Americans Fall to Wheat Kings
October 14, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
The Tri-City Americans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday night, but Brandon would rally with five unanswered goals as they handed the Americans a 5-2 loss on home ice.
The Americans opened the scoring with 9:24 remaining in the first period. Lukas Dragicevic gained the Brandon line before firing a high shot toward Carson Bjarnason. The Wheat Kings goaltender made the save, but couldn't track the rebound as it popped up into the air.
The puck landed to Bjarnason's left as he was looking to his right and Dragicevic knocked his own rebound into the net for his first goal of the season.
Six minutes later the Americans extended the lead. A nice passing play saw Deagan McMillan take a cross-crease pass from Parker Bell and fire a shot passed the glove of Bjarnason with 3:34 left in the opening frame.
Brandon responded quickly to the goal to get back within a goal. A centering pass from below the goal line found Jayden Weins in the slot and he beat Lukas Matecha under the glove just 45 seconds after McMillan's goal.
Tri-City carried the 2-1 lead into the first intermission while outshooting Brandon 11-10.
After no penalties in the first period, the two teams traded power plays in the second. That included a four-on-four stretch where the Wheat Kings tied the game.
Dominik Petr sent the puck toward the net from the left circle and caught Matecha off balance, sneaking through the five hole to even the game at two with 7:29 remaining in the second period.
The teams were tied at two through 40 minutes of play with the Wheat Kings taking a 20-19 shot advantage into the intermission.
The Wheat Kings scored their third straight goal early in the third period. Off a faceoff in the Americans zone, Caleb Hadland pushed the puck forward before cutting toward the slot and beating Matecha over the blocker to give Brandon their first lead of the game.
Nearly 10 minutes later Brandon took a two-goal lead as Roger McQueen ripped a shot over the blocker of Matecha from the left circle to make it 4-2 with 6:32 remaining.
The Americans pressured late with a power play, and later with Matecha on the bench for the extra attacker, but weren't able to close the gap before Evan Groening hit the empty net to seal the 5-2 final.
Tri-City is back in action Saturday night when they host the Kamloops Blazers.
SCORE: 5-2 Wheat Kings
SHOTS: 31-27 TC
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