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The Agra Risk Wheatland Kings are returning to the ice this weekend to begin the second round of the playoffs against the Medicine Hat Cubs.
Doug Raycroft, who has served as the Kings' head coach for the last two years, said that the team took a weekend off with their first-round bye.
"We think we've grown as a team, and we feel we're ready for the next step here."
It's been a historic season for the Kings, with this being the first year that the club ever made it into the second round of playoffs.
"This is our best season yet, so we're pretty happy with that," said Raycroft. "Of course, the second season is just starting, so we're all focused on the playoffs."
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Raycroft called the Cubs a "very good team", with the two facing off five times in the regular season, as the Kings won three times.
"What we're focusing on is playing really good defense against them and trying to shut down that top line of theirs," added Raycroft.
Raycroft also serves as the principal of Strathmore High School. He said that tackling both roles can be challenging during certain times of the year.
"Practices are in the evenings, so it doesn't conflict. It's just the weekends and the time away from home that makes it a little hard."
The Kings begin their series against the Cubs at the Strathmore Family Centre Arena on Saturday, Feb. 22, with the game set to start at 8 p.m.