WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Insider Update

Published on December 28, 2005 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


GAME NOTES: The WHEAT KINGS will be looking to run their modest winning streak to three games Friday night when they kick off a 2-game Saskatchewan road trip in PRINCE ALBERT against the RAIDERS.After closing out their pre-Christmas schedule with an impressive 2-0 victory over RED DEER on December 16th, the WHEAT KINGS erupted for four second period goals Tuesday night en route to a 6-2 victory over the visiting REGINA PATS.Left-winger MARK DERLAGO scored twice including the game winner to pace the winners while singles came off the sticks of COREY COURCHENE, CODEY BURKI, RYAN REAVES and 17-year old prospect BRANDON LOCKERBY, who was recalled from the AAA midgets for Tuesday's game.The WHEATS were 2-5 with the man advantage.In BRANDON'S final pre-Christmas test, rookie netminder KURT JORY turned aside 23 shots in posting the shutout.BRANDON is now 4-2-0 during this year's season series with REGINA (3-1-0 on home ice).BRANDON enters Friday night's game with a record of 11-19-4-1.BRANDON is 8-7-3 at home and 3-12-1-1 on the road.The WHEAT KINGS have won their last two road games.BRANDON is 6-3-1 in its last ten games and the WHEAT KINGS have given up just 27 goals in their last twelve games.In games against Eastern Division rivals, BRANDON has compiled a 7-7-1 mark.Following Friday's game, the team will travel to SASKATOON for a New Years Day game against the second place BLADES.

VS. PRINCE ALBERT: BRANDON is 1-1-1 in three games against the RAIDERS this season.During the season series, Finnish forward SAMI SANDELL leads the club in scoring with three goals and four points.Netminder TYLER PLANTE has played all three games against the RAIDERS, compiling a 2.62 goals against average and a .914 save pct.BRANDON has outscored PRINCE ALBERT 9-8.

NICE START TO WHL CAREER: BRANDON LOCKERBY made his WHL debut Tuesday night, scoring his first ever WHL goal during a 4-goal second period explosion by the WHEAT KINGS against REGINA.A member of the 2004 National Midget Champion AAA WHEAT KINGS, LOCKERBY was a seventh round draft choice of the WHEAT KINGS in the 2003 bantam draft.

OTHER MILESTONES: KURT JORY picked up his first ever WHL win on December 6th in REGINA and then collected his first ever shutout in his next start - Dec. 16th vs. RED DEER.RILEY DAY played in his 200th career WHL game on December 9th.With his two goals Tuesday, MARK DERLAGO set a career high.

WHO IS HOT? TYLER PLANTE is 4-3-2 with a 2.65 goals against average in his last nine starts, improving his overall goals against average to 3.89 on the season - the first time that it has been below four goals per game since early October.KURT JORY is 2-0 in his last two starts and has posted an impressive 0.97 goals against average during those two games.Winnipeg product CODEY BURKI scored his 11th goal of the season on Tuesday, moving him into a tie with DEREK LEBLANC for the club lead. His 24 points leads the WHEAT KINGS.

BRANDON BITS: BRANDON is 4-11-0 in one-goal games this season..On the mend - TYLER STRAUTMAN (shoulder), center JEFF TOPILKO (broken leg).Swedish left-winger JOHN WIKNER, who missed six weeks (knee, flu) returned to the lineup on Tuesday.CODEY BURKI is ranked 5th among WHL draft eligible players by CENTRAL SCOUTING.BRANDON will be without two of its young stars when they kick off the second half of the season. Both MATT HALLICK and KEITH AULIE are at the WORLD UNDER 17 CHAMPIONSHIPS in REGINA, playing for Team Pacific and Western respectively...RILEY DAY is 6th in the WHL with 108 penalty minutes entering weekend play.

For more information including stats and live real audio broadcasts, please visit http://www.wheatkings.com/gameday_scoutingreport.aspx?game_id=36

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2005


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