Special Teams the Difference as Wheat Kings Fall to Blades

January 1, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release

Special teams can make or break a team in junior hockey, and the Brandon Wheat Kings got a vivid reminder of that in their New Year's Day matinee against the Saskatoon Blades. Unfortunately, they were on the wrong end of that reminder.

The Wheat Kings gave up three power play goals and one shorthanded and that was all the scoring in the contest as they fell 4-0. Carson Bjarnason was strong again with 35 saves, but it wasn't enough as the Blades got a shutout from Austin Elliott.

"They play the right way and they have a good goalie," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "If you don't get inside the dots and inside the scoring area it's hard to score. That was kind of the way the game went for us. We were kind of lethargic."

The Blades' power play accounted for all the scoring in the first period. First, off a broken play in front of the Wheat Kings' net, Brandon Lisowsky found the loose puck and snapped it home. Then, with bodies piled in front of Carson Bjarnason, the Blades sent the puck into the scramble and got a favorable tip for a 2-0 lead.

More special teams worked against the Wheat Kings in the second period. On the first of what would prove to be two Blades' 5-on-3s in the period, Rhett Melnyk got a tip on a point shot just moments before the 5-on-3 would've become a 5-on-4. Then, the Blades got a heartbreaker shorthanded as Tyler Parr drove the goal and tapped home a feed from Trevor Wong with under 30 seconds to go in the period.

The Wheat Kings travel home for another homestand to continue 2024. They'll start it on January 6 against the Vancouver Giants.

Western Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2024

• Warriors Upend Pats in Overtime on New Year's Day - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Hitmen Fall to Royals 5-4 in Overtime - Calgary Hitmen
• Pats Battle Back to Salvage a Point - Regina Pats
• Elliott Picks up Second Shutout, Blades Blank Wheat Kings 4-0 - Saskatoon Blades
• Special Teams the Difference as Wheat Kings Fall to Blades - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Oil Kings Pull out Last-Second 6-5 Win over Silvertips - Everett Silvertips
• Nash's Late Game Heroics Propels Oil Kings to Win in Everett - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Warriors Ring in New Year in Regina - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Preview: Oil Kings at Everett Silvertips - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Hawks Win Third Straight With 3-0 Win Over Vancouver - Portland Winterhawks
• Chiefs Ring in the New Year in Style with Season-High 11 Goals - Spokane Chiefs
• Mirwald Outstanding for Giants in Loss to Winterhawks - Vancouver Giants
• Wild Offense Provides Fireworks Sunday in Year-Ending 5-1 Win Over Seattle - Wenatchee Wild

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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