Siksika host Kings game

Tyler Lowey

Times Reporter

 

They are taking it back to where it all began.
The Strathmore Wheatland Kings will host the High River Flyers Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., at the Deerfoot Sportsplex in Siksika Nation.
The Kings feature three players from the reserve: Brooker Pretty Youngman, Kristian Ayoungman and Laval Jerry.
Pretty Youngman and Ayoungman are playing in their final season of the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL). The Kings organization thought it would be a poetic way to end their careers by taking a game back to their homeland.
“Those guys have had great careers for us and we thought this was the perfect way to send them off by bringing a game to Siksika,” said Kings general manager Darcy Busslinger. “The people in Siksika are excited to see the game come to them. [It] should be a fun night.”
Jerry has one more year of eligibility left with the Kings, but he plans to attend Red Deer College next fall to study kinesiology. His return is unlikely at this point.
All three are in the midst of their strongest HJHL campaigns. Pretty Youngman leads the team with 41 points (22 goals, 19 assists). Ayoungman sits third in team scoring with 15 goals and 34 points, smashing his previous career high. Jerry is third among defensemen with 12 points.
At 13-16-4, the Kings are also experiencing their best season since 2012-2013, when they finished 17-19-1.
Pretty Youngman is a big, lumbering forward who loves to drive to the net. Ayoungman is a shifty centreman with a great handle for the puck.
The Deerfoot Sportsplex is about a half hour drive southeast from Strathmore. Many fans make the trip to watch the Kings’ home games, and even a few road games.
“We all think it’s an awesome idea. It will be nice to bring the game to them,” said Kings head coach Shadoe Stoodley. “It’s important to be able to give back to their community like that.”
Pretty Youngman and Ayoungman have been playing together as long as they can remember. With each game, each passing shift, the clock on their junior career runs out.
Pretty Youngman’s mother, Louise, was instrumental in putting the wheels in motion for the game to come out to Siksika, along with getting Ayoungman’s career going.
“She is my billet mom and Brooker is like a brother to me. We played hockey together all the way up. I’m very thankful for everything they have helped me out with to get here,” said Ayoungman.
Playing on the same line, Pretty Youngman couldn’t imagine ending his junior career any other way.
“To end it at the same place where it all began is pretty special,” said Pretty Youngman.
The Kings took a game out to Siksika years ago. Pretty Youngman recalls being one of the fans in the packed house. Ayoungman was unable to attend, but thought it would be great to play in a similar style game one day.
“We expect the rink to be loud and the fans to be excited to watch us play. It’s an awesome idea to have something other than minor hockey out on the reserve,” said Jerry, who lived in Siksika from ages five to eight.