WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Continue Winning Ways

Published on October 24, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Kennewick, WA. - The Brandon Wheat Kings extended two win streaks Friday night as they played the third of a season high 8-game road trip in Washington.

Rihards Bukarts, who scored the winning shootout goal in Wednesday's come from behind win in Spokane, scored twice and set up another Friday as the Wheat Kings downed the Tri-City Americans 5-3.

The Latvian born left-winger scored a second period powerplay goal to gave Brandon a 3-2 advantage and then after Tri-City had battled back to even the score, fired home what turned out to be the game winner with five minutes left in regulation time.

The win not only extended Brandon's modest winning streak to three games, the Wheat Kings have now won all five road games in 2015-16.

After trading goals in the first, Brandon led 3-2 through forty minutes, before the home side evened the scored on Jusso Valimaki's third period goal, setting the stage for Bukarts, who had just two assists in five games prior to the start of the Wheat Kings' U.S. Division tour this week.

"His best game for sure, and not just the fact he had two goals. He played with Campbell and Stelio Mattheos, and I thought their line was exceptional all night," Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon told Bruce Luebke on CKLQ's post-game show. "Rihards, in particular, had the puck on his stick all night and was really a threat."

Mattheos, John Quenneville and Jayce Hawryluk, who extended his point scoring streak to eight games with the empty-netter, rounded out the scoring for the Wheat Kings, who improved to 3-0-0-0 on this 15-day excursion and 8-1-0-2 overall.

Tyler Sandhu and Parker Bowles scored in a losing cause for the Americans, who were outshot 34-24. Former Yellowhead Chief Morgan Geekie - son of ex-Wheat King defenceman Craig of Strathclair - had an assist on Valimaki's third period marker.

The Wheat Kings road trip continues Sunday night when they make a stop in Portland for a game against the Winterhawks. Brandon's next home game is Friday, November 6th when the Victoria Royals pay a visit to Westman Place.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2015


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