Chase Clayton is this Week’s Strathmore Motor Products King of the Week!  

This 20-year-old defensive player stands at 5’10” and weighs 190 pounds. He has been on the team for a couple of years now and is enjoying actually getting to play his favourite game this year.  

It has been a rough couple of weekends for the Kings, but Clayton is looking forward to redemption during this upcoming three-game weekend, wrapping up with the team's final home game of 2021. 

“I think we need to come in with a little bit better focus than the last couple weekends,” he expressed.  “We've come in pretty strong the first couple periods and then the third period we let off and let them walk all over us. I think the guys and I just need to really focus on playing the full 60 minutes and really just doing what we do in practice.” 

On Sunday, the Kings will be at home playing the High River Flyers. This game is a special one for the team as they are hosting a donation drive for the Wheatland County Food Bank. Hockey fans can bring in a canned food item and receive free entry to the game.  

It is initiatives like this that really hit home for Clayton, “I think it's pretty important because, without the community support, we wouldn't be the organization that we are.  We have tons of people around the community come to our games and support our team. Without the community, we are way less of an organization."

Playing with so many hometown players makes home games even more special for Clayton. He said that he can feel the shift in momentum in this year's group of players.  

“I think the biggest highlight for me is we've got a bunch of young guys and they could still play for a couple more years. I won’t be able to play with them forever but they’ll have at least four years on the Kings, so it will be cool to watch the team, grow. Everyone is pretty close; everyone will hang out after practice and games. That is a pretty big highlight for me.” 

Clayton felt the struggle of not being able to play hockey last year due to the pandemic. He explained that experience allowed him to never take hockey for granted ever again, “Hockey is more of a privilege now than just something you could do all the time. “ 

During Christmas, the Clayton family home is filled with family and even more hockey. He explained that he loves the sport so much that he will continue to play even over the Christmas break. 

“Actually, we do put on a little bit of an outdoor rink in at our house so there will definitely be some hockey played and just getting together with some of my family. “ 

You can catch the Strathmore Wheatland Kings take on the High River Flyers this Sunday at the Strathmore Family Arena at 4:15 p.m. Don’t forget to bring a food donation item!