Spud Kings roll to 4-1 victory over Casper Warbirds

It took the Idaho Falls Spud Kings (3-1-0, 6 points) just 26 seconds to open the scoring on Wednesday night versus the Casper Warbirds (0-3-1, 1 point).

Center Bookie Warshaw, whose line with Owen Beyer and Charlie Grant was phenomenal all evening, drove hard to the crease and buried a Beyer backhanded rebound for the initial tally. The Spud Kings never looked back.

By the end of the first period, Idaho Falls had built a 4-0 lead thanks to ensuing goals by Braedon Cunningham and a pair from captain Sam Grimaldi.

For head coach Anthony Bohn, it was important that his team keep its foot on the gas and not lollygag through the final two frames, despite the game being all but over after 20 minutes.

Safe to say, the message is clicking with this steadily improving Idaho Falls group:

“You’re trying to keep everybody honest. Nothing changes, stay the course,” Bohn said.
“Our biggest thing is just getting the process right. Shift by shift,” Bohn added. “… It’s hard with that kind of game. But, convincing them and getting them on board with keep the process.”

Cunningham and his twin brother and linemate, Camden, were particularly active against the Warbirds, even for their Hanson brothers-like style. Neither are afraid to throw their bodies around and they are regularly involved in post-whistle scrums and extracurricular activities.

The scoring pop is a bonus, but it is their physicality and aggression that have stood out. About 14 minutes in, D.J. Macleish was the victim of a late cross-check to the back by a Casper skater. Naturally, the Cunninghams rushed in to defend one of their captains and most treasured leaders.

Braedon engaged with the guilty party, the two flung their gloves off, and the crowd at the Mountain America Center thought they would be treated to a proper brawl. However, the linesmen did not let the situation escalate, and Braedon had to skate off irritated at the missed opportunity. He received an unsportsmanlike penalty and Camden was charged with elbowing.

It can hurt the team to lose two power forwards like that for an extended time, but those actions spoke volumes about their willingness to stick up for their teammates and courage to take matters into their own hands (literally).

When asked about the almost-fight and what to do when tensions rise, which is a common theme in Spud Kings game, Bohn emphasized the importance of having those personalities:

“We send the twins over the board,” Bohn said. “… That’s why they’re here, to help facilitate that.”

This is an Idaho Falls team with several new pieces, and it will take time to gel. Trying to fight someone who cheap shots your teammate is a good way to build credibility. At this rate, the Cunninghams will have sky-high credit scores by the end of the year.

Beyond the twins’ fiery play, there were a pair of new names in Bohn’s lineup on Wednesday. Forwards Jack Schierau and Adam Straka made their Spud Kings debuts on the third forward line with Caleb Lepitre.

Schierau most recently played for the Calgary Canucks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and the Nipawin Hawks in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, while Straka came over from Bishop’s College School.

Bohn already has high hopes for his newcomers as they acclimate to Idaho Falls:

“I thought they did good for their first time… They only had one practice, and they were playing. They’ll grow with our team and figure out little details… They showed good signs and things they have to learn,” Bohn said.

Neither recorded a point, but box scores are only so indicative in this sport. When Lepitre was praised for his efforts in the locker room postgame, he deferred to Grimaldi and his two goals.

But that did not align with the process Bohn is attempting to instill:

“Your value to our team is not on the score sheet,” Bohn said. “Your value to our team is all the little things you do away from the puck, how hard you play. We’re getting guys to understand that.”

That selfless, team-first attitude is part of what drove the Spud Kings to last season’s Dineen Cup victory and why guys like the Cunninghams are already standing out.

It will take time for this iteration to hit its stride, but they have already laid a solid foundation.

Idaho Falls is now second in the NCDC Mountain Division, trailing only the Ogden Mustangs (4-0-0, 8 points) for the top spot. The two will duke it out for the first time on Friday night at the Mountain America Center, and it should be filled with plenty of fireworks.