WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Prepare for Weekend Series with the Ice

Published on November 28, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - The Brandon Wheat Kings will be looking to get back on track Friday night when they kick off a weekend home and home series with the Winnipeg ICE.

The Wheat Kings, who have won two of three games against the ICE this season, will be playing for the first time since last weekend when they dropped back to back games on home ice - 4-3 in overtime to Calgary on Friday night and 5-4 to last place Regina on Saturday.

Brandon coach Dave Lowry was not happy with the weekend, especially Saturday's loss to the Pats.

"We're searching for answers here," Lowry told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun. "We come off a good road trip and went in and played in some tough buildings and won some big hockey games. We come home, let our foot off the gas and this is what happens when you're not prepared to play."

Before last weekend's setbacks, Brandon had won two of three games in Alberta, including back to back wins over two of the Eastern Conference's top teams - the Oil Kings and Tigers in Edmonton and Medicine Hat respectively.

Veteran forward Lynden McCallum, who begins the weekend series with seven goals and 14 points this season, expects that they'll be better this weekend.

"We know that we're a good team but we just haven't been able to put that together. We're going to keep working and battling and getting better. We're confident that we're going to continue to improve this year."

Brandon enters the weekend with a record of 11-1-4-1-0 (4-6-1-0 at home and 7-8-0-0 on the road).

They're currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Hockey League's Eastern Division with 23 points, four back of Winnipeg and four ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors, who currently have five games in hand on Brandon.

The ICE meanwhile are 13-10-2-0 and 6-4-0 over the course of their last ten games. Away from home, Winnipeg has a winning record (7-6-1-0).

One player that wasn't in the Winnipeg lineup the last time that these provincial rivals met was all star Peyton Krebs. The Vegas Golden Knight first round draft choice rejoined the Winnipeg lineup during the club's recent west coast road trip.

Luka Burzan has two goals and five points to lead the Wheat Kings in scoring against the ICE this season while Michal Teply leads Winnipeg (2-2-4) and overall (10-13-23).

Veteran Jiri Patera has played all three games against Winnipeg this season, compiling a 2.34 goals against average and a .933 save percentage.

Friday is Brandon's final home game in November and the first of five games to be played at Westoba Place before Christmas.

It's also Wawanesa's annual Toy Drive, in support of Samaritan House and the Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner. Fans are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy or cash donation to the game. Those that do will have a chance to win an autographed Wheat Kings' jersey and will be entered to win a trip for two to the 2020 Memorial Cup in Kelowna, B.C. next May.

Tickets to the game are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2019


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