With another season in the books for the Strathmore Wheatland Kings it was time to get together and celebrate the successes of the 2021 – 2022 season with team's annual banquet.

The team made it to the playoffs this year and came up against a tough opponent in the Okotoks Bisons, ultimately the Bisons won round two with the Kings playing their last game in February. The banquet held on Friday night was the first time many of the players have been back together since the end of the season.

Strathmore Wheatland Kings GM Lee Smith was thankful they were able to hold this event in person for the first time since the start of COVID-19.
“Our banquet was great, we had lots of people, and sponsors, and the guys were all really happy to see each other.”

This year awards were handed in different areas, this season awards for the Top Forwards were veteran players Jayden Hendricks and Garret Vander Ploeg and Top Defensemen went to Zach Suntjens.

Other players recognized with awards were Rookie of the Year Joel Romano, Most Dedicated Player went to Chase Clayton and the MVP for the year was veteran goaltender Brett Willan.

Next year the team will look a little different for long-time fans of the Kings, four players who have had a big impact on and off the ice Jayden Hendricks, Garret Vander Ploeg, Zach Suntjens, and goaltender Brett Willan all played their final season.

With core players moving on Smith did note that the team this year did have a lot of new players and in a difficult division there is a lot to be optimistic about.

“This season was definitely a good one at the beginning of the year we weren’t sure what we had. A lot of younger guys really shone for us and made it a good season, I would absolutely call the season a success.”

There were a lot of firsts for the team this year and the Kings will be back next year with the hope of building on this past season and seeing many of this year's rookies come back for a second season.

All photos are credited to team photographer Joe LePage. 

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