
Underdog Wheat Kings Wrestle Two Points Out of Saskatoon
February 23, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
All the signs seemed to point to a tough outing for the Brandon Wheat Kings against the Saskatoon Blades. As it turned out, however, they were tougher than their circumstances.
Luke Shipley, Matteo Michels, Dominik Petr, and Carter Kippenstein all scored, and Carson Bjarnason was stellar with 34 saves on 35 shots as the Wheat Kings took down the Blades 4-1. The Wheat Kings were perfect on the penalty kill in the win as well.
"I'm really proud of the guys," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "We played last night and they didn't, we were short staffed, they're obviously a really good team and in this building in particular. I'm just really proud of the guys. At times, we had a bend but don't break mindset."
Each team traded chances in the first period, many of them coming off awkward turnovers and strange falls. But despite all these looks, including one where not one but two top players for the Blades were staring down an open net, neither team found the scoreboard through the entire opening twenty.
In the second, it was the Wheat Kings who finally broke through. Off an offensive zone draw, Rylen Roersma sent the puck cleanly back to Shipley, who snapped it through traffic for his second goal in his last two games in Saskatoon, and to give the Wheat Kings the 1-0 lead.
Off another offensive zone draw, the Wheat Kings scored almost a replay of one of their goals the previous night. Petr won a draw, Klippenstein tapped it back to Michels, and he snapped home his 15th to make it 2-0.
An ugly hit in the third period sent the Wheat Kings to the penalty kill for five full minutes. With a gutsy combination of shot blocking, dogged puck pursuit, and some big saves from Bjarnason, they killed the entire power play without allowing a goal.
With the net empty, the Blades pulled with one. Egor Sidorov snapped one through traffic from the top of the right circle to spoil the shutout for Bjarnason. But the Wheat Kings pushed back, and this time the goaltender pull didn't work for the Blades as Petr finished off a pretty passing play on a 3-on-1.
Down by two again, the Blades again pulled their netminder but again the Wheat Kings took advantage with Klippenstein snapping one home from long range to make it 4-1. From there, the clock wound down and the Wheat Kings took the win.
The final game of this three-in-three swing comes tomorrow night in Prince Albert against the Raiders. Puck drop will be 7:00.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2024
- Klassen Nets 250th Career Point as Hawks Down Royals 6-2 - Portland Winterhawks
- Hitmen Fall to Wild 3-2 in Overtime - Calgary Hitmen
- Mistelbacher Missiles Help Broncos to Fifth Straight Win - Swift Current Broncos
- Blades' Late Spark Not Enough to Comeback vs Wheat Kings - Saskatoon Blades
- Tigers Fall in Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Underdog Wheat Kings Wrestle Two Points Out of Saskatoon - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Schmidt Set for Stretch Run in Rookie Season with Warriors - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Warriors Open Trek Through U.S. Division against Americans - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Game Day Hub: February 23 at Victoria - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Host Eastern Conference Teams this Weekend, Face Regina on Friday - Spokane Chiefs
- Preview: Oil Kings at Lethbridge Hurricanes 2.23.24 - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Visit Blazers to Begin Two-Game Road Swing - Prince George Cougars
- Game Day Preview: Game 57 at Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
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.
Other Recent Brandon Wheat Kings Stories
- PWHL's McKercher Takes Reigns as Wheaties New Equipment Manager
- Wheat Kings Acquire Mistelbacher and Burzynski from Swift
- Wheat Kings' Season Ends in Game Five Loss in Lethbridge
- Johnson's Third Period Heroics Extend Wheat Kings' Season
- Wheat Kings Fall in Hard-Fought Game Three Heartbreaker

