Kings looking for consistency

By Mario Prusina, Times Editor

Just 15 games into the season, the Wheatland Kings know they still have time to elevate their game to another level heading into the playoffs.
Having won just six of those 15 games, the difference between winning and losing is a fine line.
According to Wheatland Kings assistant coach Chris Williams, sometimes the difference can be as simple as scoring the first goal.
“I think it starts with, honestly, the first goal of the game,” said Williams. “It seems to be the trend if we score first, we’re buzzing and it doesn’t seem to stop for the rest of the 60 minutes. As soon as we get down a goal – two for sure – it seems like everyone kind of deflates and feels like the game is over. That’s where we need to step in and work on that and try and be more consistent.
“We came into this year wanting to be an elite team and this far we’re nowhere near. So, we’re a team battling for a playoff spot now and that’s what we have to drive into these guys’ heads if we want to continue to have any type of success.”
The Kings began the weekend with a solid 4-1 win on the road over the Lomond Lakers on Nov. 8. That win was quickly halted with a 4-1 road loss the following day in Red Deer and a 6-1 loss to Coaldale on home ice on Nov. 10.
“I know tonight was a third of three (games) of the weekend here and we were short bodies, but it shouldn’t be any excuse for the effort level; it simply wasn’t there tonight. All the guys knew we’d be short today and we needed everyone pulling on the rope, but not everyone bought into that today, and obviously it showed on the scoreboard.”
Coaldale was led by former King and Strathmore native Isaac Benoit, who returned to the arena he is most familiar with and left with a goal.
The speedy forward is attending school in Lethbridge, but still wanted to play the game he loves, so he joined the Copperheads for the season.
“It’s always nice to be in the home barn where I’m from and it’s nice to see familiar faces,” said Benoit. “I’m not going to lie, it does feel good to win against the team I played with last year, but overall it was a good experience and I love playing here.”
The Kings will now prepare for a pair of home games this coming weekend when they host High River on Nov. 16 (8 p.m.) and Cochrane the following day (4:45 p.m.).
It will be an emotional game to open the weekend, as the Kings will officially retire the jersey of Kristian Ayoungman, who was murdered in March.
Williams, who previously played with Ayoungman, said it will be an emotional ceremony.
“It’s going to be a tearjerker ceremony I’m sure,” said Williams. “I got to play (with him) since I was bantam all the way up to junior, along with assistant coach Blake Bishop as well. It’s going to be very special.”