WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Look to Bounce Back Tonight

Published on March 27, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Dauphin, MB. - The Brandon Wheat Kings will be hoping to climb back into their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series tonight when they host the Medicine Hat Tigers at Credit Union Place in Dauphin.

The Tigers, who captured the Central Division for the second straight season, scored fourteen goals, including five with the man advantage over the weekend to grab a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series.

The Wheat Kings, who beat Medicine Hat three of four times during the regular season, hope that a return to Manitoba will help them get back in this series. Due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair occupying Brandon's Keystone Centre this week, the Wheat Kings have been forced to again play their first round playoff home games in Dauphin.

While they remain confident that they can turn their fortunes around in the Parkland this week, the fact of the matter is they seem to be a different team when they play away from Westoba Place - an arena that saw the Wheat Kings compile an impressive 27-6-2-1 record this past season, which was third best in the WHL.

"The reality is it's a seven game series, we expected a long series and expected it to be a good challenge," Brandon coach David Anning told Q Country's Branden Crowe. "It's simple, we haven't performed to the level we would have liked, there is lots of room for growth in our group and I think guys can hit the reset button here and be ready."

In order to be successful tonight, Anning says that the club needs to pay more attention to detail and refrain from taking bad penalties.

"Their powerplay is clicking and they are capitalizing," he says. "We're going to have to stay out of the box, we can't afford to take 6 or 7 minors in a game, especially in the playoffs."

During the first two games of the series, the Tigers connected on five of 11 powerplay chances.

Brandon captain James Shearer says in addition to special teams, the Wheat Kings need to be more effective in slowing down the Tigers and taking advantage of opportunities when they get them.

"I think they're a very good team," says Shearer. "They have good structure...they back check well and they're quick."

This marks the second straight year that Brandon has been transplanted in Dauphin for their opening round playoff series. The Wheat Kings dropped both games against the Tigers in 2017 as Medicine Hat swept the series in four straight.

Tigers' Mark Rassell, who has four goals and seven points in the first two games of the series, says that even though the Wheat Kings haven't got the luxury of playing in Brandon, he expects a tough game tonight.

"If you look at their record this season they were unbelievable at home," he told the Medicine Hat News. "Obviously it's not their home rink but they'll have home ice advantage and they're really good with their matchups."

The Wheat Kings will be without veteran right-winger Baron Thompson for both games in Dauphin this week as the Lakeville, Minnesota product was given a three game suspension for his knee-on-knee hit on Dylan MacPherson in the series opener Friday night. He will be eligible to return for game five, scheduled for Friday night in Alberta.

Tickets to both games in Dauphin this week go back on sale at 10am this morning at Credit Union Place box office.

This year's playoffs in Dauphin are presented by Catalyst Credit Union, Aspen Insurance, Twin Motors and Mazergroup. Game four goes Wednesday night.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2018


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