Kings looking to stay hot on home ice

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“I knew we were going to be a really young team but if you work as hard as our guys do every day and have buy-in, that bridges the age a little bit. Our goal has been to win the division and I’m not surprised at all, just with the people we have in that room. They bring a good attitude every day and they work extremely hard and that’s all we can ask for.”

While Cooper is known as the backup goalie he approaches practices like he’s going out as the everyday starter.

“As a rookie in the league I always want to be thinking that I’m the man,” said Cooper. “Obviously you have to kind of realize the situation, which I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit back. I’m going to keep working like I have been doing to try to get more games.

“DeBrouwer has been amazing back there and has been a huge help and I’m trying to do my best back there too and I think we’re doing a good job. Our goal is to be in first pace by the (Christmas) break and I think we can do that, even though we’re missing a couple of guys for Canada West.”

Heading into tonight’s game at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (7 p.m. start), the Kings have won seven of their last eight games at home and could emerge from the weekend sitting first in the standings. They will be without two of their top scorers with winger Ethan de Jong and centre Kyle Johnson in Truro, N.S., playing for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge.

The Kings and Bulldogs (8-16-24) tied 3-3 in Port Alberni on Oct. 21. On Saturday the Kings will host the Wenatchee Wild (20-82-1), who play tonight in Merritt. The Kings lost a 3-2 decision to the Wild on Nov. 11 in Wenatchee.

Kings defenceman Tyler Slater, 20, is expected to be in the lineup tonight to face his former Bulldog teammates for the first time. The six-foot-two, 207-pounder from Courtenay was traded to the Spruce Kings last week for 18-year-old defenceman Luc Salem and made his Kings’ debut against Salmon Arm. The Kings have been looking for a big guy to clear the net area for the goalies and Slater brings that, having played in the league since the start of last season.

“He’s really good in that locker-room and he’s been a great addition – he adds that veteran presence on the back end,” said Maglio. “He has good size and he defends well and he add that experience we need pushing into the tail end of the year.”