Winning weekend
Doug Taylor Photo
The Stettler Lightning (1-2-0) haven’t been world beaters in the north division by any measure, but the Kings didn’t take anything for granted and earned the 6-3 decision Sept. 28 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
Newly named alternate captain and local product Isaac Benoit produced his first of what could be many hat tricks this season.
Benoit got things going in the first period when Garret Vander Ploeg spotted him 2:54 into the opening frame.
That line got it going seven minutes later when former Wheatland Athletic Association teammate Lucas Muenchrath popped in his first of the season from Vander Ploeg and Benoit.
Staying hot on the power play midway through the first, Vander Ploeg picked up his third point of the period from Brenden Moore and Muenchrath.
A scoreless second period led to a back-and-forth third kick-started by Kyle Bracko at 2:28.
Benoit completed his hat trick with a pair of goals wrapped around two snipes by the Lightning.
Riley Stovka yielded three goals in the third but stopped 28 pucks in total to record his first HJHL win.
The Kings (2-1-1) didn’t let off the gas pedal the following night at the Servus Arena in Red Deer when they took on the Vipers (1-2-0).
The scoring was more spread out, as the Kings recorded the 6-4 decision.
After leading the defensive core in scoring last year, Hayden Vander Ploeg pumped in his first of the season from local products Kody Hammond and Bailey Filkohazy 34 seconds into the opening frame.
Hammond was just getting going, as he tapped in his first of the year from captain Cole Busslinger and Eric Sandum.
The Vipers answered with a pair of goals before Hammond reaped the rewards once again from linemates Busslinger and Sandum 7:35 into the second.
Hammond is on pace to shatter his goal total from last year, when he only netted four goals in 33 games after supplying 11 goals in 36 games as a rookie two years ago.
Brady Skiffington notched his first power play marker before the ice dried in the third and Muenchrath netted the winner with 7:10 left on the clock from Muenchrath and Garret Vander Ploeg.
Rookie Thomas Gmitter scored his first goal as a Kings player with 1:50 left in regulation from Tyler Wirth and A.J. Kusu.
Still going with a tandem between the pipes, Brett Willan kept pace with Stovka and earned his first win of the season after making 19 saves.
The Kings will open up their October portion of their schedule on Oct. 6 at home when they host the Vipers in a rematch.
Playing the following night, the Kings will take on the Blackfalds Wranglers (0-1-1) at the Blackfalds Arena.