Forgetful weekend set for Kings

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The Okotoks Bisons blasted the doors off the Strathmore Wheatland Kings this weekend in Heritage Junior Hockey League action.
It began with the Bisons crashing the holiday party that was Matt Thomson’s toy drive for the Ronald McDonald House, edging the Kings 4-1 Dec. 10 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Fans who brought in new, unwrapped toys for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) received free entry to the game. Thomson thought the toy drive would be an excellent way to say thanks to the RMH for helping him out during the first five weeks following the birth of his daughter last spring.
The Bisons (19-8-0) were kind enough to make a cash donation to the drive, but weren’t nearly as charitable on the ice.
“We came out flat footed despite all the emotion surrounding this game. We would have a couple good shifts, but then take a penalty and lose all that we worked for,” said Kings head coach Shadoe Stoodley.
Dominating out of the gate, the Bisons lead 2-0 after the opening frame, outshooting the Kings 19-5. They were having their way through the neutral zone and deep into the Kings’ zone.
Making matters worse, was both Bisons goals came shorthanded, including one while the Kings were on a 5-on-3 advantage. They are the league’s deadliest team shorthanded, scoring 13 goals.
“Giving up those goals kind of sucked the energy out of our team,” said defenseman Hayden Vanderploeg.
Trailing 3-0 after two periods, alternate captain Cole Busslinger netted his eighth goal on a broken play in front of the Bisons net. With the puck at his feet, he spun, kicked the puck up to his stick and unloaded a clapper from point blank. Bradley Tingey and Kody Hammond picked up assists.
The Bisons went 2-for-7 on the man advantage as Brady Hoover was under siege once again; recording 44 saves on 48 shots.
“We remembered the lead we blew in this building earlier in the year. We looked at this game as redemption for us,” said Bisons head coach Mike Hannigan.
The Kings have showed a surprising ability to bounce back and turn the page following a difficult loss this season. Last weekend, after getting piped 10-2 by the Coaldale Copperheads (18-7-1), they turned around and bested the Copperheads 7-4.
Earlier in November, the Kings (9-13-3) lost to the fifth-placed Stettler Lightning (11-12-1) 3-2 at home, only to follow it up with 6-3 win on the road against the top-seeded Mountainview Colts (20-3-2).
There was no magical turn around this time.
“We need to keep the same game plan and not change up anything,” said Hannigan following the Bisons 4-1 win.
The Bisons kept the beat going with a 9-1 cakewalk Dec. 11 at Murray Arena.
“We actually came out of the gate strong. We responded well to the night before, we had them pinned in their end for the first bit; we hit three posts in the first five minutes,” said assistant coach Braden Desmet. “We couldn’t capitalize and then they went to the power play and the floodgates opened. We couldn’t regain a flow to our game after that.”
Hoover got the call between the pipes once again; he’s no stranger to playing in back-to-backs. He was lifted after allowing four goals for Pierre Wiederhold, who didn’t fare much better, allowing three goals on 13 shots.
Tempers were on the brink of boiling over Dec. 10: Brenden Moore sought out a few fights but couldn’t find a willing partner. He wouldn’t be denied in Okotoks, as he squared off with Kyle Becker in the first period.
“Guys were frustrated. We weren’t getting the bounces we needed and a little carried over from the previous game,” said Desmet.
Wiederhold was run over in the second period and jumped Kyle Dunville. Hoover was forced to return to the net and yielded two more goals.
“We need to come out and work harder than that if we want to get two points,” said Stoodley.
The good news for the Kings is that they don’t have to see the Bisons anymore in the regular season. They went 1-3 against the Herd with a minus-13 goal differential.
The bad news is that the Kings host the Cochrane Generals Dec. 17 (8 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The Kings have yet to solve the Generals in two years. This season, the Generals (22-4-1) remain at the top of the south division, 24 points ahead of the Kings.
The Kings then head to the Kinplex Arena for their second meeting with the Medicine Hat Cubs (4-17-5). The Kings are 1-0 against the Cubs this season.