The Wheatland Kings regular season is officially over, and they ended it in strong fashion by winning their last two home games of the season. They took care of business on Saturday by handling the High River Flyers 5-2, and followed that up with an impressive 3-2 win over the Medicine Hat Cubs on Sunday. Overall, they finished the weekend 2-1, as they lost 2-4 to Airdrie on the road on Friday.

Medicine Hat is second in the division and one of the better teams in the league, which made overcoming them a challenge all season for the Kings. Their win last weekend was their first victory over the Cubs all season, which Kings GM Lee Smith said was a huge confidence booster for the team as they prepare for the playoffs.

"The guys are now able to believe in themselves and they understand that we do have a good hockey club. We're definitely hitting our stride at the right time."

The Kings have gone on a tear to close out their regular season, as they have now won five of their last six games, included the previously mentioned Cubs victory and an impressive victory over the Okotoks Carstar Bisons on January 27. Smith called the Bisons arguably the best Junior B team in the country, and definitely in the province, so the Kings have now racked up quality wins over top-level opponents during this successful run. He added this was always the goal from the start: build the team for late season and playoff success.

"We're definitely getting our momentum and that's how we were trying to do it was to build for the playoffs. Now the second season starts and we're ready to go."

The Kings have always had a passionate and loyal fanbase, and Smith hopes they come out stronger than ever this Thursday as they prepare for their first playoff game against the Coaldale Copperheads. The puck drops on home ice at 8:00 p.m.

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