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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Patera, Wheat Kings Edge Blazers Friday

November 3, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Jiri Patera
Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Jiri Patera
(Brandon Wheat Kings, Credit: Kamloops Blazers)

Kamloops, B.C. - In a game that featured a battle between two Vegas Golden Knights goaltending prospects, Jiri Patera and the Brandon Wheat Kings edged Dylan Ferguson and the Kamloops Blazers 3-2 in overtime Friday night.

Fresh off being chosen the TELUS Player of the Month for the first month of the 2018-19 season, captain Stelio Mattheos scored twice, including the overtime breakaway winner as the Wheat Kings improved to 8-3-3-2 on the season.

Patera and Fergsuon combined to stop 70 of 75 shots in what was the first ever WHL game played between two Vegas netminding prospects.

While Ferguson was originally chosen by Dallas and later had his rights traded to Vegas in 2017, Patera was the Golden Knights' seventh round selection in the 2017 National Hockey League Draft.

Defenceman Chase Hartje also scored for the Wheat Kings, who trailed 1-0 after twenty minutes. Brandon tied it with 9 seconds left in the second when Mattheos banged home a rebound past Ferguson. The Blazers felt the net had been dislodged but following a lengthy video replay, the Wheat Kings were awarded the tying goal, setting the stage for an exciting finish.

In the third, the teams traded goals, with Kamloops netting the equalizer with five minutes remaining in regulation time.

Zane Franklin and Luke Zazula scored in a losing cause for the Blazers, who were outshot 41-34.

After snapping a 5-game losing streak Tuesday night in Prince George, Wheat Kings' coach David Anning says it feels good to put back to back victories together on this season high 7-game road trip.

"I thought we had a great start to the hockey game," Anning told the Brandon Sun "I really liked us in the first 10 or 11 minutes. We generated a lot of chances and played in the offensive zone and didn't give up much defensively. But I thought we got a little bit loose as the game went on for the next 30 or so and started to exchange scoring chances back and forth off the rush because we were cheating a little bit offensively. We needed to tighten up a little bit to be successful on the road so I thought we did a better job in the third period."

With the win, the Wheat Kings are now .500 on this trip (2-2-1-1) heading into the final stop Saturday night in Kelowna against the Rockets.

"I thought we had some really good performances where guys stepped up and competed hard tonight," Anning added. "We got the timely saves from Jiri that we needed and are happy to get the two points on the road."

Following Saturday night, the Wheat Kings will return home for back to back games next weekend against Red Deer on Friday and the Tri-City Americans on Sunday afternoon.

Tickets for both games go back on sale Saturday morning at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order online at keystonecentre.com or by calling (204) 726-3555.

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Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Jiri Patera
Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Jiri Patera
(Kamloops Blazers)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2018


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