Kraus Stands Tall, Leads Wheat Kings to Win in Moose Jaw
Published on December 27, 2025 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
A mild post-Christmas lull beset the Brandon Wheat Kings when they faced the Moose Jaw Warriors in Moose Jaw, but they still found a way to win thanks to one player who showed up in mid-season form.
Jayden Kraus stopped 31 shots, including a penalty shot, and the Wheat Kings took a 3-2 win over Moose Jaw in their first post-Christmas game. Nicholas Johnson scored twice, while Jaxon Jacobson supplied the game-winner.
"The two scariest games of the year are the one right before Christmas and the one right after," said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. "Both of those games were a little ugly, but we found a way to get four points, which is huge."
The two teams traded even strength goals early with Moose Jaw striking first. Aiden Ziprick's shot was blocked, but the rebound bounced into the slot for Steven Steranka for a quick shot to open the scoring.
But the Wheat Kings would respond just under two and a half minutes later. Brady Turko spotted Johnson alone in front and sent him a perfect pass, which Johnson cradled and lifted right upstairs to tie the score.
Johnson struck again late in the first. Cam Allard made a partner pass to Nigel Boehm, and Boehm let a shot go from the left point that Johnson got a tip on to give the Wheat Kings their first lead of the night.
The two teams traded power play chances in the second, and it was the Wheat Kings who finally broke through. Chase Surkan sent the puck to Jacobson on the goal line, and from the right side of the net he fired one off the back of Chase Wutzke and in.
With the Wheat Kings killing a five-minute-major, Moose Jaw cut the lead to 3-2. Connor Schmidt outwaited a shot-blocker, cut to his right, and snapped one off the left post and in.
That, as it turned out, would be the last goal of the game. Both goaltenders turned in some stellar saves the rest of the way, notably Kraus with a breakaway save on Kash Andresen and a last-second stop on Pavel McKenzie to preserve the lead and ultimately the win.
"He was excellent," Murray said of his goaltender. "We gave up too many chances and he was excellent right to the buzzer. There was only a few seconds left there when he made that point-blank save."
The win moves the Wheat Kings to 4-2 on the season series with Moose Jaw, and 20-12-1 on the season. The Wheat Kings can salt away the season series with a win tomorrow afternoon in Brandon at 4:00.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2025
- Preview: Americans at Winterhawks - December 28, 2025 - Tri-City Americans
- Rockets Fire 61 Shots in 6-4 Win Over Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- Rockets Pepper Giants with 61 Shots in 6-4 Win - Vancouver Giants
- Wenatchee Turns Tables in Early Third Period Saturday for 5-4 Win at Spokane - Wenatchee Wild
- T-Birds Track Down 'Tips - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Americans Win Fourth Straight With 4-1 Victory Over Portland - Tri-City Americans
- Chiefs Come up Just Short in 5-4 Loss to Wenatchee - Spokane Chiefs
- Wilfley Nets First WHL Goal as Hawks Fall to Americans on the Road - Portland Winterhawks
- Pats Come up Short in 3-2 Overtime Loss to Blades - Regina Pats
- WEEK Preview: Broncos Drop Post-Break Opener to Raiders - Swift Current Broncos
- Cougars Fall, 6-1, to Royals in Return from Holiday Break - Prince George Cougars
- Holinka Scores Overtime Winner as Oil Kings Defeat Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Tigers Take Down Canes, 5-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Warriors Battle But Fall in a Narrow Saturday Night Battle against the Wheat Kings - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Spokane Chiefs Honor Scholastic Standouts for Fall 2025 - Spokane Chiefs
- Kraus Stands Tall, Leads Wheat Kings to Win in Moose Jaw - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Chiefs Add G Perreault Ahead of Saturday's Game vs Wenatchee, Sarkenov Returns, Petr Expected to Make Debut - Spokane Chiefs
- Saturday's Game vs Wenatchee Officially Sold Out - Spokane Chiefs
- Oil Kings Acquire Zemlak from Americans, Release Craik - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans trade Austin Zemlak to Edmonton - Tri-City Americans
- Oil Kings Acquire Fuder from Rebels for Andersen, and Prospects - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels Complete Trade with Oil Kings - Red Deer Rebels
- Game Preview: Cougars vs Royals - Prince George Cougars
- Game Preview: Game 34 at Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Recall Wouters, Re-Assign Hejda and Marsh - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Chiefs Return to Action against Wild at Home Saturday, Petr Expected to Make Chiefs Debut - Spokane Chiefs
- Oil Kings Return from Break, Visit Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Warriors Begin Second-Half Schedule against Wheat Kings - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Game Day Hub: December 27 at Tri-City - Portland Winterhawks
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