WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Saturday is player card giveaway

Published on February 15, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- The Keystone Centre will be The place to be this Saturday when the Eastern Division leading Brandon Wheat Kings close out a home and home weekend Western Hockey League series with the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.

The Wheat Kings, who enter Friday night's game in Moose Jaw with a ten point lead on the second place Regina Pats, in association with Giant Tiger have introduced plans to hold their 19th annual Player Card Giveaway on Saturday. Winners of four of their last five road games, Brandon will be taking a 2-game win streak into Friday's game at the Moose Jaw Civic Centre.

The full color cards, produced by Leech Printing, will feature all twenty-four Wheat Kings including captain Mark Derlago, newly acquired left-winger Rob Klinkhammer, Florida Panthers' second round draft choice Tyler Plante as well as WHL all stars Codey Burki, Dustin Kohn and Andrew Clark.

The cards, produced through the generous support of United Commercial Travellers, Maple Leaf and Murray Chev Cadillac Ltd., will be distributed to the first 2,500 fans in attendance at Friday's game. Puck drop is at 7:30 but the doors will be open at 6:30 p.m., so be sure to come out early to ensure that you receive your collectors set. This year's action photos were the work of Chris Grenier from LifeTouch Brandon and Brandon Sun photographer Bruce Bumstead.

The hockey club's first ever set of player cards was distributed to fans during the 1983-84 WHL campaign and featured such future NHL stars as goalkeeper Ron Hextall and high scoring center Ray Ferraro. The first ever set also included current Wheat Kings' assistant coach Brad Wells and record setting blueliner Cam Plante. The father of both Tyler (Wheat Kings) and Alex (Calgary Hitmen) established a league record that season, accumulating 118 assists.

Brandon enters weekend play with a record of 31-19-2-7, good for 71 points. In addition to leading the division, Wednesday's 5-4 come from behind Shootout victory over the Blades in Saskatoon moved the Wheat Kings into sole posession of third place in the Western League's Eastern Conference. The line of Jeff Topilko, Tyler Dittmer and Rob Klinkhammer combined for eight points in the win, with Topilko leading the way with his first ever WHL hat trick. A former member of the Portland Winter Hawks, Klinkhammer had three assists, giving him 11 points in his last four games. Topilko meanwhile has managed a point in eight of his last nine games, going 6-6-12 during that span.

In other Wheat King news, captain Mark Derlago has moved to within three games of the 200-game plateau in his WHL career. Codey Burki meanwhile played in his 250th on Wednesday night.

Saturday's game kicks off a 5-game home stand for the Wheat Kings, who will play nine of their final 12 regular season games on home ice. Tickets to the game are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2007


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