Shaking off the Rust: County Kings prepare for future coronations

Longtime Prince Edward County sports journalist Jason Parks keeps tabs on the local minor hockey scene this season with Kings Korner

The nip of autumn approaches and with it, another season of Prince Edward County Minor Hockey Association Kings hockey.

The U16 Kings and the U18 Prinzen Ford Kings kicked off the Eastern Ontario Minor Hockey League preseason Monday as clubs from Stirling and Brighton visited Wellington.

They’re called the Blues

The U16 Kings, who are still in search of a seasonal sponsor, chased the Blues all evening but could never land themselves a place in the driver’s seat. Four times from the second period on, the Kings erased a one goal deficit four times only to see Stirling bounce back with a timely goal to retake the lead.

Down 3-2 in the late part of the second, The Kings were enjoying a five-on-three skater advantage when Emmet Runnels slipped the disc to Cooper Wroclowski who capitalized at 2:18. The teams were tied 2-2 after two.

The Blues took the lead early in the third but Nate Howe turned some dogged effort into a hat trick tally at the 5:25 mark of the third.

After Stirling jumped ahead in quick succession, the Kings had an answer when Gavin Herbert lit the lamp at 4:36 with help from Desmond Clark.

The Blues pulled ahead again but the Kings were unable to bulge twine before the buzzer called the game.

Kings skater Nathan Shwartz picked up an assist on Howe’s second of the contest.

18 Kings Captain Ryker Wood tries to set up Jaydon Haas in front of the Brighton net.

Bolts Bested

The U18 Prinzen Ford squad took some time to get rolling Monday but they were skating decidedly down hill by the second period.

Wyatt Kingsley had a goal and an assist in the U18 Kings win.

Trailing by a pair to Brighton after one, Jaydon Hass took a feed from Wyatt Kingsley at 7:02 that carved the Bolts lead in half.

Just under two minutes later, it was Kingsley’s blue line blast off a Trent Bucknell feed that brought the game back to square at 2-2.

Appearing in a Kings uniform for the first time since he was part of the 2025 U16 OMHA Regional champion squad, Sophiasburgh’s Weston Byford also earned an assist on the scoring play.

With just 23 seconds left in the second, Mason Lloyd scored the game winning goal for the U18 Kings Monday night.

But the Kings weren’t satisfied. Hulking winger Mason Lloyd came from the half wall and picked the corner clean on the Brighton netminder with just 23 seconds left in the stanza to put the County head for good.

Taking the puck to the Brighton net with abandon in the final frame, Byford rifled a rip from the high slot to push the Kings ahead by a pair.

Easton Vanhecke and Drake Wight picked up points on the play.

Finally, underage rookie Bane Baverstock Wood blasted a bullet from the face off dot to make it a 5-2 final.

Jack Lavender and Ross Martin split time in the Kings’ cage.

Up Next

The Kings travel well down their highway this weekend as several clubs take part in early bird tournaments. The U11 Tim Dainard Electric Kings and the U15 Heidelberg Kings skate east to Gananoque while the U13 Terra Vista Kings lace up their skates in Aurora.The U16 Kings play another tune up in Wellington on Sunday against the Centre Hastings Grizzlies.