Kings use transition game

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Kings started their four-game home stand on the right foot as they outplayed the visiting Stettler Lightning with a 5-2 win on Nov. 28.
The game proved to be physically competitive, pushing the Kings to engage more often and take initiative.
“I think we’re learning how to play against teams that in previous years would try and take advantage of us,” said Kings head coach Emilio Fuoco. “It’s a learning process for us and we’re starting to do a lot better than we have in the past.”
Fuoco thought their neutral zone play was the strongest part of the team’s game, and as result, the team was able to turn over more pucks to create chances in the offensive zone.
“It was sort of a twofold,” he said. “We paid more attention to details in the neutral zone which allowed us to create more opportunities in odd man advantages. It was really starting to understand how we want to play as a team within our systems.”
He added that he liked how the defense have jumped up in the play recently, and preached to his team to have five attacking and five defending on the ice.
“It was really good to see the guys control the gaps on defensive side and have their opportunities to move the puck up the ice,” said Fuoco.
Kaleb Robinson, Kristian Ayoungman, Jacen Bracko, Zachary Meadows and Brendan Moore supplied the offence in the win.
The Kings will have three games straight at home this weekend starting with Medicine Hat on Dec. 4 (8 p.m.). Blackfalds will roll into town on Dec. 5 with puck drop at 8:15 p.m., while Three Hills will be here on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
There will be events going on at the games including a Santa appearance, minor hockey and ringette teams playing at intermissions and the high school band performing throughout a game.