Wheatland Kings looking for answers

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Kings are searching for answers, after losing 4-3 on the road to Airdrie on Friday night and 5-2 to the Cochrane Generals on Saturday night at home. The inconsistency is causing a lot of frustration around the team lately and they can not seem to find their way out of it.
“I think last night (versus Airdrie), we got back into that mentality where we’re only playing 25 to 30 minutes of hockey and not playing a full 60. Our third period was probably one of the best periods I’ve seen us play as a hockey team, but once again it comes back to you can’t just play one period of hockey and expect results,” said assistant coach Joel Robinson. “We played 5-on-5 hockey consistently, it was good hockey, we supported each other and the shots were 15-5 in the third period.”
Robinson thought the outcome in both games were unfortunate because he felt that they had the jump on Airdrie, but did not get the results.
“It wasn’t the results we needed this weekend, especially against a team like Airdrie where we come out the better skating team. Something’s not clicking right now, whether it’d be team chemistry or team morale,” said Robinson.
Curtis Osborne scored twice and Sebastien Turgeon scored once in the loss to Airdrie.
On Saturday night versus Cochrane, the Kings tried to keep their composure but it was difficult when it seemed as if the calls were one-sided.
“It’s hard to keep your composure when … it was 6-1 in their favour,” said Robinson. “There is a certain time when you have to draw the line and stand up for your players.”
Osborne and Chris Williams scored in the loss to the Generals.
Robinson added that it is not helping right now having key players out who normally contribute in different areas on any given night.
“It does hurt when you have guys like Cody Willis hurt, Blake Bishop and Matt Thomson in the stands – all guys that are regular lineup guys and it does really affect the roster when they’re not in the lineup,” said Robinson.
The Kings will play their final game of 2014 when they host the Okotoks Bisons (8:15 p.m.) on Dec. 20 at the Strathmore Family Centre.