Wheat Kings Beat Warriors; Playoff Matchup Set
March 17, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Moose Jaw, SK. - The Brandon Wheat Kings were winners Friday and also learned their first round Western Hockey League playoff opponent in the process.
Not only did Brandon score an exciting 6-5 overtime victory over the league leading Warriors in Moose Jaw, the Wheat Kings found out who they will face off against in the WHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
The win, coupled with Regina's overtime win over Swift Current, means that Brandon will finish in the first wild card spot in the Conference and therefore will meet the Central Division champion Medicine Hat Tigers in round one - for the second straight season.
The series will begin Friday, March 23rd in Alberta, with games three and four of the best of seven series scheduled for Dauphin on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 27th and 28th.
The Wheat Kings have been forced to play their first round playoff home games in Dauphin due to the annual scheduling conflict with the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair at the Keystone Centre.
As for Friday's game it was the first of a weekend home and home series between the Wheat Kings and Warriors. The two teams will bring the curtain down on the 2017-18 regular season Saturday night at Westoba Place.
In the weekend series opener, Stelio Mattheos' second goal of the game - at the 1:17 mark of overtime - lifted Brandon to the win, improving their record to 39-27-3-2 on the season.
The goal came moments after the Warriors had forced extra time when Justin Almeida's 43rd goal of the season with less than a second remaining on the clock evened the score.
While fans were busy celebrating the unlikely regulation time finish, Brandon stuck early and will be hoping to win their 40th of the season on Saturday night.
Linden McCorrister, Cole Reinhardt, Connor Guttenberg and Caiden Daley, who finished the night with three points, rounded out the scoring for the Wheat Kings, who led 3-2 and 4-3 at the period breaks.
Jayden Halbgewachs scored twice in a losing cause for the Warriors, who were outshot 32-32 in the contest. For Halbgewachs, that gave him a league leading 70 goals on the season.
Saturday night is Awards Night, with trophies to be handed out before, during and immediately following the game. Tickets to the game are on sale at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com
Saturday is also the final Pizza Hut Family Night of the season. The $75 Wheat Kings' Family Package includes two adult and two youth tickets, four personal pan pizzas, four soft drinks (Pepsi) and four souvenir programs.
Tickets to Brandon's two playoff home games in Dauphin are also on sale at the Keystone Centre box office.
WHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Schedule:
Game 1 - Friday, March 23rd Wheat Kings @ Medicine Hat
Game 2 - Sunday, March 25th  Wheat Kings @ Medicine Hat
Game 3 - Tuesday, March 27th Medicine Hat @ Wheat Kings in Dauphin
Game 4 - Wednesday, March 28th  Medicine Hat @ Wheat Kings in Dauphin
Game 5 - Friday, March 30th  Wheat Kings @ Medicine Hat
Game 6 - Sunday, April 1st  Medicine Hat @ Wheat Kings in Dauphin
Game 7 - Tuesday, April 3rd Wheat Kings @ Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat swept the Wheat Kings in their opening round playoff series last season.
The Tigers enter Saturday's regular season finale against Lethbridge with a record of 36-27-8.
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Western Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2018
- Pats Fall in OT to Complete Regular Season - Regina Pats
- Raiders Comeback Falls Short In Saskatoon - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen Clobbers Edmonton in Penultimate Regular Season Game - Calgary Hitmen
- Hurricanes vs. Rebels Series Schedule Set - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Game Day Preview: Blades Looking to Close out Season on Winning Note - Saskatoon Blades
- Jersey Draw March 17 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Game 72 vs. Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Tonight Is Wheat Kings' Awards Night - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, March 17 at Edmonton - Calgary Hitmen
- ICE Conclude 17-18 Regular Season Schedule with Home Date against the Rebels - Kootenay Ice
- Wheat Kings Beat Warriors; Playoff Matchup Set - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Wrap Regular Season in Swift Current Saturday - Regina Pats
- Giants Fall 5-2 to the Rockets; Will Start the Playoffs Friday in Victoria - Vancouver Giants
- Sellout Crowd Sees Tips Win in OT - Everett Silvertips
- Rivalry Renewed, Broncos Edged by Pats in Playoff Preview - Swift Current Broncos
- Glass' Career Night Lifts Hawks to Blowout Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Royals Secure Second Seed in BC Division Despite Loss to Silvertips - Victoria Royals
- Giants Announce First Round Playoff Dates against Victoria - Vancouver Giants
- Blades Edge Raiders in Feisty Friday Affair - Saskatoon Blades
- Rockets Dispatch Vancouver 5-2 - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Clinch Home Ice in First Round of Playoffs; Tickets on Sale Now - Victoria Royals
- Broncos, Pats to Renew Hostilities in First Round of 2018 WHL Playoffs - Swift Current Broncos
- Winterhawks Skate Past T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rebels Get Help from Tigers, But Fail to Help Themselves - Red Deer Rebels
- Chiefs Drop Home Finale to Americans, 2-1 - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Storm Past Hurricanes 4-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Pats Use OT to Win Seventh Straight - Regina Pats
- Raiders Drop Home Finale To Blades - Prince Albert Raiders
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