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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Host the Hitmen Friday

January 16, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - The Brandon Wheat Kings will be hoping to close out their 4-game Western Hockey League home stand on a winning note Friday night when the Calgary Hitmen make their second and final appearance at Westoba Place this season.

Winners of seven straight games, the Wheat Kings enter the weekend sitting in third place in the Eastern Division and seventh in the Conference with a record of 22-17-1-2.

Brandon currently trails first place Winnipeg and second place Prince Albert by six and four points respectively, while leading Saskatoon by four.

The Hitmen meanwhile currently occupy fourth in the Central Division with a record of 22-13-4-1 and have posted a 6-3-1-0 record through their last ten games.

The Wheat Kings, who blanked Prince George 4-0 on Wednesday night, were 4-3 overtime losers to Calgary back in November, in the only game played between these two teams this season.

After playing without two of its top players - Ridly Greig and Braden Schneider - on Wednesday, the Wheat Kings will welcome one of them back to the lineup Friday night.

Schneider, who was one of two to represent the Wheat Kings at this week's Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game in Hamilton, rejoins a lineup that welcomed back veteran Cole Reinhardt on Wednesday. Reinhardt had been out since December 27th with an upper body injury.

Unlike Schneider, Greig will be forced to watch Friday's game after he was slapped with a 2-game suspension by the WHL for his major penalty against Red Deer last Friday. The Lethbridge product, who also played in this week's Top Prospects Game, will not be eligible to return to the lineup until next Friday when the Wheat Kings play host to the Victoria Royals.

The Royals are one of two teams that have been coached by current Brandon bench boss Dave Lowry.

A two-time winner of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL Coach of the Year, Lowry spent five seasons in Victoria but earned his first head coaching job back in 2008-09 when he led the Hitmen to a 59-9-3-1 record and a berth in the Championship Final against Kelowna.

Before joining the Wheat Kings last summer, he spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings.

The Wheat Kings, who are 8-2-0 in their last ten games, have picked up 22 of a possible 28 points since December 1st.

One of the many reasons for the club's recent surge has been the play of 20-year old netminder Jiri Patera. The first import goalkeeper to ever play for the Wheat Kings, has allowed just five goals in his last six starts, while recording three shutouts in that span.

Patera's five career shutouts leaves him tied with Brian Elder and former Minnesota Wild Josh Harding for eighth place on the club's all time list.

Another reason for the Wheat Kings improved play has been the club's defensive play, not to mention a more balanced offensive attack.

While Luka Burzan leads the club in scoring with 22 goals and 43 ponts in 42 games, three other forwards have registered at least thirty.

Ben McCartney has fifteen goals and 40 points, Reinhardt has 35 points, including 22 goals and Greig has fifteen goals and 35 points.

Defensively, Schneider has been outstanding this season while others like Chad Nychuk, Vinny Iorio, Neithan Salame and Jonny Lambos continue to develop. Overage blueliner Dom Schmiemann meanwhile has been a real steadying influence on a young back end that includes rookie Rylan Thiessen.

As for the Hitmen, the combination of Riley Stotts and Mark Kastelic lead the club in scoring with 42 and 39 points respectively, while Winnipeg product Jett Woo anchors the blueline.

In goal, veteran Jack McNaughton and rookie Brayden Peters have formed a solid netminding tandem, combining to record a 2.96 goals against average and an .890 save percentage.

Friday's game is a 7:30pm start, with doors set to open at 6:30pm.

Friday is Michael Ferland Bobblehead Night, presented by TELUS. The first 2,800 fans in attendance will receive a colored TELUS bobblehead voucher and during the first period Timeout, a contest will determine the winning card color.

Those fans with the right color card can then redeem them at the TELUS Shoppers Mall location for the bobblehead, featuring the likeness of the former Wheat King turned Vancouver Canuck.

Following Friday's game, the Wheat Kings will travel to Moose Jaw to meet the Warriors on Saturday night.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2020


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.

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