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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Bjarnason Never Blinks in Goaltenders Duel, Shootout Win

December 29, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Two talented goaltenders went save for save in a battle between the Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades. Their battle carried on into the shootout, where each of them frustrated multiple shooters before Carson Bjarnason got the last laugh.

Bjarnason stopped seven shooters in the shootout and stopped 35 of 37 in regulation as the Wheat Kings beat the Blades 3-2. Jayden Wiens and Luke Shipley scored in regulation.

"We had some urgency, some passion to our game in the third," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "I thought we were kind of flat again in the first two periods, we didn't generate a whole lot. I thought we had a lot more purpose in the third, and a big kill leading up to the tying goal, a heck of an effort by Hadland."

It was the shutdown line for the Wheat Kings that drew first blood. After Quinn Mantei broke the puck in and spotted Nolan Flamand on the far side, Flamand worked it back out front and Jayden Wiens swept it between the wickets on Austin Elliott to burn his old team for the 1-0 lead.

An early second period power play connected for the Blades as Easton Armstrong found himself alone in front and cashed the rebound of a shot by Brandon Lisowsky. Then, at even strength, Trevor Wong broke in and made a couple of nice moves before roofing a shot off the rush to make it 2-1.

But in the third, the Wheat Kings would not be denied. Caleb Hadland fought his way to a shorthanded chance and, when no shot presented itself, he patiently spun back and found Shipley, who swatted it into the open cage to tie the score at two.

Overtime saw a bevy of chances both ways, but neither team could solve the goaltenders or, on the one occasion the Wheat Kings appeared to, they couldn't beat a sprawling Blades defenseman.

The goaltenders duel continued into the shootout, where it took until the 7th round of shooters for the first goal that was also the decider. Hadland moved in neither too quickly nor too slowly and snapped one past Elliott to give the Wheat Kings the win.

It was the second consecutive comeback win for the Wheat Kings that took them into extra time, and their second win this season over the Saskatoon Blades. They'll have a rematch with the Blades soon enough, but first they're off to Regina to face the Pats on Saturday, December 30.

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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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