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Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Rebound to Take Game 4

April 28, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Red Deer, AB. - The Brandon Wheat Kings have pushed the Red Deer Rebels to the brink of playoff elimination.

The Wheat Kings doubled up on the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup Hosts 4-2 Wednesday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Final.

Brandon will have a chance to capture its second straight Eastern Conference title Friday night when Westman Communications Group Place hosts game five of the best of seven series.

Tim McGauley's goal at the 6:36 mark of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie as the Wheat Kings scored an impressive "bounce back" win after dropping a 6-2 decision in game three Tuesday night.

For the Washington Capitals' prospect, it was his third game winning goal of the playoffs.

Captain Macoy Erkamps, Tanner Kaspick - into an empty net in the final minute and John Quenneville, with his league leading 12th playoff goal, also scored for the Wheat Kings.

Quenneville's goal late in the first period gave Brandon a 2-1 lead and that lead held up until the third period when Jake DeBrusk's powerplay goal at the 17 second mark evened things up, setting the stage for McGauley's game winning tally.

Grayson Pawlenshuk rounded out the scoring for the Rebels, with the game's opening goal in the first period.

"I think it was important to bounce back from that first goal that they scored," Erkamps told Shaw TV. "After that, I thought we were a dominant team. In game 3, we didn't come out the way we wanted to. They were a lot better than us. But this game - I think that we took it."

After being outshot Tuesday, the Wheat Kings were strong from start to finish on this night, outshooting Red Deer 43-36.

"Full marks to them (Wheat Kings)," says Red Deer coach and general manager Brent Sutter. "They played better tonight than game three. We discussed that with our players...how we were going to have to play at a different level tonight and we just didn't seem to respond."

A key to Brandon's win was the solid play of netminder Jordan Papirny. The 19-year old Edmonton product, who was pulled from the net in the first period of Tuesday's loss, turned aside 34 shots, including nineteen in the third period when the Rebels pulled hard for the equalizer.

A win by the Wheat Kings on Friday night in Brandon will move them into the WHL Championship Final against Seattle while a Rebels loss will force a game six Sunday night in Red Deer.

The T-Birds advanced to the League Championship Wednesday night by beating Kelowna in double overtime to sweep that best of seven series.

Over four thousand tickets have been sold for Friday night's game in Brandon, meaning there are still a lot of great seats available. Western Manitoba hockey fans can stop by the Keystone Centre box office, call (204) 726-3555 or go online at keystonecentre.com

Wheat Kings' Playoff hockey is a presentation of Precision Toyota, Montana's Barbecue and Bar, the Brandon Sun and Sunrise Credit Union.

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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.

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