WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings in Tough this Weekend

February 15, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Prince Albert, SK. - The Brandon Wheat Kings, playing for their playoff lives, face a daunting task this weekend as they face off against the league leading Prince Albert Raiders in a weekend home and home series.

Game one goes tonight in Prince Albert, with the back half of the weekend series, set for Saturday night at Westoba Place.

The Wheat Kings, fresh off a come from behind win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday, enter the weekend with a record of 24-22-3-4 and sitting six points back of Calgary in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference.

The Raiders meanwhile lead the WHL, not to mention the Canadian Hockey League, with an impressive 46-7-0-2 mark.

Wheat Kings' assistant coach Don MacGillivray - a former Raider bench boss - knows what to expect this weekend and admits it's a big challenge.

"Obviously they have a good team," MacGillivray told the Brandon Sun's Perry Bergson this week. "They play well, they're well coached, they have good specialty teams, they have good goaltending, they're deep up and down the lineup. There is a reason they've been number one or two in Canada all year long. For us, we can't worry where we're playing. The game is played on (a) 200 by 85 (foot ice surface) and we've got to play the way we're capable of playing to give ourselves a chance."

One player looking forward to Friday's game is defenceman Braden Schneider, who grew up in Prince Albert and is a former AAA Midget Minto.

"It should be fun," Schneider said. "It will be fun to be back in the home barn. I missed the first one so hopefully it will be a good one."

The Raiders have dominated the first three games of the season series between the two teams, outscoring Brandon 16-4.

"They're big, they work hard, they're physical, they play playoff-style hockey in the regular season, which is tough to play against," Schneider went on to say.

Saturday's game in Brandon is Don Cherry Night, in support of Organ Donation and the Kidney Foundation of Canada, presented by ReMax.

The Wheat Kings will be taking to the ice in special theme jerseys, inspired by the host of Hockey Night in Canada's Coaches Corner. The jerseys, which will feature the nicknames on the backs of each, will be auctioned off before and during the game. Deadline to bid is the opening face-off of the third period of play.

All proceeds from the sale of the Wheat Kings jerseys, including one signed by Don himself, will go to the Kidney Foundation.

Saturday's game is the first of four home games to be played in Brandon this week. On Monday afternoon, TELUS presents Louis Riel Family Day, when the Swift Current Broncos pay a visit.

Brandon will play a huge game Wednesday vs. Calgary, before closing out the home stand on Friday against the Saskatoon Blades.

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

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2019


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