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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Late Powerplay Goal Lifts Rockets to Win

November 4, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Kelowna, B.C. - The Brandon Wheat Kings two game winning streak has come to an end as they closed out their season high 7-game road trip in Kelowna.

A powerplay goal by Kyle Topping with 1:10 remaining in regulation time was the difference as the Rockets battled back from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits with two unanswered third period powerplay goals.

The game winning goal came with Brandon's Connor Gutenberg in the penalty box, serving a five minute major for running into former Wheat King prospect Leif Mattson in the neutral zone.

It seemed only fitting that this game be decided with a powerplay goal as the two teams combined for six on the night.

With the win, the Rockets improved to 7-10-0-0 while the Wheat Kings record slipped to 8-4-3-2.

Luka Burzan with two and defenceman Braden Schneider scored goals in a losing cause for the Wheat Kings, who finished their two week excursion with a record of 2-3-1-1, which represented their best west coast trip in three years.

Nolan Foote scored twice and Eric Gardiner rounded out the scoring for the Rockets, who outshot Brandon 29-24.

Brandon coach David Anning says that the bus trips and schedule may have caught up with his club in this one.

"We certainly weren't as quick as we had been throughout the trip," Anning told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun. "You could just see it in the attention to detail in our game. We started cutting some corners defensively where instead of stopping and being in the right spot we were swinging through dangerous ice and we gave up some looks defensively because of it. I thought over the course of the trip we had great speed off the puck and we were working to support the puck all over the ice and tonight we were a little more spread out and it showed. It slowed us down a little bit."

Despite the loss, the extended road trip is always seen as an excellent way for the club to come together and veteran defenceman Zach Wytinck thinks this one was no different.

"I think as a team it's a really fun bonding experience," the Glenboro native told the Sun. "We spend a lot of time together as far as down time away from the rink and all the games we get to play in a short span of time. We have to come together pretty quick...we're always together for meals, on the bus and that kind of stuff. It's a hard trip because you have a lot going on but it's a fun time to spend with the boys."

The Wheat Kings will return home late Sunday and after a couple of well deserved days off, they'll begin preparations for what should be a tough assignment next weekend when they host the Red Deer Rebels and Tri-City Americans on Friday night and Sunday afternoon respectively.

Sunday's game is the club's annual Remembrance Day game and will feature a special salute to western Manitoba minor hockey, presented by Koch Fertilizer Canada.

Tickets to both games go back on sale Monday morning at the Keystone Centre box office. However, fans can order online at keystonecentre.com or by calling (204) 726-3555.

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