Kings get their matchin weekend games

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Kings played at high competitive level, driving more pucks into the back of the net when they played three games in a three night stretch last weekend.
According to co-coach Joel Robinson, discipline played an important factor in opening the weekend with a 6-4 win over High River on Friday night and edging Ponoka 5-3 on Saturday night, which he thinks is making them a better hockey team.
“The last couple of games we’ve been way more disciplined and using that to our advantage” said Robinson.
“I think one of the biggest things is we’re coming together as a team. Since day 1 at camp it’s come a long way. It’s definitely a result of the guys buying in now and understanding like ‘hey let’s make a name for ourselves,’ and let’s not take anyone lightly.”
He did praise High River and Ponoka for giving the Kings games of hard battling and said it’s only going to make the league better. Playing hard every night will allow teams to learn how to improve on different aspects of the game.
“It’s competitive,” said Robinson.
“It’s only benefitting us as a team. If every team is giving us a good run for our money every night, I’d much rather have it that way than blowing teams out and not learning how to play with a lead.”
Robinson added that the transition game has been their strength and has helped them in the neutral zone with gaining breaks and turning the puck back to the offensive zone.
“It’s the good first hard pass and making the smart play,” said Robinson.
“Our transition game is getting good and you look at the neutral zone and as soon as that puck is either turned over in our favour or the oppositions favour, it’s hitting those breaks and getting back into the play. It’s nice to see everyone’s buying into that concept.”
Jacen Bracko, who is the grandson of the late Ken Bracko, has been thrilled with the team’s play of late and to him the wins are all that matter.
“I think we’ve been playing pretty good,” said Bracko.
“We get off to big leads and kind of let them up but as long as we get the win it doesn’t matter too much.”
He added once the puck is down in the opposition’s end, the team is offensively dominant and scoring more goals.
“We just never give up,” he said.
“We had lots of scoring chances throughout the game. It was just a matter of time before they went in.”
In High River, Tyler Rivest led the way with two goals, while Bracko, Matt Brelis, Brooker Pretty Youngman, and Cole Sartorio each added one goal.
Bracko, Pretty Youngman, Lucas Jones, Chris Williams and Braden Binder scored against Ponoka.
The Kings would lose 8-5 in Blackfalds on Sunday afternoon.
Next up for the Kings will be a road game in Three Hills on Oct. 9 at 8 p.m., then back at home on Oct. 10 against the Cochrane Generals at 8 p.m. and then Oct. 12 in Coaldale at 2 p.m.