The Strathmore Wheatland Kings split this weekend with a win at home against the Stettler Lightning and a loss at the hands of the High River Flyers. 

With a great crowd on hand, Saturday was a hard-fought win at home for the Wheatland Kings, beating the Stettler Lightning 3-2.

In the first period, neither team came away with a goal. Heading into the second period Braden Tanner opened up the scoring for the Kings, with assists from Nathan Waiboer and Ryan Leeper. Less than 10 seconds later, Matt Sylvester scored for the Lightning tying the score at 1-1.

A late power-play goal in the second period by Kings player Lucas Muenchrath from by Braden Tanner and Zachary Suntjens put the Kings up 2-1, with 30 seconds left in the second Lightning player Brenden Tucker scored sending the teams into the second intermission tied 2-2.

As the teams hit the ice for the third period there was a sense of urgency on both sides to get the go-ahead goal. Nathan Waiboer scored with assists from Jaycob Masciangelo and Thomas Tyson at 13:38.

With 2 late penalties against the Kings, the Lightning were pressing hard for that tying goal. The Kings were able to successfully kill off both penalties to hang on to their 3-2 lead.

The Lightning pulled their goalie in the last two minutes of the third and brought on the extra attacker in search of the tying goal, Kings goalie Brett Willan shut the Lightning down in the last minutes of the game ultimately stopping 34 of the 37 shots he faced securing the 3-2 victory for the Wheatland Kings. The player of the game was #17 Braden Tanner with a goal and an assist during Saturday's home game.

Assistant Coach Chris Williams had some great takeaways for this weekend's games. "We started off good with the win on Saturday a bit of a hard-fought game it was a close one it showed some trued colors from some of our boys that night that we haven't seen yet this far into the season. It was good to see the fight they have and the battle to win as well."

The Kings traveled to High River on Sunday. The team made three goals in the second period. The score was at 3-2 Kings heading into the third period. High River came back with two quick goals in the third to take the victory 4-3.

"On Sunday it was the same type of game at High River it's always a physical game and good learning lessons for our younger guys as well just to be prepared for those tough physical games where you gotta be willing to put your body on the line at times whether it's blocking a shot or making a big hit or taking a hit," Said Williams.

Wheatland Kings goalie Brett Willan is coming off of his rookie year and is the starting goalie for this season. Looking back on both games this weekend Williams had high praise for goalie Brett Willan,"Brett is our goalie this year and we have told him it's his crease and he gives us a chance to win every night.  He faced quite a few shots on Saturday and it was the same story on Sunday just him keeping us in the game at all times." 

The Wheatland Kings have two away games before their next home game on November 10 as the team takes on the Coaldale Copperheads at 4:30 p.m.. The Kings last faced the Copperheads on October 20 and came away with a 4-1 victory at home.

Williams knows the team is in for a tough game on November 10. "They're not a team that likes to lose and they are always an elite team in this league. When we do play them well and get the win like we did a few weeks ago, they're going to be wanting to come in and definitely try and get the win against us, but I know our boys are going to be confident in shutting them down," said Williams.

During this coming Sunday's home game, the Kings are having "Camo Day" and encourage fans that come out to wear camouflage in support of our veterans and all of the service members currently serving in our armed forces leading up to Remembrance Day.