WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

First Period Hiccups Cost Wheat Kings Game One

Published on March 29, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


There were some unfortunate parallels between the Wheat Kings' first period in game one against the Moose Jaw Warriors and their first period against Moose Jaw in their home closer. Once again, turnovers saw them give up three goals in the opening period, and this time it was too much to overcome.

Roger McQueen, Jayden Wiens, and Caleb Hadland all scored, but the Warriors took game one 7-4 with an empty netter. Final shots were 44-37 for Moose Jaw.

"The first ten minutes of the first were probably the opposite of the way we would've drawn it up," said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. "You could see we were on our heels a little bit and maybe a little overwhelmed."

Not quite three minutes in, the Warriors opened the scoring on a battle in the crease. Martin Rysavy was there banging away at it, and his second try at the rebound leaked home.

It was a defensive zone turnover that bit the Wheat Kings on the second Warrior goal. After failing to clear, the Wheat Kings lost the puck to Brayden Schuurman, who snapped home the 2-0 goal.

Exactly the wrong guys got a 2-on-1 for Moose Jaw later on in the first, as Jagger Firkus and Brayden Yager pulled into the clear. Firkus thought shot all the way and beat Bjarnason to the glove side, and that made it 3-0.

Following a strong penalty kill, the Wheat Kings scored their first of the series. Brett Hyland won a battle on the wall and spotted McQueen coming in off the bench, and McQueen, as if he hadn't missed a beat, sniped home his first ever playoff goal.

But the Warriors quickly wrested momentum back. First, it was Owen Berge breaking in up the right wall and sneaking one home off the rush from a tough angle. Then Firkus and Rysavy went back to work with Firkus spinning the puck out front from below the goal line while Rysavy was waiting to blast it in.

Late in the second, the Wheat Kings got some of their own back. Hyland fed Quinn Mantei, who let a shot go through traffic that Wiens got the redirection on. The veteran stayed hot and gave the Wheat Kings the tie in the period, though not in the game.

Hadland pulled the Wheat Kings back within two early in the third, earning Hyland his third assist of the night as he did so. Breaking in up the right side, he took the hand-off from Hyland and rifled in his first ever playoff goal.

At four-on-four, the Warriors restored their three-goal lead again. This time, Matthew Savoie was the culprit, pulling in alone and opening up the five-hole on Ethan Eskit with a slick move.

But again, the Wheat Kings refused to quit. Off a lengthy cycle, and another assist by Hyland, Wiens stuffed it out front and got a favorable bounce to have it slide in between Unger's legs.

With 3:00 to go, the Wheat Kings pulled Ethan Eskit to press for the equalizer, but it wasn't to be. A missed one-timer ended up on Schuurman's tape and, from long distance, he launched home the seventh Moose Jaw goal.

A quick reset is in order for the Wheat Kings, who are right back to work in Moose Jaw tomorrow night for game two. Puck drop is 8:00 Central Time.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2024


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