Josh Alberda is the Strathmore Motor Products King of the Week!

Second year forward Josh Alberda is this week's Strathmore Motor Products King of the Week!

With their first playoff game coming up tonight at 8:00 p.m., Alberda said the team's focus is to keep their momentum going, as they're 5-1 in their last 6 games.

"It's more of trying to build off of what we've been doing lately the past couple of games. Just trying to keep grinding, better starts, and play like we've been doing."

During their hot streak the Kings have earned wins over top teams like the Okotoks Carstar Bisons and Medicine Hat Cubs, and Alberda credits the team's success to focusing on small details.

"I think we're moving the puck around very well, moving our feet, communicating with each other out there. It's just all the little things we're doing right, and our power play is starting to heat up a little bit more, our penalty kills have been doing fairly decent the last couple games as well."

Photo Courtesy Joe Lepage photography

The Kings recent success may have seemed improbable at the start of the year, as they struggled to get going and suffered a 10 game losing streak. As the season went on, the young team full of rookies learned to adjust to the speed of Junior B hockey and get comfortable on the ice, which Alberda says has been fun to be a part of.

"Watching our first years grow from the start of the season and now, it's like watching 2 completely different teams, but guys are starting to go move their feet and you can see the first years are starting to get a little more physical out there, not putting up with some of the stuff that other teams are giving to them, and that's very important when you have all the guys starting to go on the team." 

As a second year player, Alberda has already lived the rookie experience and knows what it takes to be successful in the league. As a leader for the rookies, he said he's more of a silent lead by example guy, and he lets other more vocal teammates like Joel Romano and Chase Clayton dish out valuable advice.

Alberda and the team will hit the ice at 8:00 p.m. tonight to take on the Coaldale Copperheads in their first playoff game of the season.