Wheat Kings Are Winners Sunday
September 16, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Moose Jaw, SK. - Ben McCartney scored twice, including the overtime shootout winner and Jiri Patera turned aside 22 shots in his Western Hockey League pre-season debut as the Brandon Wheat Kings edged the Warriors 3-2 Sunday night in Moose Jaw.
Seven seconds after surrendering the game's first goal early in the second period, McCartney fired home his first goal of the pre-season to even the score.
Rylan Bettens made it 2-1 Brandon eight minutes later and the score stayed that way until the Warriors tied the score three minutes into the third.
Following a scoreless five minute overtime, McCartney was the only skater to hit the back of the net as Patera turned away three Moose Jaw shooters.
With the win, the Wheat Kings completed a weekend home and home series sweep of the Warriors and closed out their pre-season with a record of 2-0-1-1.
Tristin Langan and Tyler Smithies scored in a losing cause for the Warriors, who outshot Brandon 24-20, including 10-1 in the third period as they came close on a couple of occasions to win the game in regulation.
The 17-year old McCartney is entering his second season in the WHL, after being chosen by the Wheat Kings in the second round of the 2016 bantam draft.
Patera meanwhile was Brandon's second selection in June's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft and returned this past week from the Vegas Golden Knights National Hockey League camp.
Speaking of NHL camps, the Wheat Kings received some welcome news Sunday when the Carolina Hurricanes announced that Winnipeg's Stelio Mattheos was being reassigned to Brandon.
Mattheos led Brandon with 43 goals - a career high - during the 2017-18 campaign.
Now that the pre-season is over, the Wheat Kings and Warriors will turn their attention to the 2018-19 regular season and next weekend's home and home series.
Moose Jaw will visit Brandon Friday night for the Wheat Kings' Brandon Sun Home Opener, presented by TELUS, before hosting the back half of the set on Saturday.
Tickets to Friday night's game go back on sale Monday morning at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com
Western Hockey League Stories from September 16, 2018
- Wheat Kings Are Winners Sunday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Cougars Edged In Overtime Pre-Season Finale - Prince George Cougars
- Americans Preseason Ends in 5-1 Loss to Chiefs - Tri-City Americans
- Broncos Wrap up Preseason in Style, Beat Hurricanes 5-1 - Swift Current Broncos
- Silvertips Win Preseason Finale - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Lose 3-2 to Hitmen in Pre-Season Finale - Kootenay Ice
- Silvertips Slip Past T-Birds in Last Preseason Game - Seattle Thunderbirds
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