Bus legs, growing pains as Oil Kings hit the road
Shortly after defeating the Red Deer Rebels in dramatic fashion in a nationally televised WHL game Saturday at Rogers Place, the Edmonton Oil Kings were loading hockey bags onto their team bus preparing for yet another extended road trip.
The Oil Kings have spent more time on the bus than in their own beds over the past month, playing nine of their last 12 games on the road.
Their most recent six-game road trip was broken up into three stages. The Oil Kings played two games, then returned home before heading back out on the road for the next two.
This jaunt through the B.C. Division will see the Oil Kings play four games in six days.
“You give up sleep and that’s the biggest thing when you’re managing yourself on the road,” Oil Kings head coach Steve Hamilton said. “Every bus trip you give up sleep, and then you start operating from a deficit and it’s hard to make that up, because we haven’t had a set amount of time to recoup that. We’ve played every second day, every third day. We travel in between and practice has been virtually nil.”
Trey Fix-Wolansky scored with 7.6 seconds left Saturday to give the Oil Kings a 4-3 win against the Rebels before departing to face the Kamloops Blazers on Monday.
The Oil Kings will also play the Victoria Royals on Wednesday, the Vancouver Giants on Friday and the Kelowna Rockets on Saturday. Then they’ll make the trek back from Kelowna and host the Saskatoon Blades in a Family Day matinee at Rogers Place on the following Monday.
“All the time on the road has been tough. It’s a little tiring, but at the same time, if we stay focused, I think we can use it as momentum where we can find a grove,” Oil Kings captain Colton Kehler said. “We don’t have a lot of time off, so with a game like (Saturday), hopefully emotions will stay high going into Kamloops.”
Last in the Eastern Conference standings and 14 points out of a playoff spot, the Oil Kings are essentially playing for next season. With a young club, part of their development is growing accustomed to spending long hours on the bus and competing away from home.
“It’s tough, just trying to get enough sleep and the legs are tired after a long trip. You get bus legs,” said Oil Kings rookie forward David Kope, 17. “But just the lack of sleep is the toughest thing though, arriving at places at 3 a.m. and then having to play that night. You just have to try and get as much sleep on the bus when you can.
“It’s been tough, especially with so many games on the road and being on the road so long, but you have to make do with it.”
Despite the grind, the Oil Kings do not want to throw in the towel on the season. The club wants to finish strong to have a solid foundation to build from next season.
“It’s the Western Hockey League and it’s known for its travel and you just have to fight through it and battle,” Kehler said. “We need wins. It’s a tough trip, but at the same time, we’re getting down to the crunch of it so there are no excuses: We need wins.”