Kings pick up a pair of wins

By Mario Prusina, Times Editor

The Strathmore Wheatland Kings improved to 5-4-1 on the season with a pair of wins over the weekend.
The local Junior B team picked up a solid 5-2 road win over the Stettler Lightning on Oct. 19, before defeating the High River Flyers 4-2 on Oct. 21 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The Kings picked up their second road win of the season by taking a 4-0 lead over the Lightning, en route to the win.
In the Stettler game, Hayden Vander Ploeg, Garret Vander Ploeg, Cole Busslinger, Robert Butterwick and Isaac Benoit each scored a goal, while Brett Willan made 18 saves on 20 shots to pick up the win.
The Kings returned home two days later to take on the High River Flyers. Rylee Hebert opened the scoring for the Kings in the first period, before the Flyers tied it at one midway through the second period. Eric Sandum scored a pair of goals 40 seconds apart to close out the period, before the Flyers rallied with 7:30 left in the third period. However, Butterwick iced the game with an empty netter late in the third.
Riley Stovka made 25 saves on 27 shots to ensure the victory.
The Kings will now begin a stretch of three games in four nights, starting with a home game versus Medicine Hat (4-4-2) on Oct. 27 (8 p.m.), before traveling to Medicine Hat the next day at 2 p.m. The Kings will close out the month with a home date against the division-leading Okotoks Bison (8-2-1) on Oct. 30 (8:15 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.