Tyrell King will get the start in net tonight for the Kindersley Klippers as they go head-to-head with the Battlefords North Stars.
King, who suffered a minor knee injury during the Klippers split-squad game Sept. 1, was back on the ice with the team this week during practice.
The Klippers started training camp with a total of seven goaltenders in the mix. After shipping out 1996-born Rylan Parenteau to the Weyburn Red Wings, the Klippers were left with King, 1994-born Alex Bitsakis and 1996-born Evan Weninger. Prior to the trade, head coach/general manager Rockie Zinger insisted the team was likely going to look at carrying only two goaltenders — one 17-year-old and one 19-year-old — for the duration of the season. While Weninger appears to have earned one of the positions, the final battle will now come down to Bitsakis and King.
Bitsakis played well during the team’s 4-3 win over the Melfort Mustangs in the pre-season finale in Kindersley Sept. 14. Back to full health, it is now King’s turn to make his case.
King went 11-14-2 in 2012-13 after stealing the starters job from Warren Shymko, who has since graduated from junior hockey.
Led by King, the Klippers will hit the ice for a home-and-home with divisional rival Battlefords this weekend, with game one firing up tonight in Kindersley at 7:30. The two teams head north for the rematch tomorrow night at 7:30 in Battlefords.
