Kings riding high into home stand

Justin SewarD
Times Reporter

 

Blake Bishop made the last shot count in Red Deer on Saturday night, propelling the Wheatland Kings to a 9-8 thrilling come-from-behind overtime win over the Vipers.
“It was one of craziest game I’ve ever seen in my life,” said head coach Emilio Fouco.
“It’s definitely one for the memory bank and the coaching book. (It was) a tremendous second period to come back and put ourselves in the position to have an opportunity to win the game; falling apart in the first part of the third period, then the miracle come back, including the overtime goal.”
However, Fuoco is still looking for those complete 60 minute efforts to keep the games easier and more in control and said the Red Deer game was one where there was dominance in segments throughout the contest.
“We played really well in spurts, but it wasn’t consistent enough,” said Fouco. “When we were down four goals to Red Deer both times, it was just let everyone in the game and see who’s hot. There was some energy derived from the young players who were doing well and they’re showing their energy and heart, and all of a sudden it was ‘I think we can do this guys.'”
Jacen Bracko led the way with the hat trick; Zach Meadows and Tyler Rivest each had two, while Brendan Moore had one to round out the scoring.
Unfortunately, that same level of heroics had not been available the previous night in Medicine Hat, when the Kings took a tough 5-4 loss to the Cubs.
“We kept picking at their lead and ran out of time,” said Fuoco. “Our first period was not very good. It was uphill all the way but we continued to hammer away. I think we scored with about three seconds, left but the whistle clearly went ahead of the puck squeezing in. It was one of those games where we didn’t do ourselves any favours in the first period, but we also didn’t get any breaks.”
Bracko notched two goals, while Bishop and Brooker Pretty Youngman scored in the loss.
The Kings will begin a four-game home stand on Nov. 28 when they host the Stettler Lightning at 8 p.m.