King Continues to Evolve as An Effective Two-Way Performer
March 5, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
It's been roughly four months that Ben King has been a member of the Red Deer Rebels.
The Vernon, B.C., product was acquired from the Swift Current Broncos in early November, so the adjustment period is long over for the six-foot-two, 190-pound centre.
King, like the majority of the Red Deer players, has evolved on a week-to-week basis and over the past month and a half to two months, especially, has been an impressive two-way skater.
"You get in here and for a couple of weeks you're kind of getting settled and all of that," he said Thursday. "Lately I've been happy with my game and happy with my line (including Arshdeep Bains and Jace Isley). We've been playing well.
"Our team is young but we've been winning some games. We just have to continue to build on that and have a good end to the season and then follow that up next year."
King has notched 14 goals and collected 34 points in 42 games with the Rebels, after putting up four goals and four assists in 16 games with the Broncos earlier in the season.
Bains has been his one constant linemate during King's time in Red Deer.
"We've been building chemistry and making plays, which is exciting," said King, selected 17th overall by the Broncos in the 2017 WHL bantam draft.
He's been a clutch performer this season. Included among his 14 goals with the Rebels are four game-winners.
"Scoring those big goals feels good. You're just competing and trying to win games, so to get those is exciting," he said.
King skates well and is blessed with a great shot, but he brings more to the table than his obvious skills.
"I try to be a good two-way player, playing a 200-foot game is something I take pride in," he said. "Solid defensive play leads to offence, so you have to be good in the D-zone to score goals."
King turns 18 in May and is eligible for this year's NHL entry draft. He was 151st in Central Scouting's mid-term rankings of North American skaters eligible for the draft, but his play in recent weeks could very well move him up the list in the final rankings, due out in April.
"I try not to focus on it too much, but obviously it's there," he said. "It's coming up this year so you just try and play your best every game, just be the best you can be and hopefully the scouts see that."
The Rebels are back in action on Friday against the Spokane Chiefs and host the Swift Current Broncos 24 hours later.
Rebels vs. Spokane Chiefs
Friday, 7 p.m., Centrium
To say the Spokane Chiefs are on a roll is a vast understatement. The Chiefs posted their seventh consecutive win on Wednesday with a 6-2 thumping of the host Edmonton Oil Kings, one of the WHL's elite teams. Spokane is 9-1-0-0 in its last 10 games and sits third in both the US Division and Western Conference . . . LW Adam Beckman is the league's leading scorer with 44 goals and 56 assists for an even 100 points. C Eli Zummack has put up 79 points (22g,57a) while LW Luke Toporowski has contributed 27 goals and 58 points. The list of offensive riches continues with C Jack Finley (19-36-55), D Ty Smith (17-36-53 in 43 games) and RW Leif Mattson (20-31-51). D Filip Kral is on the verge of reaching the 50-point mark, currently sitting at 12-37-49 . . . Los Angeles Kings prospect Lukas Parik is the Chiefs' primary puck-stopper with a 20-7-2 record, a 2.82 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. James Porter Jr. is 7-2-0-0 with a 2.05 GAA and save percentage of .915 . . . Parik, who was with Team Czech Republic in this year's world junior championship, was taken by the Kings in the third round of last year's NHL draft. Beckman was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the third round of the 2019 NHL entry draft while Smith, who won gold with Canada in this year's WJC, is a 2018 first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils. The Lloydminster native racked up eight points in a 9-2 rout of the Seattle Thunderbirds last week. Smith, the reigning WHL and CHL defenceman of the year, recorded a hat trick and added five assists in the contest.
Injuries - Spokane: G Campbell Arnold (lower body, indefinite), D Matthew Leduc (upper body, indefinite), LW Brandon Reller (illness, day-to-day). Red Deer: None.
Special teams - Spokane: Power play 24.1 per cent, fourth overall; penalty kill 77.8 per cent, 13th. Red Deer: Power play 16.7 per cent, 18th overall; penalty kill 76.5 per cent, 17th.
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- Portland Puts up 11 on Winning Wednesday - Portland Winterhawks
- Rare Visit by Chiefs Ends in Rare Home Loss for Oil Kings - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Blades on Wrong Side of Back and Forth Affair - Saskatoon Blades
- Chiefs Topple Eastern Conference-Leading Oil Kings, 6-2 - Spokane Chiefs
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