8 rookies dress for Wheat Kings in season opener

Austin Wilson was named captain of the Killam Wheat Kings for the 2013-14 season.
Austin Wilson was named captain of the Killam Wheat Kings for the 2013-14 season.

The Killam Wheat Kings hosted the Vermilion Tigers on Friday, Sept. 27 in the 2013-14 season home opener for the NEAJBHL to a nice-sized crowd in attendance.

Despite outshooting the visitors 23-16, the Wheaties came up short in a 2-1 loss to the Tigers. Both teams were 1-6 on the power-play.

Austin Wilson is the new captain for the 2013-14 season. The Wheat Kings have a very young team with eight rookies on the roster.

The nerves showed early on, but for the most part they seemed to settle in by the third. A few newcomers fit right in from the opening whistle and made an impression on the crowd.

Jared Heisler scored for the Killam Wheat Kings in home opener 2-1 loss to the Vermilion Tigers on Friday, Sept. 27.
Jared Heisler scored for the Killam Wheat Kings in home opener 2-1 loss to the Vermilion Tigers on Friday, Sept. 27.

Brad Olsen was in net for the Wheaties. Jared Heisler scored the lone goal on a feed from Jordan Sand and Brady Johnson.

Coach Kelvin Tuftin said, “It was a tough game to lose. The boys played well enough to win, but we couldn’t get a lead through 40. We ran out of legs in the third when we needed to score to tie things up.”

The Wheat Kings travel to Vegreville on Friday, Oct. 4 to meet the Rangers.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Wheat Kings host the Cold Lake Ice with puck slated to drop at 8 p.m.