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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Host the Pats Tonight

December 27, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - The Christmas break has come to an end for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Holiday hockey returns to Westoba Place Thursday night as the Regina Pats pay a visit for the opening game of a home and home series.

The What Kings, who last played on December 15th and scored an exciting overtime victory over the Saskatoon Blades, enter the 2-game post-Christmas series with a record of 15-10-3-3 and will be hoping to have a number of players back in the lineup as early as tonight.

Brandon closed out the first half of the regular season without defencemen Braden Schneider, Jonny Lambos and Vincent Iorio as well as forwards Lynden McCallum and Jonny Hooker.

Members of the hockey club returned home for Christmas but were back on the ice in Brandon for its annual Boxing Day practice in front of coaches David Anning and Don MacGillivray.

"When you have more bodies, it makes practice better. So we had some good jump (Wednesday) and we're excited to have the opportunity to make some roster adjustments and get everybody back in the lineup. ... ," Anning told the Brandon Sun Wednesday night. "We'll play it by ear and determine who's ready to play, but overall, we're back to being regularly healthy, which is encouraging."

One player excited to return to the lineup is McCallum, who has missed the past month with an upper body injury.

"I've been waiting to get back skating with the boys for a while now," he told the Sun. "Now that the time is here, it feels really good."

Schneider meanwhile hasn't played since mid November and the veteran blueliner is looking forward to getting back to business.

"Everyone's a little bit tired, but I think everyone's a lot more relaxed and feeling good about themselves," Schneider said Wednesday. "I don't think we've seen a full lineup since the start of the year, and it's great that everyone's back in."

One player that won't be available this week is 19-year old netminder Jiri Patera.

The Vegas Golden Knights' prospect is one of three netminders occupying a roster spot with Team Czech Republic at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Vancouver.

As for the Wheat Kings opponent - the Pats. Regina is currently 9-24-0-1 and before Christmas engineered one of, if not the biggest trades of the season so far, shipping veterans Jake Leschyshyn and Nick Henry to Lethbridge for a package that included draft picks as well as veterans Ty Kolle and Jadon Joseph.

With their next four games against East Division foes, the Wheat Kings will be looking to make up some ground. Brandon is currently three points behind Moose Jaw and ten back of the Saskatoon Blades. Following this 2-game series with Regina, Brandon will host the Warriors in the first of back to back games Sunday afternoon at Westoba Place.

Tickets for both holiday games are on sale at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com

Tonight's game is a presentation of the Murray Auto Centre.

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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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