WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Bad Start Sinks Wheat Kings

December 28, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - A slow start was too much for the Brandon Wheat Kings to overcome Thursday night as the club opened its post-Christmas schedule with a 3-2 loss to the visiting Regina Pats.

The Pats rolled out to a 2-0 first period lead, outshooting Brandon 12-4 in a penalty filled opening frame.

Both of Regina's goals came on the powerplay, including one with Brandon captain Stelio Mattheos in the dressing room serving a five minute match and game misconduct.

Mattheos was issued the penalty when he went after the Pats' Brady Pouteau in retaliation for a hit on Brandon's Linden McCorrister that sent him hard into the end boards and out of the game. There was no penalty called on the initial hit.

Losing two of Brandon's top six forwards was tough to swallow.

"There's opportunity for other guys to step up and I would have liked for that to happen a lot sooner that it did," Wheat Kings coach David Anning told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun following the game. "I didn't like the start to the game. Obviously four critical penalties game them a lot of momentum and I just didn't like the way we competed in the first twenty minutes."

Sergei Alkhimov scored twice for the winners, who improved to 10-24-0-1 on the season.

Rookie Ridly Greig and veteran Cole Reinhardt replied for the Wheat Kings, who will be hoping to salvage the second half of the home and home series when the two teams meet Friday night in Regina.

17-year old rookie Ethan Kruger made 19 saves for the Wheat Kings while Regina's Max Paddock turned aside 21 shots for the winners.

The Wheat Kings enter the game with a record of 15-11-3-3.

Following Friday's game, the Wheat Kings will return home to host Moose Jaw Sunday afternoon at 4pm in the first of a home and home series with the Warriors.

Tickets to Sunday's game go back on sale at 10am Friday at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order online at keystonecentre.com or by calling (204) 726-3555.

Brandon will bring the curtain up on 2019 on Friday, January 4th when Seattle pays its first visit to Westoba Place in two years.

Friday's game will feature the annual Home Depot Family Skate, presented by Q Country Radio. Fans attending next weekend's game are encouraged to bring their skates and helmets and join the players on the ice following the game for a "free" public skate.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2018


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