WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Come up Short against Giants

Published on October 29, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Langley, B.C. - A case of bad luck and a former Southwest Cougar all star goalkeeper were too much for the Brandon Wheat Kings to overcome Sunday night as they dropped a 3-2 overtime shootout decision to the hometown Vancouver Giants.

The Wheat Kings, who have now lost five straight games (0-2-1-2), hit three goalposts including one in the shootout and former Manitoba AAA Midget League 1st Team All Star Trent Minor turned aside 37 shots as the Giants improved to 11-3-2-0 on the season.

Brandon's record meanwhile slipped to 6-3-3-2.

Wheat Kings coach David Anning says his team deserved a better fate in this one.

"The puck's not going in for us right now," Anning told Chris Jaster of the Brandon Sun. "We're not getting those breaks. We had a goalpost in the shootout....they get that one to go in and we get the extra point. Overall I thought our effort was really good. I thought we had most guys playing the right way and it's disappointing when you don't get the end result."

Scoring goals has been a problem for the Wheat Kings of late. Through the first four games of this 7-game road trip, Brandon has seven goals.

Connor Gutenberg and Caiden Daley did find the back of the net on Sunday, while Milos Roman and Brayden Watts scored in regulation time for the Giants.

In the shootout, Miner - a former first round bantam draft pick of Vancouver - stopped Stelio Mattheos, Luka Burzan and Linden McCorrister while Brandon's Jiri Patera, who made 27 saves in regulation and overtime, stopped Davis Koch and Bowen Byram in the shootout, only to see Watts net the game winner.

The Wheat Kings, who continue to play without veteran defenceman Schael Higson, will have to do the balance of the trip without rookie center Ridly Greig. The 16-year old Lethbridge product is off to the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge.

The Wheat Kings will be hoping to get back in the win column on Tuesday when they travel to Prince George, the Wheat Kings will close out the trip with games this weekend in Kamloops and Kelowna.

Brandon's next home game is Friday, November 9th against Red Deer.

Tickets to the game - to be presented by Assiniboine Community College - are on sale at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2018


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