Bjarnason, Ritchie Lead BWK to OT Victory

January 17, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release

Calgary, AB - Carson Bjarnason stood on his head, and Nolan Ritchie scored the game winner as the Brandon Wheat Kings knocked off the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday afternoon.

The 16-year-old Bjarnason, making his third consecutive start kicked aside 43 shots for his sixth win of the season as the Wheat Kings wrapped up a four-game Alberta road trip.

"Barney had an outstanding weekend for us," Head Coach Don MacGillivray told the Bounce 96.1 Post-Game Show. "He was real sharp in all three starts and gave us a chance to win games."

The win sends the Wheat Kings home with five of a possible eight points on this road trip, and helps improve their record to 18-14-2-2. Brandon is now back in a fourth place tie with the Saskatoon Blades in the Eastern Conference standings.

"We were a tired hockey club today," added MacGillivray. "We found the way to get the job done. You could see fatigue setting in the in the middle of the game, but stuck with it and picked up a solid road win."

Ritchie scored twice including the OT winner, while Mason Ward finished the night with a goal and an assist to earn third star honours.

"This weekend was three games against three tough teams," added MacGillivray. "It would have been disappointing to not get points tonight. We probably left a point on the table in Medicine Hat on Wednesday, but this was an important weekend for our group and they responded."

The Wheat Kings will head back on the road on Friday night, for a re-scheduled meeting in Regina with the Pats. You can catch that game on TSN starting at 7:00 p.m.

Western Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2022

• Winterhawks Weekly: Hawks Push Point Streak to Eight Straight with Five-Point Weekend - Portland Winterhawks
• Tigers Acquire Barlage from Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Giants Acquire Jacob Boucher and Two First-Round Picks from Edmonton for Justin Sourdif - Vancouver Giants
• Oil Kings Acquire Florida Panthers Prospect Justin Sourdif from Vancouver - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Giants Acquire a First-Round Draft Pick from Winnipeg for Tanner Brown - Vancouver Giants
• ICE Acquire Brown & Wheatcroft - Winnipeg Ice
• Hurricanes Acquire Edwards and Picks from Winnipeg - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Giants Acquire 2002-Born Defenceman Tom Cadieux from Regina for a Pair of Draft Picks - Vancouver Giants
• Pats Acquire Pair of Draft Picks from Giants for Cadieux - Regina Pats
• Royals Face Cougars, Giants and Silvertips in Jam Packed Week - Victoria Royals
• WHL Announces Postponement of Broncos January 18 Game vs Winnipeg - Swift Current Broncos
• Hurricanes Acquire Hopwo from Tigers - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Chiefs Acquire Forward McCarry and Draft Pick from Kamloops for Toporowski - Spokane Chiefs
• Blazers Acquire Luke Toporowski from Spokane Chiefs - Kamloops Blazers
• Saskatoon Blades Acquire Wild Prospect Josh Pillar from Kamloops Blazers - Saskatoon Blades
• Blazers Send Forward Josh Pillar to Hometown Saskatoon Blades - Kamloops Blazers
• Brennan Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - Prince George Cougars
• Cougars Netminder Brennan Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - WHL
• Hurricanes Forward Hall Named WHL Player of the Week - WHL
• WHL Announces Postponement of WHL Regular Season Game Between Winnipeg and Swift Current - WHL
• What's on Tap January 18-21 - Prince George Cougars
• Blazers Acquire 2002-Born Forward Drew Englot from Regina - Kamloops Blazers
• Pats Acquire Spencer from Blazers for Englot - Regina Pats
• Warriors Acquire Larson from Spokane - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Spokane Swaps Forwards and Adds Third-Round Pick in Trade with Moose Jaw - Spokane Chiefs
• Power Play Success Not Enough for Ams in 6-3 Loss to Silvertips - Tri-City Americans
• Tigers Bested 5-3 by Rebels - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Rebels Return to Winning Form against Tigers - Red Deer Rebels
• Bjarnason, Ritchie Lead BWK to OT Victory - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Winterhawks Earn Five of Possible Six Points After Beating Kamloops 5-2 on Sunday - Portland Winterhawks
• Oil Kings Comeback to Stun the Hurricanes - Edmonton Oil Kings

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