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Brandon Wheat Kings

Tigers to Host Wheat Kings in Series Opener

March 23, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - Hockey's favorite time of year begins tonight for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Wheat Kings are in Medicine Hat for the opening game of their best of seven Western Hockey League Quarterfinal series against the Tigers.

Despite winning the division for the second straight season with a 36-28-8-0 record and getting the second seed in the Eastern Conference, the Tigers finished behind Brandon in the overall standings as Brandon won seven of its final ten regular season games to compile a 40-27-3-2 record overall.

Winners of three of four games against the Tigers during the regular season, Brandon is cautiously optimistic as they go in search of some playoff revenge after being swept in last year's opening round.

"I think the Tigers are a very good club," says Brandon captain James Shearer. "They obviously backcheck really good and they're pretty fast too."

Brandon center Ty Lewis, who led the Wheat Kings in scoring and finished eighth in the WHL with 44 goals and 100 points during the regular season, agrees.

"They're a good hockey club," he told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun. "I think every time we played them this year it's went to overtime so it's obviously going to be a tough series. They have lots of high-end forwards up front, some defencemen who are physical and skilled on the back."

"We need to play our game," he went on to say. "Hopefully we get off on the right foot (tonight)...it's going to be big for us."

While Lewis became the first Brandon born and raised player to reach the 100-point plateau in over thirty years (Cam Plante had 22-118-140 in 1983-84), Winnipeg's Stellio Mattheos joined him among the league scoring leaders, finishing the year with career highs in goals (43) and points (90).

Mattheos led Brandon in scoring during the 4-game season series with five goals and 9 points, followed by 20-year old Evan Weinger's three goals and 5 points.

Defenceman David Quenneville meanwhile had three goals and five points in four games to lead the Tigers. The younger brother of former Wheat Kings Peter and John, Quenneville tied with Mark Rassell for the club scoring lead and led all WHL defencemen this season with 26 goals and 80 points. Rassell meanwhile finished fourth in goals with 50.

As for the goalkeepers, Calgary product Logan Thompson played three of four games against the Tigers, compiling a 3.54 goals against average and an 0.912 save percentage. The 20-year old, who was named the Wheat Kings Most Valuable Player this past season, hopes to be back in the net after suffering a lower body injury two weeks ago.

Thompson finished among the league leaders in wins (29), shutouts (3) and save percentage (.908).

At the other end of the rink meanwhile, Michael Bullion appeared in three of the games, compiling a 4.61 goals against average. Overall, he posted a 3.19 goals against average in 40 appearances while Medicine Hat's other 'tender Jordan Hollett registered a 3.43 goals against mark in 36 games.

The Wheat Kings, who will be forced to play their first round playoff home games in Dauphin due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, owned the third best home ice record during the regular season at 27-6-2-1. The Tigers were 21-11-4-0 at home and 15-17-4-0 on the road.

"Going into the game on Friday, we're hoping for a split this weekend," says Anning. "We're focusing solely on (Friday)."

Special teams often play a huge role in determining playoff success or failure and when you look at both teams, there's not much to choose from between them.

Brandon's powerplay was tenth in the league (23%) while the Tigers are 12th at 22.1%. Penalty killing, Medicine Hat finished 18th in the league at 76.2% while the Wheat Kings were 20th (74.2%). During the season series however, six of Medicine Hat's 14 goals against Brandon came with the man advantage.

Game two of the series will be played Sunday night in Alberta, before the series shifts to Dauphin for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Tickets to both Dauphin games are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office in Brandon, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com

Fans in the Parkland Region wanting to purchase tickets in person can do so at the arena box office, beginning at 12 noon Monday.

Dauphin's playoff games are presented by Twin Motors, Catalyst Credit Union, Aspen Insurance and Mazergroup.

BRANDON BITS: Of Mattheos' 43 goals this past season, 16 came via the powerplay (8th in the WHL), and ten were game winners (2nd)...Weinger finished second in the WHL this past season with five shorthanded goals...Defenceman Chase Hartje, who was acquired at January's Trade Deadline, scored three goals and 25 points during the regular season, which was 16th best among WHL rookies...Medicine Hat, who went 5-4-1-0 during its final ten regular season games, scored 260 goals while giving up 252 this past season. Brandon's numbers very close - 272 goals scored and 255 against...Netminder Dylan Myskiw started the Wheat Kings final six regular season games...This will be the first game between the Tigers and Wheat Kings since February 24th.

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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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