Kings take down Flyers

By Brady Grove, Times Reporter

The Strathmore Wheatland Kings finally broke down the wall that was the High River Flyers 2-1 in the fourth round of a shootout on Jan. 12 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The Kings poured on the attack all game, outshooting the opposition 42-27, and finally securing the win in the fourth round of the shootout off the stick of defenseman Tyler Skehar.
“I’d been practicing that move since I was a young kid in novice and I got it pretty locked down,” said Skehar. “I just had confidence and wasn’t worried.”
Kings goaltender Riley Stovka made a big save to give his team a chance to win the game in the shootout. Skehar was called upon to face the brick wall that is Flyers goaltender Chantz Vinck, who made 41 saves in the loss. Skehar skated straight in and appeared to be going forehand until he put the brakes on and shifted to his backhand, fooling Vinck and winning the game.
“He gives us a chance to win every night,” said Flyers head coach Colten Hayes. “We’re very fortunate to have him as a goalie.”
The Kings outplayed the Flyers throughout most of the game and fired a ton of pucks on net. In the first period, the host team fired 13 shots at Vinck but he stopped them all, despite the Kings using a stretch pass to gain access to the offensive zone over and over.
The Kings finally got on the board when Kings forward Isaac Benoit was stripped of the puck at his own blue line and gave up a good chance, forcing Stovka to make a big pad save. Benoit got the puck back and rushed it down the ice, finding teammate Lucas Muenchrath who sent it to Garret Vander Ploeg who buried his 16th goal of the season.
Flyers rookie Liam Thiessen would tie the game up before the second period ended with a sneaky point shot. The Kings kept up the attack, wave after wave, in the third period but Vinck wouldn’t let another shot until the shootout.
Overtime solved nothing but saw more Kings pressure with a few good chances by the Flyers.
“I thought everyone really bought in,” said Skehar. “We all put our maximum effort in and we’re a strong team when everyone works hard.”
Skehar hasn’t been with the team long but has been solid with two goals in three games including his shootout winner. Skehar said he has played with some of the Kings before and called it a really good group which made a big difference for him.
It was important for the Kings to get the two points against the Flyers because they lost 6-5 to the Okotoks Bisons on Jan. 11. The two teams traded goals throughout the game but a three-goal third period tipped the game in favour of the Bisons.
Benoit had four points in the contest and Muenchrath was the dish master with three assists. Kings goalie Brett Willan made 31 saves in the loss.
The Kings hold a 14-14-2 record and sit fifth place in the south division. The Kings host the Blackfalds Wranglers on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. and then face the Lomond Lakers on Jan. 19 in Bassano.