Wheat Kings Set for Alberta Trip
January 29, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Edmonton, AB. - The Brandon Wheat Kings will be hoping to run their winning streak to four games Friday night in Edmonton when they kick off their second 3-game in three night road trip in as many weeks.
Winners of seven of eight games, the (30-13-2-2) Wheat Kings are coming off a weekend tour of Saskatchewan that saw them beat Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina and outscore the Raiders, Blades and Pats to the tune of 13-2.
Netminder Jordan Papirny, who was named the WHL and Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Week, enters Friday's game in his hometown as the hottest goalkeeper in the League, having recorded back to back shutouts and three in his last four appearances.
Papirny remains among the league leaders with a 2.59 goals against average, a .908 save percentage, five shutouts and a 19-12-4 record in 35 appearances.
Sunday's shutout in Regina was the 11th of his career, moving him into a tie with Andrew Hayes for second place on the club's alltime list. Only Tyler Plante, who recorded twelve, has more in a Wheat King jersey.
Another Wheat King setting a torrid pace of late is Minnesota Wild prospect Reid Duke. The Calgary product has goals in three straight games and now leads the team with 26 in 46 games.
"The one thing I'm focused on this time around is to try and stay as consistent as possible," Duke told CKLQ's Bruce Luebke Thursday. "You love these streaks and some good weekends like that, but I want to keep it going as long as I can."
In addition to Friday's game against the Oil Kings, Brandon will be in Red Deer Saturday and Calgary on Sunday.
The Wheat Kings, who enter the weekend with a seven point lead on the second place Raiders in the Eastern Division, expect to have rookie Stelio Mattheos back in the lineup this weekend.
The first overall selection in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, Mattheos has missed the past six games with an upper body injury. In 26 games in this, his rookie season with the Wheat Kings, the 16-year old Winnipegger has five goals and 13 points.
Brandon currently owns the best road record in the league this season at 16-6-1-0 and with Edmonton battling for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division, rookie Ty Lewis knows that tonight's game against the Oil Kings won't be an easy one.
"It's an important road trip for us," Lewis told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun. "Coming off last weekend, we have to keep what we've got going here. We have to come in with the mindset that we have to do what we have to do. All of these teams (this weekend) are good, competitive teams...so we have to play well."
The Oil Kings enter the game with a record of 19-23-6-1 and sit just three points up on Medicine Hat in the battle for the eighth and final playoff berth.
The game will not only be carried live on 880 CKLQ Friday, the game will also be televised on Sportsnet West.
In what has been a season long series of head scratching scheduling, the Wheat Kings will make a pit stop on the way home from Alberta on Monday and close out a stretch of seven straight road games against the Warriors on Tuesday night.
Brandon's next home game is a week away when the Prince George Cougars pay their first trip to Westman Place in two years. Tickets to the game are on sale at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com.
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Western Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2016
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- Game Notes: Cougars in Swift - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Day: Rockets and Winterhawks Friday Night at Prospera - Kelowna Rockets
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- Game 49: January 29 vs. Moose Jaw - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Team Orr Wins Top Prospects Game - Brandon Wheat Kings
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