WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

"Manitoba's" Wheat Kings set for opener

Published on September 20, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- A large number of Manitobans will be hitting the ice as members of the Brandon Wheat Kings Friday night as the defending Eastern Division Champions kick off their 2007-2008 Western Hockey League season against the visiting Saskatoon Blades at Westman Place.

Of the twenty-four players on Brandon's roster to start the season, thirteen are from the Keystone Province including nine veterans - goalkeeper Joe Caligiuri (Winnipeg), defencemen Colby Robak (Gilbert Plains) and Chad Erb (Sanford) as well as forwards Matt Lowry (Neepawa), Cale Jefferies (Glenboro), Jay Fehr (Morden), Nathan Green (Winnipeg) and local products Tyler Dittmer and Andrew Clark.

Leading the strong contingent of first year Manitobans set to make their WHL debuts Friday night are 17-year old Sanfred King and 18-year old Matt Calvert - two former members of the AAA Midget Wheat Kings that were instrumental in leading Brandon to its third Provincial Title in the past five years. Joining them are 18-year old Hartney product Del Cowan, who played last season for the Neepawa Natives of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and 16-year old Winnipegger Scott Glennie.

A second round draft choice of the Wheat Kings in the 2006 WHL bantam draft, Glennie is one of three 16-year old rookies to crack this year's lineup, joining center Brayden Schenn of Saskatoon and blueliner Brodie Melnychuk of Balgonie, Saskatchewan. While Schenn was Brandon's first round pick (9th overall) in 2006, Melnychuk was the Wheat Kings' third round selection (50th overall).

Schenn, Glennie and Melnychuk will be three of ten rookies starting the season in Brandon. Rounding out the list are defencemen Matt Smith (Grandora, Sask.) and Alex Grill Donovan (Calgary), netminder Andrew Hayes (Sherwood Park, Alberta) as well as forward Jordan Hale (Lacombe, Alberta).

"Our focus internally is getting off to a good start," Wheat Kings' general manager Kelly McCrimmon told CKLQ's Bruce Luebke earlier this week. "I don't think we're looking at it any deeper than that."

Brandon plays eight of their first eleven games on home ice and don't play a mid week game until mid October, providing plenty of practice time in the early stages of the season.

"As the season goes on, I do think our practice time is going to be very important," McCrimmon says. "We'll improve as we go along. I think our defence is very experienced and our inexperience is probably up front. Yet, we've got a great crop of rookies; probably as good as we've ever had, so I think the timing is really good for those people."

Friday's game will feature a special pre-game Tailgate Party, hosted by Montana's Cookhouse in support of the CIBC Run for the Cure. As well, the Wheat Kings will be unveiling their 2006-07 Eastern Division pennant.

Performing the Ceremonial opening face-off will be 78-year old Mac Beaton, who was a member of the 1948-49 Wheat Kings that lost out to Montreal in the Memorial Cup Championship Final. He'll be assisted by Wheat Kings' Alumni Association President Ken Schneider, Past President Jeff Lawson as well as Glen Parker (Brandon Sun) and Brian Lawrence (Coca Cola), representing this year's Opening Night Sponsors.

Performing the National Anthem will be Crocus Plains student Katlin Mathison, a 15-year old member of the school's Student Council and CP Express.

In addition to what should be an entertaining game between two young talented clubs, Friday's game will mark the debut of this year's Brandon Sun - Imperial Radio "Hit the Hole" Shootout. Some lucky fan in attendance will have a chance to win $10,000 during the second intermission.

Tickets to Friday's Opener are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca As of Thursday afternoon, less than 3,500 tickets had been purchased for the game.

And speaking of tickets, thanks to a last-minute flurry this week, the Wheat Kings have surpassed the 2,500 mark in Season Ticket Sales for the coming year. The WHL club sold over 2,600 last year and had set a goal of 3,000 for 2007-08.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from September 20, 2007


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