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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Playoff Style Contests Ahead for Wheat Kings' Homestand

February 29, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


The actual WHL playoffs won't begin until near the end of March, but for several teams in a dogfight in the standings, the playoff mentality has already taken hold. That list of teams includes the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Fresh off a three-in-three road swing through Saskatchewan, the Wheat Kings get to spend a weekend at home with the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades paying them a visit this time around. Though they were badly shorthanded on the Saskatchewan road trip, they took four of a possible six points from their division rivals.

"Those were tough ones on the road with a depleted lineup but we got through them ok," said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. "Hopefully the guys got some rest this week, got their batteries recharged and are ready for two big ones this weekend."

Rest and recovery were two watchwords for the Wheat Kings this week as they try to get numerous bodies back from injury. Practices showed some promising signs of that this week, and there may be some good news coming for Wheat Kings fans this weekend. And they'll need all the healthy legs they can get. These two games are shaping up to have another level of intensity, especially with the Raiders and Wheat Kings separated by just four points in the standings.

"I think it'll be a playoff atmosphere," Murray said. "They (the Raiders) won last night and they're right on our heels. I think another playoff type of game will be in the making. Hopefully we've got our batteries recharged and we're ready to go for that night."

Playoff hockey can be tiring and hard on the body, but in some ways it's better for a young Wheat Kings squad to get used to it now. After all, the team has plenty of players who've never been in the playoffs before as they missed the postseason last year.

"The one thing about being in the position we're in, that five, six, seven range, is that almost every game is a playoff game right now," Murray said. "Guys are getting acclimated to what it's going to take to be a playoff team and then, ultimately, we get there and they can understand what it's going to take to have success."

Both the games against the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades will begin at 7:00. Next week, the Wheat Kings will be on the road to finish their season series against four Central Division opponents.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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