Kings split weekend games

Justin Seward
Time Reporter

 

The Wheatland Kings performance from one weekend to the next is as different as night and day.
After going 0-3 the previous week, the local junior-B team defeated the Stettler Lightning 5-4 on the road on Oct. 17, before letting a 2-0 lead slip the following night in a 4-2 loss to Red Deer on home ice.
Kings forward Jay Manning thought the loss was a tough one to swallow, but said it’s a matter of the team bearing down on their chances to put teams away.
“We kind of let up in the third and they advanced on us,” said Manning. “I mean we got to learn from our mistakes and put that one behind us. We’ll come out next game and play better, more stronger.”
Manning thought they had a strong start to the game but felt they got too confident with the lead, where the Vipers were able to capitalize on their opportunities.
Coach Emilio Fouco did not fault the team’s compete level in the two games but said it’s just a matter of knowing how to finish games when having the lead.
“We played fairly well,” said Fouco. “We have a team that’s young and gelling and just needs to learn how to win those games. It was really a point of we didn’t take advantage of all our opportunities and they buried theirs.”
Fouco added that the game in Stettler was a case of just sticking with it and working hard while taking advantage of opportunities that the Lightning gave them.
Chris Williams scored two goals to lead the way, while Jacen Bracko, Brooker Pretty Youngman and Lucas Jones sniped one each in the win.
Pretty Youngman and rookie Colton Piercey scored in the loss to the Vipers.
The Kings will play three games in three days this weekend, beginning in Medicine Hat on Oct. 23 at 8:15 p.m.
They will host Mountainview on Oct. 24 (8 p.m.), and wrap up the weekend in Airdrie on Oct. 25 (3 p.m.).