Penalties hurt Kings

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Wheatland Kings have suffered another snag in their schedule as they try to correct a mini four-game slide.
The Blackfalds Wranglers whacked the Kings 6-1 Nov. 1 and the High River Flyers clipped the Kings 4-3 Nov. 4.
“I’m not too sure what has happened. We are playing good, I really think it is a couple bounces that haven’t gone our way,” said Kings forward Cole Busslinger.
Three of the four losses on this current streak have been of the one-goal variety including an exaggerated shootout loss to the Ponoka Stampeders (3-11-1) Oct. 23.
“We have the skill to compete with any team, we just have to stay out of penalty trouble and we should be fine,” said Kings netminder Pierre Wiederhold.
The Kings (4-8-3) penalty kill has been near flawless on the road. They lead the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) with an 84.62 penalty kill percentage away from the Strathmore Family Centre. But when they are forced to send a player to the box, they take away from possible time that they could be unleashing their crash-the-net offence into the other zone.
The Kings killed all five Flyer power plays, but ran out of time in the third period to mount a comeback.
Alternate captain Cole Busslinger brought the Kings within one with 11:40 remaining in the third from d-man Hayden Vanderploeg, but they couldn’t push another across.
“I thought we controlled the pace in the final 10 minutes. There might have been a few chances where we just missed the net, where is if we bear down a little more, maybe we could have made things happen. High River also capitalized on all their good chances, and that is something we are missing out on right now,” said Busslinger, who is fourth on the team with six goals and 12 points.
The Kings also carry the top-ranked power play in the HJHL, operating at a 32.35 per cent clip.
The efficient power play unit of Kristian Ayoungman, Brooker Pretty Youngman and Matt Thomson connected to opening the scoring in the first. It was Ayoungman’s 10th goal of the season.
Brenden Moore added a goal another power play marker in the second from Nolan Lightning and Ayoungman.
Brady Hoover was given a breather, so rookie Pierre Wiederhold got the call between the pipes.
The Okotoks native played for his hometown midget AA Oilers last season. This was his third start and his first action since Oct. 23.
“I just prepare the same way I always do; work hard in practice to get ready for the weekend. Brady has done a great job in net all year, but I need to be ready for any situation. I make sure I eat right and mentally focus in case I get called upon,” said Wiederhold, who made 35 stops.
The Kings were trounced 8-1 by the Wranglers (8-5-0) on one of three Tuesday night tilts this season.
The Wranglers were relentless, scoring two goals each frame. Thomson pushed an unassisted goal across at the 19:35 mark of the second.
There is some low hanging fruit approaching the Kings as they aim to shake this schneid.
The Three Hills Thrashers (5-9-1) host the Kings Nov. 11 at Centennial Arena. The Kings return home Nov. 12 to host the Stettler Lightning (6-7-1) 8:15 p.m. at the Strathmore Family Centre.