Blessed with speed.
That’s why Kyle Robinson thinks the Dennis GM Western Kings are riding a nine-game unbeaten streak in the provincial major midget hockey league.
The Kings — with Robinson an anchor for the team’s defence corps in his final year of eligibility — carry a 9-0 record into a three-game road trip this weekend.
“Our speed burns other teams a lot of times,” Robinson said Tuesday. “We’re quick on the forecheck and aggressive.”
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Robinson is one of the returnees who is expected to show the younger guns the way, including his younger sibling and fellow rearguard, Lucas Robinson.
A steady two-way defender, Robinson is focused on promoting the importance of taking care of the team’s own end first and letting the offence take care of itself. He wants everybody to be committed to blocking shots and making it difficult for opposing forwards once they are on the attack.
“I want to lead by example — just play the way I want the rest of the younger defenceman to follow,” he said.
The five-foot-11, 160-pound defenceman was selected 20th overall by the Stephen Aces in the 2017 Maritime Junior Hockey League Entry draft.
He attended the Aces’ training camp earlier this year to get a better handle on what it will take to earn a roster spot at a higher level of hockey where the players are bigger, stronger and more experience.
He said learned a lot about himself and his skillset through that experience and he knows he has work to do to compete with players who have speed and size on their side.
“You got to be bigger and stronger,” he said.
The Kings look to extend the streak to 10 when they clash with the Central IcePak Friday night at the Lewisporte Arena. The road trip will also see the Kings battle the Tri-Pen Osprey Saturday and Sunday in Bay Roberts.
He doesn’t think the team is going to rest on its laurels with a great start, but acknowledges it’s definitely a boost in confidence to sport a winning record in the early going.
“It really puts us in a good position for a playoff spot,” he said.
