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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Score Big Win

February 21, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - The Brandon Wheat Kings playoff fortunes received a major boost Wednesday night as they ran their winning streak to five games with a decisive 5-1 victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen.

The win moved Brandon into a tie with Red Deer for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference. It also pulled them to within two points of Calgary and four behind Medicine Hat, with a game in hand.

The Wheat Kings, who will close out a 4-game home stand Friday night against Saskatoon, scored on their first three shots Wednesday night - chasing netminder Carl Stankowski - and never looked back.

Brandon improved to 28-22-3-4 on the season and has now won six of its last seven games.

Stelio Mattheos and Cole Reinhardt scored two goals each to pace the winners, with Reinhardt's second coming with just seventeen seconds remaining in the second period, giving Brandon a 4-1 lead through two periods of play.

That turned out to be a huge goal as Calgary had cut the Wheat Kings lead to two goals after one period and outshot Brandon 10-5 in the second in an effort to draw closer on the scoreboard. While the Hitmen did have some quality chances, the goalkeeping of Jiri Patera turned them away.

16-year old rookie Ridly Greig rounded out the scoring for the Wheat Kings, who received four point efforts from both Mattheos and Reinhardt. Defenceman Zach Wytinck added a pair of helpers in the win.

Mattheos says getting off to a quick start in what was a big four point game was so important.

"Greig gave us a great start, that was a great shot by him," the Brandon captain told the Brandon Sun. "But the next two were just some lucky bounces, and obviously that gives us life."

"We're clicking really well," Mattheos went on to say. "We're trying to use each other, share the puck and not stop once we score. Just keep going."

Next up - the second place Saskatoon Blades.

Friday night is Brandon's last home game this month as the Tim Hortons Brier will soon be occupying the Keystone Centre.

The Wheat Kings, who play eight of their final eleven games on the road, will play seven straight road games before returning to host Moose Jaw on March 13th.

Tickets to Friday's game - presented by Tim Hortons Westman - go back on sale at 10am Thursday morning at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com

Meanwhile in off ice news, the deadline for western Manitoba hockey fans to enter this year's Home Depot Backyard Rink Contest for a chance to meet members of the Wheat Kings next week is fast approaching.

Fans are encouraged to visit homedepotbackyardrink.com

The deadline to enter is this Saturday, February 23rd at 12 noon.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2019


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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