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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

April 14 Preview: Winnipeg ICE vs Brandon Wheat Kings 9 PM

April 14, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


The Brandon Wheat Kings (12-3-2-0) take on their provincial and division standings rival tonight at 9pm when they face the Winnipeg ICE ( 12-4-0-0) in their third meeting this season. It's Brandon's second game on back-to-back nights after they beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 8-3 Tuesday. The ICE are coming off two days of rest after beating the Regina Pats 3-1 on Monday.

Captain Fantastic

Wheat Kings captain Braden Schneider celebrated his 200th game played in the WHL on Tuesday in fashion, recording three assists and being the dominant defenceman Western League fans have grown to love. The New York Rangers prospect looked every bit the big league talent that he is and continues to shine this season, sitting fourth in scoring for the Wheat Kings and fourth among league defencemen with 3G-14A-17PTS. For a player who brings such a strong and physical presence to the lineup, Schneider has just 4 PIM to his name this so far in 2021. The 19-year old instead has chosen to spend his time logging heavy minutes on the power play and penalty kill and continues to chew up opposing offences.

Ritch with Points

Nolan Ritchie has led in team scoring for the majority of the 2020-21 campaign, averaging 1.24 points per so far. Only 5 of his 17 games played has he been held off the scoresheet and 7 times he's recorded multi-point games. His patience with the puck and ability to find space away from the defence has given him consistent success on the power play. His play speaks for itself but this season so does the scoresheet.

Previous Meetings This Season

Game 2 March 25 - Wheat Kings 4 - 3 ICE

Conor Geekie opened the scoring by sneaking in behind the Brandon defence on an early 1st period breakaway. Nate Danielson scored his second of the season and Rylen Roersma got his first WHL goal and before the end of the first period, Jake Chiasson forechecked his way into making it 3-1 for Brandon. ICE leading scorer Peyton Krebs was the long scorer in the second period. Ridly Greig bagged a short handed breakaway goal that would stand as the game winner for the Wheat Kings.

Game 1 March 13 - Wheat Kings 4 - 2 ICE

The Wheat Kings got off to a good start but it was the ICE who opened the scoring, courtesy of a Conor Geekie breakaway in the first period. The Wheat Kings won 3-2 with second period goals from Braden Schneider, rookie forward Brett Hyland and a goal and assist by Jake Chiasson.

East Division Standings

As the Wheat Kings, Blades and ICE pull away from the rest of the East Division, games against one another are at a premium in the standings. The condensed schedule, along with only 7 games left in the season for the Wheat Kings, gives games a certain playoff feel every night despite the recent news the Memorial Cup will not be competed for this season. But fans can tell that each team wants to finish as high as they can and with as many wins as they can muster before the season closes. Of the three leading teams, bragging rights to be the best in the division is still very much up for grabs.

Leading Scorers

Ritchie, Ben McCartney and Ridly Greig are the usual suspects atop the Wheat Kings scorers list this season but Lynden McCallum leads the team in goals with 11. Jake Chiasson has now surpassed his 2019-20 season's scoring total in just 17 games and Rossburn, Manitoba's Chad Nychuk has 2G-11A-13 PTS as the seventh-highest scorer and second-highest scoring defenceman for the Wheat Kings, behind Schneider.

For the ICE, Peyton Krebs leads the league in scoring and was held off the scoresheet in their season opener on March 13th but he has recorded at least a point in all 15 games of their games since. Connor McClennon rides a 9-game points streak into Wednesday's game and the Wheat Kings will be keeping an eye on Conor Geekie in the first period as he has opened the scoring in both games between the Wheat Kings and ICE so far this season.

Wheat Kings 50/50

Fans in Manitoba can purchase 50/50 tickets for a chance to win big and support the Wheat Kings Foundation, helping the Wheat Kings athletes access post-secondary education. You can purchase tickets in $10, $20 and $50 increments here> www.wheatkings.com/50-50

The puck drops at 9 PM Manitoba time tonight and can be watched via the WHL Live streaming package at www.watch.chl.ca. Because the Wheat Kings are tonight's "home" team, Wheat Kings play-by-play announcer Branden Crowe will be the voice calling the game on the stream. Fans can also hear Crowe call the game on the radio at Q Country 91.5 FM or 880 on the AM dial.

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