NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Brandon Wheat Kings

Game 6 - Wheat Kings vs Tigers Tonight

April 1, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Dauphin, MB. - The Brandon Wheat Kings will be hoping to earn a berth into the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference Semi Finals Sunday night when they play host to the Medicine Hat Tigers at Credit Union Place in Dauphin.

The Wheat Kings have won three straight games in their opening round playoff series to push the Central Division Champion Medicine Hat Tigers to the brink of elimination.

Leading the best of seven series three games to two, the Wheat Kings can punch their ticket to round two with a win on Sunday.

The winner of the Brandon - Medicine Hat series will face Lethbridge in the Conference Semi-Finals.

The Hurricanes advanced by defeating Red Deer 6-4 Saturday night to win that best of seven series four games to one.

Three of Brandon's series wins have come in Dauphin and the Wheat Kings are coming off Friday's 5-2 victory in Medicine Hat.

While Brandon seems to carry a great deal of momentum into Sunday night's game, Wheat Kings' coach David Anning says the series is far from over.

"The fourth game is the hardest one to win and you're trying to put your opponent out," Anning told Branden Crowe of CKLQ. "We expect their best on Sunday and we will need a big effort," added Anning. "Right now we're doing a lot of things well so we can lean on the fact that we're on the same page and we're executing well."

Medicine Hat's Ryan Chyzowski, who scored both goals in a losing cause on Friday, is confident that the Tigers will bounce back Sunday night.

"It's a do or die game," Chyzowski told the Medicine Hat News. "I think we've just got to go into it with the mindset that we're playing for our season. Everybody is going to be selling out, everybody is going to be giving it all and I think that will lead to a good effort."

A key to Brandon's turnaround in this series has been the play of its special teams.

After surrendering five powerplay goals during the first two games, the Wheat Kings have been far more disciplined since. As well, Brandon's powerplay has been much better according to Anning.

"Our specialty teams have been good," Anning says. "We had a number of power plays (Friday night), and not only did we capitalize on those power plays, we gained momentum off of them. Our execution was pretty sharp."

Veteran center Ty Lewis enters Sunday's game leading the Wheat Kings in playoff scoring with four goals and 7 points, including one powerplay and one shorthanded tally. The 19-year old local product led Brandon in scoring during the regular season with 44 goals and 100 points, becoming the first Brandon born player in franchise history to hit the century mark in points since Cam Plante's 140-point record breaking campaign in 1983-84.

Should a seventh game be necessary in this series, it will be played Tuesday night in Medicine Hat.

Game time Sunday night is 7pm and tickets will go back on sale at the Credit Union Place box office at 1pm Sunday. Fans can also order tickets by calling (204) 726-3545.

In preparation for the game, the hockey club in association with Credit Union Place have announced game night specials on beer, hot dogs and popcorn.

This week's playoffs in Dauphin are a presentation of Catalyst Credit Union, Aspen Insurance, Mazergroup and Twin Motors.

The Wheat Kings have been forced to play their first round playoff home games in the Parkland due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair occupying Brandon's Keystone Centre this past week.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...

Western Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Brandon Wheat Kings Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central