Busslinger scores scholarship in another Kings loss
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Tyler Lowey Photo
Before puck drop Jan. 20, when the Strathmore Wheatland Kings played host to the division-leading Okotoks Bisons, the team took a moment to recognize one of their leaders with a highly regarded scholarship at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Alternate captain Cole Busslinger was this year’s Kevin O’Keefe Scholarship award winner.
Kevin O’Keefe was the father of Miles, who was the inaugural captain of the Kings and served as the team leader for three seasons. In 98 career games with the Kings from 2008-11, the defenceman logged three goals and 27 points.
“Cole is a hard worker and this scholarship will help him with his schooling next year. He definitely deserved it,” said Kings Assistant Coach Keenan Desmet. “There were other kids on our team going to school with just as good of chance of getting it, but it’s something he’s earned over the past few years and we are happy for him.”
The $500 scholarship was established to honour Kevin’s zest for life, dedication to family and friends, and his unrelenting spirit through his courageous battle with Lou Gerhig’s disease. Kevin passed away in August of 2010.
Busslinger, along with all other hopefuls, had to submit a written proposal explaining why he felt he was worthy of the scholarship with his efforts on and off the ice.
From the group of applicants, the coaching and management staff of the Kings, along with Miles’ dad, had to pick the winning candidate.
“It’s truly an honour to be chosen for this scholarship. I went to school for two years with Miles at SAIT and knew him pretty well. We hit it off pretty good when I found out that he was a former captain of the Kings just as I was coming into my first year with the team,” said Busslinger. “Whenever he would talk about his dad, I could see the traits in him that got passed down from his dad. Miles was a great guy. He pushed me in the classroom and it really helped me out. Two of my best academic years were because I shared a classroom with him.”
Busslinger is currently in online classes as he prepares for the energy engineering program at the University of Calgary this spring.
The Indus product and man of the hour carried the emotions of the pregame ceremony into the first period, when he banked in a power play goal in the first period from behind the net.
“I was following the play and we had the puck at the point. (Brad) Tingey got the puck on the wall and shot it on net,” said Busslinger. “The rebound went to the end wall and I saw that their goalie over skated past the net, so I quickly shot it and off him and it went in.”
In the second period, Tingey turned the puck over in the offensive zone and fired a quick shot past Devin Reagan.
That was all the Kings would manage, as the Bisons (20-9-2) piled on a pair of goals in the third to take the back half of the home-and-home 4-2.
One night earlier, the Bisons put up a five-spot in the first and skated to a 7-4 victory at Murray Arena.
It was a shooters paradise, as the Bisons edged the Kings 60-55 in shots.
Rookie Chayse Hnatowich was last at Murray Arena for the HJHL All-Star Game Jan. 7 and put on an all-star performance in his return, recording his first career hat trick.
Scoring each period, Hnatowich completed the deal on the power play at the 4:26 mark of the third period from Austin Holmes — who picked up his ninth goal of the season in the first — and Kody Hammond.
Typically, this year, when a player on the Kings records a hat trick, they win. They previously went on a six-game heater where a player recorded a hat trick in each win. This marked the first time a player pulled off the hatty in a losing effort.
Hnatowich’s goal-scoring burst was a rarity for the Kings, who feel like they have been outplaying teams lately, but not getting the right bounces at the right times.
“The chances we are getting have been good and it’s good to keep getting those chances, but we need to start bearing down on those opportunities and putting pucks in the back of the net,” said Assistant Coach Braden Desmet. “
Wrapping up a three-game weekend, the Kings fell 2-1 to the Coaldale Copperheads (19-9-2) Jan. 21 at the Family Centre.
Backup netminder Calum Humble was amazing in the loss, picking up 47 saves. Affiliated player Jayden Hendricks netted his second career goal in the loss.
“Hendricks plays with his nose to the grindstone. He’s a tough kid with a good shot and is very coachable,” said Keenan. “Hopefully he’s interested in coming here next year.”
The Kings (11-17-2) will begin their final six-game stretch of the regular season Jan. 27 when they take on the Cochrane Generals at the Spray Lakes Family Sports Centre. They return home Jan. 28 to host the Medicine Hat Cubs (11-18-1) at the Family Centre. Puck drop is slated for 5 p.m.