by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — The Whitewater Kings are back in action this Saturday at the Astrolabe Arena when the Arnprior Packers come for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
The Kings are in the middle of the Richardson Division pack in 5th place out of 8 teams with 34 points.
“We’re comparable with the teams in fourth to sixth place in that division,” said coach Daryl Faught, while sitting in his tractor Wednesday afternoon.
Coach Faught said the team has surprised most people. The team is young, with many 16 and 17-year-olds compared to the 18 to 20-year-old teams.
“I think we took them by surprise earlier in the season, because now when they play us, they come to play,” he said. “The games are very tough because they figured we were a weak team but found out otherwise.”
Coach Faught noted there are three good forward lines, as they can compete with the rest of the league. Jacob McIntyre is in the top six and Peter White not far behind.
Sixteen-year-old Dylan Kuehl and 17-year-old Quinn Vanhoof have had a really good year so far. Vanhoof was named Rookie of the Month for December. He led all rookie skaters with seven goals in December while his nine points were second best to rookie teammate Keuhl. In 34 games this season, the Petawawa native has scored 16 goals and totalled 27 points.
“Up front, we’re very good,” he said.
The defence is a different story with many young players, he said.
“They take longer to mature,” Coach Faught said. “They’re a work in progress. They’re coming along good but they do make mistakes. You can’t make a mistake on defence that’s not very noticeable.”
He would prefer a few more veteran defence players, but they’ll come along, he said.
At the start of the year, Coach Faught said if they won six games, he’d be happy.
“We’ve won 17 games, so I think everybody’s expectations have been met,” he said.
Not knowing the players for the inaugural team, Coach Faught said the Ottawa teams were much older and more experienced, so didn’t think the Kings would do as well as they have against them.
“Once we did make the team, we were young,” he said. “There’s a big difference between 16 to 20-year-olds by hockey standards.”
The Kings have meshed together well, he said.
Coach Faught believes the players needed a break. The American players were able to go home for the Christmas season.
“Hopefully they all got a little bit of skating in,” he said. “They’re young and in good shape, so once we get onto the ice tomorrow night and go over a few things, we’ll be good to go.”
To keep the momentum going, the forwards can match up with anybody in the league, but “we need a real good forecheck going all the time and try to pen the other teams in their end and play in the defensive zone. We have to move the puck quick, we can’t fool around with it. We have to get it up quick to the forwards and hopefully put the pressure on that way.”
As for making the playoff season, Coach Faught said it will be tough. The top three teams in each division will make the playoffs and then the next four teams with the most points make the playoffs.
“We’re one of the four wildcard teams, but Perth is right behind us,” he said.
With the Kings facing many of the metro (Ottawa) teams, it’s going to be tough, he said.
Coach Faught is pleased with the attendance at the games, admitting it’s difficult to get the fans to come for a Thursday night game. There’s usually about 150 fans in attendance at the Astrolabe Arena for the Saturday night games.
He said this has been a great learning experience for the players, even if they don’t make the playoffs.
“If we can end the year with 50/50 in wins and losses, it’s going to make more kids want to play next year,” Coach Faught said. “It’s been a great stepping stone for future seasons for them.”
