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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Quick Slump Undoes Strong Effort for Wheat Kings in Medicine Hat

March 5, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


For most of the game, and especially at 5-on-5, the Wheat Kings stuck with the Medicine Hat Tigers. It was a short stint in the second period that proved the difference for all the wrong reasons.

Jayden Wiens scored twice, and Jackson DeSouza potted one of his own, but the Wheat Kings fell 6-3 to the Tigers to open their road trip. Ethan Eskit came in to relieve Carson Bjarnason in the second period.

"I think we took a couple penalties at bad times, a couple turnovers of the puck," said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. "You do that against a team like Medicine Hat, they'll make you pay. I thought for the most part tonight, I know the score, 6-3, makes it look like they thumped us but I didn't think that was the case. It was probably one of our better games in a while."

Shots were 11-6 for the Wheat Kings at even strength before the Tigers got the first power play of the game, and unfortunately for Brandon they made good on it. Gavin McKenna walked in from the middle and, as the Wheat Kings took away his pass options, he elected for the shot and snapped it home.

Overall, shots were 15-10 for the Wheat Kings after the first period, but the second period tilted in the Tigers favor almost right away. First, they scored a redirection goal on the power play. Then, a bullet of a shot by Tomas Mrsic went in and out at top speed and made it 3-0.

After being unable to score on a lengthy 5-on-3, the Wheat Kings gave up a morale-sapping breakaway goal to Mrsic. But from there, they fought back. Wiens, parked at the lip of the crease, stuffed home a power play goal to get it started.

Then, on the rush, DeSouza drove the net and slipped a feed from Hayden Wheddon through the legs of Zach Zahara. DeSouza found the rebound as it leaked through and was able to stuff home his third of the year.

Again the Tigers appeared to snuff out the momentum with a shot off the rush by Andrew Basha, and again the Wheat Kings fought back. Charlie Elick took a point shot that produced a rebound for Wiens, who stuffed home his 20th goal for the first time in his career. But an empty netter by McKenna sealed the deal.

The loss is the fourth in a row for the Wheat Kings but they have no time to dwell on it. They're right back to work tomorrow night against the Calgary Hitmen. Puck drop is 8:00 Central Time.

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