WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Thomson Set to Make Wheat King Debut

Published on November 27, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


The 19-year-old Wawanesa defenceman was acquired from the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday evening in exchange for 18-year-old defenceman Mark Taraschuk.

In a telephone call late Wednesday evening, Thomson said he was thrilled with the news.

"The best way to describe it is a dream come true for me," Thomson said.

His parents Brian and Lisa were delighted, Thomson said, adding he has other family that lives in Brandon as well.

He is driving to Lethbridge from Swift Current this morning, where he will leave his truck with his brother and join the team for their game tonight against the Hurricanes.

Wheat Kings head coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Thomson and Taraschuk are different players.

"He brings a little more experience to our lineup," McCrimmon said of Thomson. "He's a different type of player. He's right-handed, which if you look at our group of seven defencemen, we only have the one right-handed defenceman in (Macoy) Erkamps. That was of interest, and in Thomson we see a player that I think we'll get the best out of in Brandon.

"This is going to be an exciting move for him getting back to Manitoba where his family is from. I think he'll get a good opportunity to play and will make our team better."

Thomson, who is five-foot-11 and 192 pounds, was the fourth overall pick in the 2011 Western Hockey League bantam draft by the Kamloops Blazers. In a 159-game WHL career that also included a stop in Saskatoon, Thomson has 12 goals, 42 assists and 113 penalty minutes.

Taraschuk, a six-foot, 198-pound Winnipegger, joined the Wheat Kings at the start of the 2014-15 season, appearing in 50 games over two seasons with the team. He had 10 assists and 16 penalty minutes.

He was selected by Brandon in the sixth round of the 2012 draft.

"Mark is a good player, a different kind of player than Jordan," McCrimmon said. "That's why the trade came together: We had what they were looking for and they had what we were looking for. I think Mark will be a good fit there and play well. I think he'll get an opportunity to play in more key defensive situations than he did here. That's going to be a good opportunity for him there."

While Taraschuk welcomed the new opportunity, he was thankful to everyone in the Wheat Kings organization, from the front office to the team staff to his former teammates.

"It's obviously tough to leave an organization as well-known as the Brandon Wheat Kings and I've got lots of close friends here but this is a new journey," Taraschuk said. "I'm really excited to get going with the Broncos."

Thomson comes to the Wheat Kings with the benefit of knowing several Brandon players, including longtime friend Jayce Hawryluk. Thomson said he is an offensive defenceman who likes to jump up into the play but adds he has worked hard on his defensive game as well lately.

He loves what he sees in the Wheat Kings.

"All around they're an unbelievable hockey team," Thomson said. "They've got skill up front, in net and on the blueline. They're a strong team, very skilled and they have a great coach. I couldn't be more excited to join them."

Thomson is scheduled to make his Wheat Kings debut tonight in Lethbridge. With the Wheat Kings on the road for their next three games, the earliest that Thomson will be able to make his home debut is against the Regina Pats on Dec. 4 at Westman Place at 7:30 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2015


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