
Wheat Kings Give up Late Goal, Fall in Shootout
October 5, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Late in the third period, it seemed like the Wheat Kings had another win in their grasp against the Swift Current Broncos. Suddenly, however, it slipped away from them.
Carter Klippenstein, Roger McQueen, and Caleb Hadland scored, and Ethan Eskit made 22 saves, but the Wheat Kings fell 4-3 in a shootout against Swift Current.
"They had nine power plays so we spent almost a period in the penalty box," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "We're up a goal with a minute and a half left and I just watched the third goal, the tying one, we have five guys going to the puck carrier in the corner. It was a brain cramp or whatever, hard to watch live and even harder to watch on replay."
It took until there were just 34.9 seconds left in the first period, but the Wheat Kings did open the scoring. Matteo Michels had his shot off the rush stopped, but Klippenstein drove the net and got a couple of whacks at the rebound, stuffing home the second of them for his first of the season.
A pretty passing play gave the Wheat Kings a two-goal lead midway through the second. Dominik Petr fed the puck over the line to Marcus Nguyen, who saucered a perfect pass to the tape of an onrushing McQueen to make it 2-0.
Another perfect pass gave the Broncos some life, however. Grayson Burzynski sprung Rylan Gould on a breakaway with a stretch pass, and he made no mistake to cut the lead in half.
In the third, the Wheat Kings stretched their lead to two again, as Jacobson spotted Hadland in the slot off the rush. Hadland leaned into a one-timer to make it 3-1.
A questionable call put the Wheat Kings down 5-on-4, and unfortunately there was no question about the next call that put them down 5-on-3. Late in that 5-on-3, Luke Mistelbacher snapped one home from the slot.
The Broncos never had to pull the goaltender to tie the game. Burzynski took a pass as he was left alone in front and wired the tying goal over Eskit's shoulder.
Overtime, despite high-flying action, solved nothing. The shootout went into extra rounds just as the game went into extra time, but the fourth shooter for the Broncos, Ty Coupland, made good on a slick backhand move for the game winner.
The Wheat Kings get a couple of days to rest before welcoming the Everrett Silvertips on Tuesday night. Puck drop is 7:00.
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2024
- T-Birds Can't Claw Past Cougars - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rebels Top Hitmen, 5-2 - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Give up Late Goal, Fall in Shootout - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pyne Shuts Door in 3-2 Shootout Win - Regina Pats
- Broncos Back to .500 in Comeback Win Over Wheat Kings - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Trade Boehm to Victoria - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Royals Acquire Brayden Boehm from Medicine Hat Tigers - Victoria Royals
- Game Preivew: Prince George Cougars at Portland Winterhawks - Prince George Cougars
- Tigers Acquire Meneghin from Lethbridge in Exchange for Smith - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hurricanes Acquire Shane Smith from Tigers for Harrison Meneghin - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Game Day Preview: Game 5 vs Moose Jaw - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Seek Fourth-Straight Win Saturday vs Seattle - Spokane Chiefs
- Warriors Head into Medicine Hat on Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Oil Kings Make First Foray into Saskatchewan to Visit Pats - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Broncos Look for Third Straight Win in Brandon - Swift Current Broncos
- Preview: Americans vs Rockets - October 5 - Tri-City Americans
- Game Day Hub: October 5 vs. Prince George - Portland Winterhawks
- Cougars Soar to 5-2 Win over Thunderbirds in Seattle - Prince George Cougars
- Five Winterhawks Post Multi-Point Nights as Hawks Down Royals, 5-3 - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Fall 5-3 To Chiefs In Spokane - Kelowna Rockets
- Blades Handed First Loss of the Season by the Broncos - Saskatoon Blades
- Five Winterhawks Post Multi-Point Nights as Hawks Down Royals, 5-3 - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Fall 6-3 in Red Deer - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Giants Storm Back from 4-1 Deficit to Top Blazers 8-6 - Vancouver Giants
- Heslop's OT Winner Lifts Tips Over Raiders in Roadie Opener - Everett Silvertips
- Gould's Five Point Hands Blades First Loss in 6-3 Bronco Victory - Swift Current Broncos
- Chiefs Start Hot, Hold on for 5-3 Victory for Third Straight Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Warriors Open Road Trip with One-Goal Loss in Lethbridge - 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.
