WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Clark's Cougars In Town Wednesday

November 11, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- A familiar face to western Manitoba hockey fans pays a visit to Brandon's Westman Place Wednesday afternoon as the Wheat Kings play host to the Prince George Cougars in their annual Remembrance Day game.

Dean Clark returns to Brandon for the first time since signing a five year contract with Prince George this past summer. A former Canadian Hockey League Coach of the Year, Clark brought with him an impressive resume as a head coach in the WHL, winning 385 games in twelve seasons behind the benches of Kamloops, Calgary and Brandon, where he helped to lead the Wheat Kings to back to back berths into the Eastern Conference Championship Final.

Unlike the teams he coached in Calgary and Brandon, Clark has inherited a young team in Prince George but he's confident that the team is headed in the right direction. Entering Wednesday afternoon's game in Regina, the Cougars were sitting fifth in the B.C. Division of the Western Conference with a 3-14-1-1 record.

Slovakian Marek Viedensky leads the Cougars in scoring (2-12-14) while Jesse Forsberg is next with a goal and 12 points. Highly touted Brett Connolly, who led the Cougars with thirty goals and 60 points last season is currently sitting on the sidelines with an injury and has been able to play in just seven games this winter.

The Wheat Kings meanwhile enter Wednesday's game with a record of 11-8-0-2, good for 24 points and third place in the Eastern Division. Today's game is the third of a 5-game home stand that will continue this weekend with games against division rivals Saskatoon and Regina on Friday and Saturday nights.

Brandon has split the first two games of this home stand, bouncing back from a 4-0 loss to Prince Albert on Friday to beat the Tigers 5-1 on Saturday.

This afternoon's game will include a special pre-game Ceremonial Opening Face-off to mark the unofficial kick-off to the 2009-10 Manitoba Minor Hockey Season, presented by Koch Fertilizer Canada. A member of the Virden Squirt Oil Kings and the Boissevain pee wee Border Kings will perform the face-off, alongside the new Base Commander at CFB Shilo - Lieutenant Colonel Luc Genereux and Base Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Walsh.

Over twenty minor hockey teams, representing Treherne, Souris, Boissevain, Neepawa, Minnedosa, Hamiota, Shoal Lake, Tri-Town, Carberry, Killarney, Melita, Virden and Birtle will be in attendance.

In observance of Remembrance Day, the box office won't open Wednesday until 1 p.m. In addition to picking up their tickets at the box office (Pioneer Lounge), fans can also order online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 726-3555.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 11, 2009


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