WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Host Broncos Saturday

February 20, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- If the Brandon Wheat Kings entertain hopes of catching the Saskatoon Blades and winning the Western Hockey League's Eastern Division pennant, they'll need to take advantage of their upcoming 4-game homestand that begins Saturday night against the visiting Swift Current Broncos.

Entering weekend play, Brandon trails the Blades by four points, with a game in hand. With seven of their remaining eleven regular season games on home ice, including back to back games next weekend against Saskatoon, the Wheat Kings control their own destiny.

Brandon's assignment, however, won't be an easy one. In addition to facing the 33-26-1-1 Broncos on Saturday and the front running Blades next weekend, the Wheat Kings will face off against the much improved Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday.

How does the final month of the regular season shape up for both the Wheat Kings and Blades:

BRANDON (11 games)

Home (7) Swift Current, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Moose Jaw

Away (4) Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Regina, Moose Jaw

SASKATOON (10 games)

Home (5) Kootenay, Moose Jaw, Brandon, Lethbridge, Prince Albert

Away (5) Brandon, Brandon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert

The Wheat Kings enter Saturday night with an impressive 41-16-3-1 record, including 22-9-1-0 on the road. It's the first time the Wheat Kings have recorded at least 20 road wins in a season since 2002-03 (22-7-7).

Brandon is coming off a perfect 3 for 3 road trip that officially clinched a playoff berth for the Wheat Kings, who will be off to the WHL playoffs for the ninth straight season.

"It was a good trip for us," Wheat Kings' coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon told James Shewaga of the Brandon Sun on Wednesday night. "When we looked at it, we knew we were going to have three tough games against a Raiders team that was fighting for their lives for the playoffs and then two of the stronger teams in the conference in Swift Current and Medicine Hat. So to come home with three wins was a good effort by our guys."

Thanks to this week's successful road trip, Brandon is 24-3-2 in its last 29 games. Winners of eight of thier last nine games, the Wheat Kings hope to bounce back Saturday from last Friday's home ice loss to the league leading Calgary Hitmen.

While Brandon hosts the Broncos on Saturday, the Blades will be taking to the ice against the visiting Kootenay Ice.

In other Wheat Kings' related news, Matt Calvert will be taking a 9-game point scoring streak into Saturday's game; Matt Lowry will be playing in his 199th career WHL game and goalkeeper James Priestner is 4-1-0 with a 1.60 goals againt average and a .939 save pct in his last five appearances.

Tickets to Saturday night's game between the Wheat Kings and Broncos are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2009


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