WHL Tri-City Americans

Brandon Claims 'Home Ice' Advantage Over Americans, Win 5-1

Published on October 10, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


BRANDON, MB - With 14 players on their roster from Manitoba, Friday's game against the Wheat Kings was supposed to feel like a homecoming for the Tri-City Americans. Instead, Brandon treated them like unwelcomed guests.

Backed by three second period goals, the Brandon Wheat Kings (4-4-0-0, 8 pts) returned to their winning ways and snapped the Tri-City Americans (5-3-0-0, 10 pts) brief two-game winning streak with a physical 5-1 victory at Westman Place. For Brandon, the win snapped their two-game losing skid as they improved to 4-0 in their last four home games against the Americans. Meanwhile, for Tri-City, the loss was their second on this East Division road trip as they fell to 4-12 all-time at Westman Place.

For the third straight game, Tri-City scored first to open the contest. Midway through the first period, Johnny Lazo sent Jason Reese into the Wheat Kings zone on a breakaway. With a backhanded shot, Reese beat Brandon goaltender Andrew Hayes to put Tri-City on top 1-0. The Americans, however, despite outshooting the Wheat Kings 16 to 4 through the first 20 minutes, missed out on their chances throughout the period to increase their lead.

From the start of the second period and on, Brandon became a much for physical hockey team, pressuring and checking Tri-City every chance they got. And, in the end, the Wheat Kings were able to capitalize on the road-weary Americans.

Just 3:50 into the second period, off the stick of Sanfred King, the Wheat Kings tied the game. Then, with less than five minutes remaining in the period, Brandon took the lead for good. After a scramble in front of the net, Tri-City netminder Chet Pickard appeared to lose sight of the puck and Andrew Clark was able to poke the puck across the line. Both Pickard and the Americans never recovered.

Just 30 seconds later, reigning WHL Rookie of the Year Brayden Schenn, beat Pickard with a backhand, glove side, to put the Wheat Kings on top 3-1 going to the second intermission. In the final period, Brandon's Matt McCue and Aaron Lewadniuk each recorded goals, capping the scoring in the contest. Pickard finished the night with 17 saves on 22 shots, while Hayes stopped 33 of the 34 shots he faced.

The Americans will wrap-up their season-high seven-game road trip tomorrow, Saturday, October 11, against the always tough Regina Pats. Last season, Tri-City defeated Regina in their only match-up, a 4-1 win at Toyota Center. Over the years, unlike at many arenas in the East Division, Tri-City has found some success at the Brandt Centre. The Americans are 6-7-2-0 all-time and are 3-3 in their last six trips to Regina. Game time is 6:00 p.m. (PST). You can catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 5:45 p.m. (PST).

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2008


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