WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Brandon Wheat Kings game notes

Published on December 31, 2005 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


GAME NOTES: The WHEAT KINGS will be hoping to salvage the final game of their 2-game weekend Saskatchewan road trip when they face off against the BLADES in SASKATOON on New Years Day.BRANDON had its modest 2-game losing streak snapped Friday night, losing 4-3 in PRINCE ALBERT.DANE BYER'S third period powerplay goal proved to be the difference as the RAIDERS scored twice in the second and two more in the third period for the come from behind victory.With the win, PRINCE ALBERT also moved two points up on BRANDON in the race for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Hockey League's Eastern Division.The WHEATS still have three games in hand.The loss also snapped BRANDON'S 2-game winning streak on the road.MARK DERLAGO with two and RYAN REAVES scored in a losing cause for the WHEAT KINGS, who were outshot 33-30.BRANDON is now 1-1-0 since Christmas.The WHEAT KINGS erupted for four second period goals on Tuesday night in an impressive 6-2 victory over the visiting REGINA PATS.DERLAGO led the winners with two goals while CODEY BURKI scored once and set up two others.BRANDON enters Saturday's game with a record of 11-20-4-1.At home, BRANDON is 8-7-3 while on the road the WHEAT KINGS are 3-13-1-1.BRANDON finished the month of December with a record of 5-4-0, which represents their first "winning" month of the 2005-06 campaign.WHEATS are 6-4-0 in their last ten games.In games against Eastern Division rivals, BRANDON is 7-8-1.They're winless (0-3-0) in games against the BLADES this year.Following tonight's game, the WHEAT KINGS will return home to play host to LETHBRIDGE on Friday night.

NICE START TO WHL CAREER: BRANDON LOCKERBY made his WHL debut Tuesday night, scoring his first ever WHL goal against REGINA.A member of the 2004 National Midget Champion AAA WHEAT KINGS, LOCKERBY was a seventh round draft choice of the WHEAT KINGS in the 2003 bantam draft. He's currently 19-16-35 in 23 games with the AAA midgets.

OTHER MILESTONES: KURT JORY picked up his first ever WHL shutout in a 2-0 BRANDON win over RED DEER on December 16th.RILEY DAY played in his 200th career WHL game on December 9th.

WHO IS HOT? Left-winger MARK DERLAGO has four goals in his last two games, giving him a career high of 12 on the season, and the team lead - one ahead of both CODEY BURKI and DEREK LEBLANC.BURKI leads the club in scoring (11-13-24).TYLER PLANTE is 4-4-2 with a 2.78 goals against average in his last ten starts, improving his overall goals against average to 3.89 on the season.KURT JORY is 2-0 in his last two starts and has posted an impressive 0.97 goals against average during those two games.RYAN REAVES has goals in back to back games.

BRANDON BITS: BRANDON is 4-12-0 in one-goal games this season..On the mend - TYLER STRAUTMAN (shoulder), center JEFF TOPILKO (broken leg), DEREK LEBLANC (ankle).WHEATS have lost 118 "man games" to injury this year.Swedish left-winger JOHN WIKNER, who missed six weeks (knee, flu) returned to the lineup on Tuesday.CODEY BURKI is ranked 5th among WHL draft eligible players by CENTRAL SCOUTING. Both MATT HALLICK and KEITH AULIE are at the WORLD UNDER 17 CHAMPIONSHIPS in REGINA this week, playing for Team Pacific and Western respectively.WHEAT KINGS are averaging less than 3,100 fans per home game this year.BRANDON'S special teams are currently ranked 19th (penalty killing) and 20th (powerplay) this season.Defenceman RILEY DAY is currently among league leaders with 113 penalty minutes.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2005


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