering nine points in Game 1 and another five in Game 2. The next closest player has six points in two games.

According to Murphy, it was easily the best individual performance he has seen in his coaching career. With his dominant performance, Bergmann was named player of the week in the Heritage Junior B Hockey League.

“He has come prepared to play this year,” said the coach. “He wants to have a really big year and he wants to put up big numbers.”

Despite having a one-man wrecking crew in the opening weekend, Murphy said the entire team is showing a commitment to becoming championship contenders.

From the first day at camp, he knew this selection of players was different.

“That’s the biggest difference – there is a huge commitment from everybody,” said Murphy. “We noticed it with the first practice we ran with the core of the team – the skill level, the intensity level – it was much higher than we’ve ever had in the past.

“All the coaches kind of looked at each other and said ‘wow.’”

The Kings will now travel to Medicine Hat on Sept. 28 (8:30 p.m.) to take on the Cubs, before hosting the Banff Bears on Sept. 29 (8 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.