WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Brandon Wheat Kings game notes

Published on January 28, 2006 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


GAME NOTES: The WHEAT KINGS close out a grueling 4-game western road trip tonight in RED DEER against the REBELS.Tonight's game will be BRANDON'S fourth game in five nights and will conclude a stretch of games that sees the WHEATS play seven of eight games on the road.BRANDON is 2-0-0-1 on this trip, after dropping a disappointing 5-4 Overtime Shootout decision to the first place CALGARY HITMEN Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome.COREY COURCHENE scored twice in a losing cause, including the equalizer with just over two minutes remaining in regulation time.TYLER DITMER and captain TEEGAN MOORE also scored for the WHEAT KINGS, who moved four points up on the idle PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Hockey League's Eastern Division.BRANDON began this road trip earlier this week with victories in KAMLOOPS and PRINCE GEORGE.MARK DERLAGO scored the overtime winner in a 2-1 win over the BLAZERS while ANDREW CLARK'S second period powerplay goal proved to be the difference in a 3-2 victory over the COUGARS on Wednesday.FLORIDA PANTHERS' second round draft choice TYLER PLANTE was sensational in both victories in stopping 73 of 76 shots.BRANDON has managed to collect at least a point in six straight games, compiling a 3-0-1-2 record during that time.The WHEAT KINGS are currently 5-2-1-2 in their last ten games.BRANDON is 11-7-4 at home and 7-16-1-3 on the road.Since Christmas, BRANDON is 8-4-1-2 and since the end of November, the WHEATS are six games over the .500 mark with a record of 13-7-1-2 in 23 games.BRANDON enters tonight's game with an Overtime Record of 5-5-3.Following tonight's game, the WHEAT KINGS will return home to meet DEAN CLARK'S KAMLOOPS BLAZERS on Wednesday night.

VS. REBELS: Tonight's game is the fourth and final meeting of the season between these two clubs and the first in RED DEER, since the REBELS pounded BRANDON 9-4 on October 11th.Since then, the WHEATIES have won back to back games on home ice, outscoring the REBELS 8-3.CODEY BURKI leads BRANDON in scoring (4-3-7), followed by MARK DERLAGO (1-4-5) during the season series between the two teams.

KOHN A PRIZED PICKUP: Friday's game marked the return of 18-year old defenceman DUSTIN KOHN to CALGARY. The WHEAT KINGS acquired the NEW YORK ISLANDERS second round draft choice earlier this month in exchange for left-winger DEREK LEBLANC.Since arriving in BRANDON, KOHN is 0-6-6 while leading the WHEAT KINGS to a 5-1-1-2 mark.

WHO HAS BEEN HOT? In registering back to back victories during the first half of this 4-game western road swing, TYLER PLANTE has improved his goals against average to 3.58 and his save percentage to .900.TYLER DITTMER, who is currently 14th in Rookie scoring in the WHL, has scored goals in back to back games.COREY COURCHENE has five goals and six points in his last five games.SAMI SANDELL leads the club with 20 assists.Rookie netminder KURT JORY has posted a 2.07 goals against average in his last three starts. TEEGAN MOORE is 2-1-3 in BRANDON'S last two games.

MILESTONES: 2004-05 WHL Rookie of the Year TYLER PLANTE eclipsed the 5,000 minute mark in his WHEAT KING career during Tuesday night's game in KAMLOOPS.With fourteen goals and 30 points this season, TEEGAN MOORE has established career highs for both.Earlier this month, general manager/coach KELLY MCCRIMMON became only the third coach in franchise history to reach the 100-win plateau.

BRANDON BITS: BRANDON is 9-15-0 in one-goal games this season.On the mend - TYLER STRAUTMAN, STEPHANE LENOSKI (shoulder), RILEY DAY and COLE HUNTER (back).BRANDON has lost 148 man games to injury during the 2005-06 campaign.DUSTIN KOHN leads the club with +8 ranking.BRANDON'S special teams are currently ranked 20th in the WHL.WHEAT KINGS currently have three players with over 100 penalty minutes - DAY (129), COREY COURCHENE (116) and THERAN YEO (108).WHEAT KINGS are currently averaging less than 3,100 fans per home game.BRANDON'S CODEY BURKI has captured the second segment in the WHEAT KINGS' MOLSON CUP 3 STAR PROGRAM.

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