WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Brandon Wheat Kings game notes

Published on March 23, 2005 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


PLAYOFF GAME NOTES: The WHEAT KINGS host the MOOSE JAW WARRIORS in the opening game of their best of seven WHL Eastern Division semi-final series Friday night.The WHEAT KINGS won 21 of their final 24 regular season games to capture their third Eastern Division pennant in the past four years and ninth in franchise history.BRANDON finished tied with MEDICINE HAT for first in the Eastern Conference but due to the fact the defending champion TIGERS won three of five meetings during the regular season, the WHEATIES had to settle for second seed in the Conference.BRANDON finished the 2004-05 season with an impressive 45-21-5-1 record.At home, the WHEATS were 26-7-1-1 (4-0-0 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg), third best in the WHL this year (only KELOWNA and KOOTENAY had better records on home ice).On the road, they were 18-14-4.and in overtime, they posted a league leading 9-1-5 mark.The nine victories represents a franchise high and moved BRANDON into a tie for the WHL record, originally set by PORTLAND during the 1989-90 campaign.BRANDON goes into post-season play, having scored a league high 255 goals (3.54 goals/game).Defensively, the WHEATIES surrendered 199 goals (2.76/game), 11th best in the WHL.The WHEAT KINGS enter the playoffs having won eleven straight games on home ice, including two at the MTS Centre.BRANDON'S last loss at the Keystone came on February 4th (5-3 loss to CALGARY).

WHEATS VS. THE JAW: BRANDON was 8-0-1 in this year's season series with the fourth place WARRIORS, outscoring them 41-19 in the process.WHEATIES were 13-54 on the powerplay while killing off 43-46 MOOSE JAW opportunities.During the 9-game season series, ERIC FEHR led BRANDON in scoring with eleven goals, 18 points while RYAN STONE was next at 5-10-15.Netminder TYLER PLANTE appeared in six of the nine games, compiling a perfect 6-0-0 record, a 1.50 goals against average and a sparkling .940 save percentage.This year's series will mark the fifth time the two teams have met in the playoffs including a quarterfinal series in the WHL's second season in 1967-68 between BRANDON and the MOOSE JAW CANUCKS.BRANDON'S overall playoff record vs. MOOSE JAW is 11-7-1.

BRANDON'S PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: Thirteen of BRANDON'S 24 players have previous playoff experience including defenceman RILEY DAY, who was a member of last year's WHL Championship team in MEDICINE HAT.BRANDON'S active playoff leaders include TIM KONSORADA (39 points), LANCE MONYCH (14 goals and 53 games) and RYAN STONE (83 penalty minutes).

REGULAR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: WHEAT KINGS tied a franchise record this past season, winning 15 straight games (Feb. 5th - March 8th).LANCE MONYCH enters post-season play riding a 15-game point scoring streak (9-14-23).ERIC FEHR, who led the WHL in goals (59), also led the league in powerplay goals (31) and game winning overtime goals (5), which broke the old record of four, set by ex-REGINA PAT FRANK KOVACS in 1990-91.

BRANDON BITS: WASHINGTON CAPITALS' first round draft choice ERIC FEHR was chosen the HUSKY WHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH for the final month of regular season play. In ten games, the Winkler product was 8-12-20.LANCE MONYCH and TIM KONSORADA finished their 5-year WHL careers, sitting second and third on the club's all time list for games played with 319 and 311 respectively.TYLER PLANTE'S six shutouts this year established a new club record.STEVEN LATER finished second in scoring among defenceman this past season.WHEAT KINGS averaged 3,537 fans/game this year - second best in club history.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2005


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