King triplets embracing rare opportunity with Southern Express

“You always have two best friends there beside you if you’re down or anything like that,” said defenceman Brooke. “So, they’re good to have as teammates and as friends.”

The trio of 17-year-old sisters are in the middle of their final season of hockey together with the Southern Express, delighting fans and frustrating opponents at the Moose Recreation Centre with their chemistry.

“It’s awesome, we get closer and closer every year,” said centre and team captain Maddy. “So, they’re my favourite teammates for sure.”

Growing up playing sports together, this is the first year where all three are lacing up on the Southern Express roster.

After watching her sisters dress for the midget elite team last year, winger Kennedy made the plunge this fall to join the Express and complete the trio.

“It’s a different level of trust,” said Kennedy. “I always have two of my best friends both on and off the ice where we go home and chat about the game and practices, stuff like that.”

It’s an emotional season for the family as the girls are set to turn 18 in January and will be departing from the minor hockey ranks together.

“It’s awesome to be together doing the same thing for our last years and then moving onto something different together as well too,” said Brooke.

Brooke and Kennedy have both been put into large roles on the team with power play time and combining for three points in nine games, while Maddy leads all Southern Express players with eight points in nine games.

“I’m really glad that I got to play with all of them in my last year, especially with my dad behind the bench,” said Maddy.

Yes that’s right, there’s a fourth member of the King family with Southern Express roots as the sisters are coached by their father James.

“It’s every proud parent moment to see them out there,” said James. “And, when they make a good play or even a poor play, coming off and seeing that they’re happy with it or they’re disappointed in themselves, that they’re mature enough to handle both situations.”

The familiarity of having a parent behind the bench has helped the triplets thrive in their final year of midget hockey, with Kennedy saying she’s seen her game improve this season.

“He’s like a mentor for me,” said Kennedy. “So, at practices he’s always pushing me to be better and going home and also getting that constructive criticism to always make me a better player.”

Though according to Brooke, the line of coach and parent can sometimes get blurred.

“It’s a little bit hard sometimes because you don’t know if you’re talking to him as a coach or as a dad,” said Brooke. “But, overall it’s pretty good.”

The King family is part of a transformative year for the Southern Express, who are splitting their home games between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge for the first time.

That decision has been welcomed by the Kings who hail from Medicine Hat, while players like Maddy are taking on more responsibility with her captaincy role.

“It’s pretty awesome, I’m really honoured,” said Maddy. “I have a great group of girls behind me, so it’s really good.”

The split between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge is another feather in the cap of female hockey in the ‘Gas City’ after a breakout season for Medicine Hat Minor Hockey’s peewee and atom Wildcats program.

Kennedy said opportunities for female hockey in Medicine Hat have taken a big step forward over the last few years.

“Just super cool to see their passion,” said Kennedy. “When I was a kid, there were no older girls that I could really look up to that were on Medicine Hat. So, it’s really cool to see their fire and want to play.”

Holding a 4-3-2 record heading into this weekend’s slate of games, the Southern Express visit Airdrie and Red Deer with the goal of sitting top-three the AFHL’s Southern Division.

However, the Kings can see the end of the road on the horizon and are enjoying these next few months of time together while they can as a family.

“They’ve grown up together being triplets, they’ve done everything together,” said James. “This is just the pinnacle of their hockey for them.”

Even with their minor careers coming to a close, Kennedy added the bond she and her sisters share is something that will continue off the ice for years to come.

“I think people don’t understand the trust and the chemistry that we share,” said Kennedy. “I never have to second guess anything with them, I trust them 100 percent with anything.”

by Scott Roblin

King triplets embracing rare opportunity with Southern Express

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