Closing the Kings season

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

Despite getting upset in the opening round of the playoffs, the Strathmore Wheatland Kings organization should be proud of the Heritage Junior Hockey League season that just unfolded.
After a complete coaching overhaul and the installment of new management, the Kings cranked out their best record in the past four seasons and earned home ice in a playoff series.
“I like to think that we did better than expected,” said Kings head coach Shadoe Stoodley. “A lot of people had us pegged as a rebuilding year with everyone new coming in. It was great to see how it turned out.”
You couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season: trailing 4-2 at home to the Okotoks Bisons, the Kings stormed back with four third period goals, for the 6-4 win.
From there, the Kings went 3-6-3 through October, and the feeling of last season’s 13-23-2 record was becoming increasingly familiar.
Season-turning wins against the Airdrie Techmation Thunder (4-3 Nov. 20) and (7-4 Dec. 4) against the Coaldale Copperheads showed signs of life.
“We just had exit interviews with all of our players, and about 90 per cent of them were surprised how much they learned over the course of the season,” said Kings manager Darcy Busslinger. “I know that our coaches have a lot more to offer, we just need a little more consistency from our line up and I know we can improve next year.”
The Kings went 12-12-1 down the stretch of the season and earned the right to host a first-round series.
Much of their success early in the season can be directly linked to their 21-year-old net minder, Brady Hoover.
Despite missing nine games towards the end of the season with a knee injury, Hoover still finished third in the league, facing 861 shots.
“There was no doubt that he stole us a bunch of games,” said Stoodley. “He was outstanding for us.”
Hoover played in back-to-backs with a pair of rookies behind him in the depth chart.
When Hoover did go down, nobody knew how the two rookies – Pierre Wiederhold and Indiana Kelly – would respond to the workload.
Kelly was often found in street clothes at the beginning of the season, watching Hoover and the Kings from the stands. Thrust onto the game day roster, Kelly delivered, helping carry the Kings to the playoffs. He finished ninth in the HJHL with a .900 save percentage.
“It can be tough for those two guys, not seeing much ice time,” said Stoodley. “But Kelly came in, got into a groove and gave us a big push.”
Big and pushing can be a way best to describe the way Kings leading scorer Brooker Pretty Youngman drove to the net. The 6-foot-3 flank led the Kings with 26 goals and 24 assist, often driving to the net like a 10-pin bowling ball. He was named HJHL player of the week Oct. 23.
Alternate captain Cole Busslinger was the other King to receive player of the week honours Jan. 29. The blue collar, second-year centre racked up 14 goals and 18 assists.
“Brooker is very skilled in tight and Cole just works so hard. They both had great years for us and we needed them in order to be successful,” said Stoodley.
The Kings were also involved in a pair of significant community events this season. They took one of their home games out to Siksika Nation to honour a couple of graduating players, and held and enormously successful toy drive for Matt Thomson’s baby daughter.
“It’s huge to have events like that which involve the community,” said the manager. “We have already started planning some events for next season, as we look to build that tradition.”
Along with the in-game events, the Kings organization is already thinking about next season’s roster.
“This year was a learning experience for all of us,” said Busslinger. “I think next year, we will spend more time when it comes to picking the team. We are trying to build a reputation for this organization and that takes a long time.”
One area of improvment for the Kings moving forward, is their play in their own zone. They finished with a minus-19 goal differential (third worst among playoff teams) and allowed 175 goals against (fourth worst among playoff teams) and finished 3-5-3 in one goal games.
The majority of the roster is eligible to return next year, and the Kings staff has already been scoping out players from younger levels for new additions next season.
Moving forward, the Kings will put a lid on this season once and for all when they host their awards banquet Mar. 31 at the Strathmore Family Centre.