
Wheat Kings Fall to Overwhelming Tigers' Offense
October 11, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
The vaunted Medicine Hat Tigers offense showed up in a big way against the Wheat Kings in their first meeting of the season, and unfortunately, the Wheat Kings struggled to slow them down once they got rolling.
Brady Turko scored his first of the season, and Carson Bjarnason stopped 31 shots, but it was nowhere near enough as the Wheat Kings fell 6-1.
"I thought we chased it right from the puck drop, if you followed the game you could see that," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "Most of our penalties were caused by being a step behind, hooking and tripping and those kinds of penalties. They kill you. They (the Tigers) are too good."
The Wheat Kings killed off the first Tigers' power play of the game even though it spent nearly the full two minutes in their zone, but they couldn't hold off the second forever. Late in that second man advantage for Medicine Hat, Oasiz Wiesblatt leaned into a slap shot and broke the ice.
The penalty kill was busy for the Wheat Kings again in the second, but the Tigers did their damage at even strength. First, off a strange turnover, Hunter St. Martin picked a corner from a tricky angle. Then, with Bjarnason's stick knocked out of his hand, Niilopekka Muhonen walked in and fired home another insurance marker.
Though the Wheat Kings began to press early in the third, they pressed a little too hard and gave the Tigers an odd man rush. Marcus Pacheco took advantage, snapping one low-glove on the 2-on-1.
Offense continued to flow for Medicine Hat. Gavin McKenna struck at 4-on-3 to make it 5-1 with a crafty wrist shot, and Kadon McCann took a favorable bounce and drove the net with it, sneaking home the sixth goal.
A last-minute sign of life came from Turko and Jaxon Jacobson as Jacobson outwaited a couple of defensemen to feed Turko for a tap-in. It proved to be the final goal of the game.
The Wheat Kings have no opportunity to dwell on the loss. It's back to work tomorrow night against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 8:00 Central Time.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2024
- Chiefs Bested 2-1 by Blades, Snap 5-Game Win Streak - Spokane Chiefs
- Pats Score Three in First, Take Down Broncos 4-1 - Regina Pats
- Hawks Drop Road Game to Rockets, 9-4 - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Vanquish Wheat Kings 6-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Wheat Kings Fall to Overwhelming Tigers' Offense - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Broncos Drop 4-1 Decision to Pats - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors' Rookie Banini Stands Tall in 4-2 Win Over Tips - Everett Silvertips
- Oil Kings Name Hodnett 16th Captain in Franchise History - Edmonton Oil Kings
- AHL Opening Night Rosters Feature 14 Winterhawks Alumni - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Host Winterhawks And Raiders Over Thanksgiving Weekend - Kelowna Rockets
- Game Day Preview: Game 7 vs Brandon - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Catton Returns Home as Chiefs Take on Saskatoon Friday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Broncos in Search of 5th Straight Win in Regina - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Day Hub: October 11 at Kelowna - Portland Winterhawks
- Warriors Look to Slow Down Red-Hot Silvertips on Friday Night - Moose Jaw Warriors
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

