Kings suffer first home loss
Team never found its form en route to falling 4-3 to Kitchener, now look to get on track this weekend
SUNDAY NIGHT WASN’T EASY for the Elmira Sugar Kings. It was their first loss on home ice since the start of the 2016-2017 season.
The team hosted the Kitchener Dutchmen at the Dan Snyder Arena, and after struggling from the very first puck drop, never managed to get back on track. The final score was 4-3.
Head coach Ty Canal says he isn’t used to seeing the guys chasing the puck like they were on Sunday night.
“It didn’t go the way we wanted it to, that’s for sure. The first period was uncharacteristic of us as well, and we haven’t been playing like that in the first period, for one, and two, we haven’t been playing like that at home. It was one of those games that we didn’t get out of the gate the way we wanted to, and we had to chase all night and it was just unfortunate,” he said. “We couldn’t generate a whole lot that night and we turned the puck over too much, we took some penalties that we shouldn’t have and if we did have any momentum, it stopped in a hurry.”
Canal believes the first period of the game showed what the rest of the game would look like.
“I mean, we got some goals that we needed, three goals isn’t bad. We were in the game, but we had some chances to capitalize and we didn’t. Then, we gave them another scoring opportunity and more momentum. It was just one of those games where it was going to be a grind to win, and we were lucky to be in it until the end,” he said.
There were some positives, however.
“Every period got better. We were playing a little bit better into the second, we were able to tie it up going into the third,” he said. “The third is usually a really good period for us as well, especially when we are tied, or if we have the lead. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t come out on top in that game.”
Along with lackluster game play, the Kings had one player take a particularly bad hit. Mitch Hoelscher was taken to the hospital after being hit into the penalty box on the powerplay.
“It is tough to say whether he will be back next weekend, but with the early reports, I doubt it. But, we always hope for the best. You have to make sure that whatever the case is, is that he is healthy. We aren’t going to rush anything,” said Canal. “He is a big part of the team, but we want to make sure that he is back where he needs to be. All our guys are, and to play the way we want to play and the way we like to play, we need everyone in the lineup.”
Next up for the Kings, an away game versus the Cambridge Winter Hawks, a team they lost to in their last meeting just a couple of weeks ago.
“Our guys definitely know that, so I think we are going to make sure that we rebound. We have two
things,” said Canal. “We lost in Cambridge last time and we lost on Sunday, so the guys are going to be ready for that, to make sure that we can bounce off the carpet after a weekend like this, and I think the big thing is that if we come out strong, then we play better and seem to settle in. Early on, our guys can feed off one another.”
On Sunday, the Kings will be back on home ice against the Waterloo Siskins. Elmira has defeated Waterloo in the teams’ last two meetings.
“It is going to be a recovery game for us as well. Losing at home on Sunday, and now the next Sunday, we have to make sure that we come back ready to play the way we need to play,” said Canal. “Waterloo is quick and we have to make sure that we are on our game to play like we should at home.”
The puck drops against Cambridge at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Galt Arena. On Dec. 4, the Kings go up against the Siskins at 7 p.m.