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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Second Period Goalfest Favors Broncos in Wheat Kings' Road Trip Finale

March 9, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Trading chances against the Swift Current Broncos wasn't the plan for the Brandon Wheat Kings before the game began. As it happened, however, they were sucked into it.

Jayden Wiens, Matteo Michels, and Caleb Hadland scored but the Wheat Kings fell 6-3 to the Broncos. The game nearly descended into a brawl in the final moments as frustration boiled over each way.

"I thought our execution wasn't very good," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "We we're up 2-1, had a couple nice goals to get us going at the start of the period, but every time we scored they bounced back."

Special teams told the story of the first period, and the Wheat Kings were on the wrong side of it. As the Broncos went to the power play as four-on-four expired, the two captains went for a 50/50 puck, and Owen Pickering chopped it awkwardly off Hyland's tape and into the net for the 1-0 lead.

Awarded over a minute and a half of 5-on-3, the Broncos tried to load up chances from all angles. From fearless shot blocks to ten-bell saves from Eskit, the Wheat Kings weathered the storm and got to the end of the period down by just one.

The second quickly turned into a goal-fest, with Wiens leading the way. As Brett Hyland deked his way around the net, he got Reid Dyck to bite and fed Wiens for the tap in to tie the score.

A Broncos' turnover quickly turned into a goal for Michels as he followed up a rush, picked off a clearing attempt, and from the middle of ice settled it down, and ripped home his 17th of the season.

The Broncos slumbering offensive beast roared to life from there, however. In quick succession, Ryan McCleary snapped one home at four-on-four, Josh Filmon tipped one in at even strength, and Clarke Caswell finished off a two-on-one to make it 4-2.

Momentum changed hands quickly midway through the third. First, as Rylen Roersma fed the puck out front, Hadland knocked one past Dyck to get the Wheat Kings within one. But on the very next shift, Matthew Ward sniped one off the rush to restore the two goal lead.

On a phantom call, the Wheat Kings saw their opportunity with the net empty severely hindered. Nonetheless, they tried to pull the goalie, but the Broncos took advantage to ice the game.

The Wheat Kings finish their road swing 1-2-1 and will rest for only one day before traveling to Saskatoon to face the Blades on Tuesday, March 12.

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