Slow starts cost Kings points

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Wheatland Kings want to forget their most recent home game as they were annihilated 9-3 by the Mountainview Colts on Nov. 14.
Head coach Jeremy Blumes put it simply that it was downright embarrassing for the hometown fans to watch a poor display of Junior B hockey.
“You know it felt like we had a good week of practice but obviously there was a lack of teamwork, communication (and) simple missed defensive assignments where guys are five feet from the outside of our crease and left untouched,” said Blumes. “Tough night to be a goalie if you’re playing in front of our players that’s for sure.”
The difference in the game was that they were able to capitalize on the Kings being out of position.
“One guy tries to do another guy’s job and all of sudden somebody else is left open on the ice. So it’s a matter of sticking with the program and trusting that your teammates is going to take care of his assignment and you take care of yours,” said Blumes.
He felt that there was a lack of preparation, which resulted in the team not being able to keep up to the transition game of Mountainview.
“It’s a combination of things – I don’t think we were as prepared as we needed to be which is a real mystery because the last time we played them, these guys jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes as well,” said Blumes.
Brett Dumaine scored twice and added an assist, while captain Kirby Ruzesky notched a goal and an assist in the loss. Brayden Beckley collected three assists.
Unfortunately, the Kings struggles continued the following day in Coaldale.
The Kings lost 6-3 and assistant coach Joel Robinson admitted that there was a lack of motivation in the players, which cost them as the Copperheads scored five first period goals.
“(In Coaldale it) seemed to be the same story over and over again. We can’t consistently play 60 minutes of hockey … they scored five goals in the first and we only scored one,” said Robinson. “If you take away that period and it’s a totally different hockey game. We really need to start playing 60 minutes of consistent hockey.”
The Kings seemed unable to dig themselves out of an early hole with the Copperheads and never could catch up to the pace of play.
“Slow starts are really hurting us right now. We can’t seem to get a good hop on the opposition right off the bat. So it’s one of them things we’ve been preaching in our pre-game talks, even in the intermissions – we need a little bit more urgency and play with more passion,” said Robinson.
“The message that was sent after the game is that we need to move on, but at the same time we can’t just forget about it and do the same thing. We have to keep it fresh in our memory because we want the guys to use this as motivation for next weekend.”
Beckley got two goals and Cody Willis added one in the loss.
The Kings will now travel to Stettler on Nov. 21 (7:30 p.m.) before returning home to take on the High River Flyers the following day (8 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.