Kings solidify playoff spot, gun for home ice advantage
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
With only two games remaining in the regular season, the Agra Risk Wheatland Kings have guaranteed themselves a slot in the upcoming playoffs.
The question remaining is whether they will be able to have home ice advantage, and the answer is on a razor’s edge.
“We really have a long-term plan, so we are going to stick with that, and that is basically … at the end of the year, we want to work on our team systems, and fine tune everything as we get ready for playoffs,” said Doug Raycroft, head coach of the Wheatland Kings. “It is also a combination of, because most teams in this league only practice a couple times a week, you are constantly working on your scoring and passing, and you are always staying as sharp as you can.”
Throughout the course of the regular season, Raycroft has put a large emphasis on developing the team’s systems of play and defence, maintaining the methodology that in order to compete at the top, being able to score is not all encompassing, but preventing goals against is just as important.
This past weekend, after picking up three of a possible four points, the second place Kings hold a narrow two-point lead over the third place Cochrane Generals in the South Division.
The Kings closed out their home regular season schedule by losing 3-2 in overtime to the Generals on Jan. 23, before defeating the Rocky Mountain House Rams 6-2 on Jan. 24 at Strathmore Family Centre.
Judging by how tight the schedule is, there is a good chance the Kings could face the Generals in the post season.
“I think just staying out of penalty trouble with them is important and just playing a really solid team game. They are really good in their rink, so when you go to Cochrane you really have to be ready to play a good team game,” said Raycroft. “Our rink, we have got the Olympic-sized ice. It’s a big rink so we like to use that space by moving the puck a lot and taking advantage of our speed.”
Since the calendar switched to 2026, Wheatland has battled some of the top teams in the league. The Kings were defeated 3-1 at home by the Mountainview Colts, then bested the division-leading Medicine Hat Cubs 3-2 in overtime during the Jan. 16-17 home games.
“They were both really close games against some good teams and that is kind of what we wanted,” said Raycroft. “When you are getting ready for playoffs, you want to play the best teams and test yourself so you can see where we are at and get ready.”