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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Grab 2-0 Lead

April 4, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Saskatoon, Sask. -- With their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Semi-Final series shifting back to Brandon this week, the Wheat Kings have grabbed a 2-0 lead in their best of seven series with the Saskatoon Blades.

Making his 2010 playoff debut, 19-year old Andrew Hayes turned aside 30 shots Saturday night as the Wheat Kings beat the Blades 4-1 before over 5,000 fans in Saskatoon. Hayes appeared in all twelve of Brandon's playoff games in 2009 but watched Jacob De Serres start the first five of this year's post-season.

"We said this all year, we know we're going to need both guys, they're both good goaltenders and their teammates have got confidence in both Jake and Andrew," Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon told Bruce Luebke's post-game show on CKLQ Saturday night. "Through the first round, there was no reason to take Jake out of the net. After (Friday's) game, it was a game where you could consider making that change and I just kind of slept on it and, (Saturday) morning, I just felt it was right way to go and Andrew, I thought, was exceptional tonight.he played very well."

After scoring the game winning goal in the third period of the series opener on Friday night, former Edmonton Oil King Brent Raedeke scored two in game two for the Wheat Kings, who were forced to play without veteran Jay Fehr.

A 20-year old Morden, Manitoba product, Fehr was suspended by the WHL before the game for his double minor for checking from behind in game one.

Raedeke's second goal - eight minutes into the third period - gave Brandon a 3-1 lead and came after a lengthy video review that finally upheld the ruling on the ice.

Finnish right-winger Toni Rajala, with his first ever WHL playoff goal and a third period powerplay goal by Matt Calvert rounded out the scoring for the Wheat Kings, who now return home to the friendly confines of Westman Place for games three, four and 5 (if necessary) on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Travis Toomey scored the lone goal for Saskatoon while Steven Stanford stopped 27 shots for the Blades, who trailed 2-1 after two periods of play, following a scoreless opening period.

With Fehr missing from the lineup in game two, rookie forward Jesse Sinatynski made his Western League playoff debut. Jordan Hale meanwhile served the third and final game of his suspension and will be eligible to return to the lineup on Wednesday night.

As for the Blades they got three of their suspended players back in the lineup on Saturday but head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken was relegated to spectator duty again as he served the final game of his 4-game suspension. Molleken will make his series debut behind the bench in game three.

Tickets to games three and four are on sale at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 726-3555.

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