WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Brandon Hosts "Turn Back The Clock Night"

Published on February 2, 2006 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- The Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings will be hoping that by turning back history Friday night to the club's glory days of the late seventies will give them a boost as they look to get back on the winning track against the visiting Swift Current Broncos at the Keystone Centre.

Friday night is "Turn Back the Clock Night" at the Keystone Centre, presented by the Brandon Sun, in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

The game, which will feature this years club in their popular 70's jerseys, made famous by the likes of Bill Derlago, Brian Propp, Brad McCrimmon and Dave Semenko, will be used to officially kick off February's Heart Month in Brandon.

Friday's game is the second of a 5-game home stand for the Wheat Kings, who opened up with a 6-2 loss to the visiting Kamloops Blazers Wednesday night. Brandon also goes into the game, hoping to snap a 3-game winless streak. The Wheat Kings currently lead the Prince Albert Raiders by just two points in the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the WHL's Eastern Division.

Not only will "Turn Back the Clock Night" give western Manitoba hockey fans the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Keystone Centre during the seventies, it provides the local Heart and Stroke Foundation office with an opportunity to both promote Heart Month and raise funds for their annual campaign. Under the direction of Brandon area manager Al Ross, 24 of the 70's jerseys have been sold to local businesses, with the sponsors to receive their jerseys during a post-game on ice ceremony involving the twenty-four Brandon players.

Among the participating sponsors are Total Eye Care, Rob Robinson and Al Rosendaal of Investors Group, Webber & Son Printing, Silver Oak Percherons, BDO Dunwoody, Super 8 Motel, Guy Smith Dental Group, TD Canada Trust, Precision Toyota, Super Thrifty Drugs, O'Kelleys Pub and Restaurant, Pizza Express, J & G Supply / RONA, Richmond Signs, Thunderbird Bowl / Huggy's Sports Bar, Overland Waste, Brandon Source for Sports, Applebee's, the Canad Inn, Smittys, Canadian Wildnerness Inn, Boston Pizza and the Brandon Sun.

As well, the first 3,000 fans in attendance Friday will receive a full color "Salute to the Champions" poster, compliments of Super Thrifty Drugs, featuring Brandon's 1979 and '96 President's Cup trophy winners.

Performing the ceremonial opening face-off Friday will be former Wheat King captain Kevin Cheveldayoff. A former first round draft choice of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, he is currently the general manager of the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.

Cheveldayoff is in Brandon this week for the hockey club's annual Sportsman's Dinner, to be held Saturday night in the Keystone Centre's UCT Pavillion. The event, which is held annually for the hockey club's Scholarship Foundation, will also feature comedian Ron James and former NHL all star Dennis Hull.

The Dinner, which has been sold out for two weeks, will also feature a Celebrity Sports Auction - both Live and Silent. Among the items that will be available include an autographed Ed Belfour Toronto Maple Leafs' jersey, an autographed game worn jersey from Manitoba Moose and former Wheat King blueliner Sven Butenschon, an autographed Milt Stegall Winnipeg Blue Bombers jersey as well as autographed jerseys from both Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators and netminder Tomas Vokoun of the Nashville Predators.

Although tickets to the Dinner are sold out, there are plenty of tickets remaining for Friday's "Turn Back the Clock Night" at the Keystone. Fans can order by phone by calling 726-3555 or by going on line at ticketmaster.ca

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2006


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