Kings split weekend

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Kings gave their fans some excitement on Friday night at home as they skated hard and stayed disciplined en route to a 5-3 win over the Banff Bears.
“I just thought we were skating, we were moving the puck quickly, supporting the puck and staying positive on the bench,” said head coach Jeremy Blumes.
Goal scorers were Brett Dumaine with two while Graham Watkins, Kirby Ruzesky and Read Douglas scored chipped in with one apiece.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the next night against Coaldale as the Kings fell to the Copperheads 5-1.
Blumes liked how his players came out in the first period as the play was even, they just could not sustain the pace the rest of the way.
“I think tonight we didn’t move the puck as well. In the first period, we’re right there, it’s anybody’s game for the taking,” said Blumes “In the second period we weren’t as strong on our sticks and didn’t win 50/50 battles, and it’s a possession game and when you don’t have the puck, you’re chasing and at a disadvantage.”
The Copperheads scored some goals at crucial times in the game and the Kings were not able to come back.
“They scored those two goals 30 seconds apart and I think that second one, it’s a short side goal, that our goalie would like to have back. Then the third goal, our back check wasn’t good enough, we don’t pick up their high guy and he gets an open look,” said Blumes. “They’re first place for a reason and they’re opportunistic. If you give them time and space in the middle of the ice, it’s going to end up in the back of our net.”
It appeared that there were momentum swings throughout the game and frustration mounted as the Kings started to take penalties in the later stages.
“At the start of the second I thought they were hungrier team and the momentum switched to their side. In the third period, we played well, but got into penalty trouble where we took some selfish penalties and guys were being sat,” said Blumes.
Ruzesky scored the one goal in the loss.
The Kings will play one game next weekend when they take on the Medicine Hat Cubs (8 p.m.) on Jan. 17 at the Strathmore Family Centre.