The Strathmore Wheatland Kings  hockey team played their first game of the regular season against the Okotoks Bisons at home on Saturday night. 

Bob Grove, Doug Murphy, and Tom Wynnyk, who originally started the team, completed the ceremonial puck drop at centre ice that officially started the game. 

The night was not in favor of the Kings, however, and the game went 6-1 Bisons. Head Coach for the Kings Joel Robinson explained how the game went.

“I think we took way too many penalties. I think that's the reason why we lost that game. I think there were a lot of things on the bench, and things on the ice that we realized as a coaching staff that we have to work on,” he said.

The Kings were excited for the home opener. For some, it was their first game in a Junior B league according to Robinson, “I think last night we had a lot of excitement, and I think our vets really played the role of what they do as vets. They really stepped up and they knew what we had to do last night.”

The Kings are preparing for their next game by practicing their game plan, which consists of speed, taking the puck wide, and generating puck possession in the opponent's zone. The team will also focus on dictating the pace of play, as they consider themselves one of the faster teams in the league. 

“It's just working with those younger guys now, the rookies in our league, and just teaching them how to play in our league and how to be effective at all times of the game,” explained Robinson. 

Robinson added that despite their loss, it is the first game of the season, and they will have 37 more games to come to hone their skills. The Kings have three consecutive games on the weekend of September 27-29, with their first of three games on Friday against the Lomond Lakers at 8:00 p.m. at the Strathmore Family Centre.