Kings falter on home ice

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Agra Risk Wheatland Kings were defeated in their first home game of the new year, falling to the Okotoks Bisons 4-1, Jan. 11.

“They are a good team, and we feel like we are really closing the gap and becoming a good team as well. I think for us it is just … take the experience and what went well and what did not, and we are going to try and work on that now,” said Doug Raycroft, head coach of the Wheatland Kings. “It is tough right now – I remember High River cancelled one game right before Christmas so then we had to make up a game on a Tuesday, and we missed a practice. Basically, we have only had one practice since the new year, so it is kind of hard to work on anything.”

Following Saturday’s loss, the goal is to refocus and adjust the team’s plays in order to be better prepared for the next, and final time the Kings will play the Bisons prior to the start of the playoffs.

Despite the final score, Raycroft said it was a closely matched game, with Okotoks having been able to capitalize on several breaks and opportunities to score, particularly during the third period.

“I do not like to complain about officials in the newspaper or the press, but it was pretty one sided anyway. We had to kill some five-on-threes, and they are just too good of a team to give those power play opportunities to,” he said. “There were a couple situations where they (the referees) missed a call and it was a dangerous situation for a couple of our players, and then they got some retaliation on our guys … we try to kill penalties, we are pretty good at it, but when you give Okotoks too many power plays, they are going to capitalize.”

The Kings opened the week with a 5-2 road win over High River on Jan. 7, before a 10-3 road win over Three Hills on Jan. 10. The local Junior-B team will now travel to Medicine Hat on Jan. 17, before returning home to host the High River Flyers on Jan. 18 (4:30 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.

The Kings will square off again against the Bisons in Okotoks on Jan. 31. Puck drop will be at 8 p.m.