The Strathmore Wheatland Kings had another split weekend. 

The team won their first game 4-2 on Friday, February 9, against the Airdrie Techmation Thunder. 

On Saturday, February 10, it was a close game, with the Kings losing 6-7 against the Coaldale Copperheads. 

“It was a game we needed to win. We should have won. It probably would have secured us a spot in the playoffs, with High River winning as well. At this point, we are only one point up on High River, and we only have one game left. We must hope that we win next week, and we get some help from the rest of the league to get us into the playoffs,” Lee Smith, General Manager of the Wheatland Kings, said. 

At this point, the Kings only have one game left, compared to High River, who have three games left, which puts them at an advantage. 

“We have to win and hope they lose too.” 

Smith thinks the Kings could have done some things better in the game against Coaldale. 

“I think we could have come out a little stronger. We didn't come out quickly. There weren't a whole bunch of things we did wrong; we played well. We dominated them in the third period. If we played like that the whole game, we would have won,” Smith said. 

Last week, Philip Raycroft re-injured his shoulder after being out for a few weeks and couldn't play this past weekend. 

Noah Van Steenis also separated his shoulder during the game on Friday and is now out with an injury. 

“We are a little banged up right now,” Smith said. 

The Kings will face off against the Red Deer Vipers on Saturday, February 17 at Servus Arena. 

“We can’t take them for granted. We got to go play our game, and I think we will be fine.” 

Smith is hopeful the team will make it to the playoffs. 

“If we make it to the playoffs, it will surprise people for sure. I think this team could be very dangerous in the playoffs, and we could do a lot of damage.” 

As of February 10, the Kings have won a total of 20 regular-season games and lost 21. 

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