Patera, Wheat Kings Blank Ice
March 6, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Cranbrook, B.C. - In what was their final game ever in Cranbrook, the Brandon Wheat Kings scored a much needed victory Tuesday night, blanking the hometown Kootenay Ice 7-0.
Luka Burzan and Baron Thompson scored two goals each and Jiri Patera turned aside 29 shots for his first ever Western Hockey League shutout as the Wheat Kings pulled even with Red Deer in the battle for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
At 30-24-4-4, the Wheat Kings also moved to within a single point of the Medicine Hat Tigers, who currently occupy the first wild card spot.
Brandon will close out this week's 6-game road trip with games in Red Deer and Edmonton on Friday and Saturday night respectively.
The Wheat Kings, who travel to Lethbridge on Wednesday, jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on Tuesday, scored three unanswered goals in the second and cruised to the win against the Ice, who will be moving to Winnipeg for the 2019-20 campaign.
Not only was the win Brandon's first in Cranbrook since the 2015-16 season, it guaranteed the Wheat Kings a winning season for the fifth straight season and the 17th time in the past eighteen years.
Also scoring goals for the winners on Tuesday were Connor Gutenberg, rookie Ridly Greig and captain Stelio Mattheos, with his team leading 41st of the season.
Brandon outshot Kootenay 35-29.
Following this week's road trip, the Wheat Kings will return home to play two of their final three regular season games, beginning Wednesday night - Red River Mutual Rain Check Night - against the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.
Tickets to the game are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com. Rain Check night means that any unused tickets (dated November 23rd to February 22nd) can be exchanged at the box office for a "free" ticket to this game (regular box office agency fees apply).
Western Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2019
- Liwiski Suspended - Kelowna Rockets
- Raiders, Silvertips Hold Steady in Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- Kamloops Blazers Sign Alex Kilba to a One-Day Contract - Kamloops Blazers
- Game 63 vs Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, March 6 at Medicine Hat - Calgary Hitmen
- Patera, Wheat Kings Blank Ice - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Tips Spring to First behind 3-1 Victory - Everett Silvertips
- Tanya Shea Named February's Community Member of the Month Presented by Spring Honda - Kootenay Ice
- Chase Hartje Named February's Player of the Month Presented by Jewels on Ninth - Kootenay Ice
- Wheat Kings Blank ICE 7-0 - Kootenay Ice
- Blades Secure Home Ice with Fifth Straight Win - Saskatoon Blades
- Everett Stops Streaking Spokane - Spokane Chiefs
- Broncos Shutout in Prince Albert - Swift Current Broncos
- Raiders Clinch Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy With Shutout Win - Prince Albert Raiders
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