Stampeders & Kings begin highway 10 rivalry
Stampeders: 2-0-0-0 (1st in West) Power Play % (31.3% 5th in MJHL) Penalty Kill % (72.7% 9th in MJHL)
Kings: 0-1-1-0 (6th in West) Power Play % (18.2% 8th in MJHL) Penalty Kill % (83.3% T4th in MJHL)
It’s the first of 6 meetings between these two Highway 10 rivals, as the Stampeders and Kings face off for the first time this season. Both of these two teams enter the second weekend of the regular season in opposite standpoints, but things can change in an instant.
Last weekend;
The Stampeders opened up the season with back to back wins over the Northern Manitoba Blizzard by 5-2, and 4-2 wins. It’s the first time Swan has started 2-0 in 6 years. Dauphin on the other hand lost both of their games to the Selkirk Steelers, once in overtime and once in regulation. The Kings will enter the weekend looking for their first win, hungrier than ever.
Takeaways;
The defence of the Stampeders was a bright spot last weekend. All defensive pairings were doing their jobs and playing their roles to the letter which also led to a strong penalty kill weekend, something that the Stampeders have struggled with in the last three years.
Star power was a big time key point for the Stamps, as Dylan Ruff, Ben Groome, Trace Langan, and Easton Falls were lethal in the two wins over the Blizzard. If there’s one thing to take note of, those four will have eyes on them already.
Once again, buying into the systems was crucial as every player bought into their roles and played them efficiently. Working as a team and grinding away at a 60 minute game will be huge for the Stampeders.
The opponent;
Dauphin couldn’t find a lot of goal scoring in the losses to Selkirk, but they never stopped working hard, which is something the Stampeders need to take note of. No team can be taken lightly, and the Stampeders will address that once in Dauphin.
