The Orillia Mister Transmission Kings are off to a hot start to their new season.
Through the first two weeks of the 2024 campaign, the Jr. B Kings are 3-1-0. Their only loss came to the 2022 Founders Cup champion Nepean Knights on Saturday night, a game they lost 13-3.
Head coach Jim Meredith says the Knights have great players and are well-coached.
"We got off to a real slow start" in that game, he said. "Through two periods, we sort of stayed with them. And then in the third period we kind of fell apart."
Playing the former champion was a good "learning experience" for Meredith's group. Jake Curran, Colsen Maracle and Devun Colebrook were the only Kings' goal-scorers in the contest.
On Sunday, the Kings bounced back, defeating the Gloucester Griffins 17-11.
"The Griffins are just as big as the Knights, maybe not as fast and not as aggressive defensively, but the boys didn't back down," Meredith said. "So, we adjusted a few things on our offence a bit."
The Kings were dominant on loose balls, on defence, and the scoresheet in the contest. Six Kings' goals came from winning faceoffs.
"That's something a little bit different from last year," Meredith said. "It makes a big difference when you win 80 to 85 per cent of your draws over a game."
Aidan Colebrook led the team in face-off victories on the day. Winning a draw six seconds into the second period led to a Ty Ross goal. Colebrook winning possession to start the third period led to a Jack Marwick goal nine seconds into the final frame.
Marwick and Maracle led the team with two goals and a pair of assists each on Sunday. Sam Neely, Jesse Ashkewe, Carson Thayer and Kaleb Parkhurst each had a pair of goals.
Meredith says the victory in Gloucester was a significant moment for the franchise.
"This is our third year going there and we've never won a game before," he said. "So that was big. The boys were happy on the way home."
On Tuesday, the Kings escaped West Durham with a 10-8 victory over the Ironheads. They were led offensively by Alex May, who netted a hat trick.
"We didn't play a great game last night," Meredith said. "We were good enough to win, but we made a lot of mental mistakes and took five unsportsmanlike penalties."
Meredith says his team will need to be more disciplined to have sustained success this season.
"They probably got half their goals on power plays last night," he said. "Hopefully we learn from that."
On Saturday night, the Kings are set to host the Clarington Green Gaels. The opening draw is set for 7 p.m. at Rotary Place.
"We went 1-1 with them last year and both games were close," Meredith said. "We have to control our mental discipline and stick to our game plan."
A win on Saturday would help the Kings take a "huge step forward," Meredith says.
"We will have already beaten two teams that are above us from last year," he said. "I think we're way more skilled this year. I think we're probably just a little bit older, smarter, and bigger, too."
