WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Score Sweet Valentines Day Win

Published on February 15, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Cranbrook, B.C. -- A goal by 17-year old defencemanEric Roy with only two seconds remaining in regulation time Tuesday night lifted the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings to a 4-3 Valentines Day victory over the defending Western Hockey League Champion Kootenay Ice.

Roy's goal came just 2:17 after the Ice had tied the game on aJesse Ismond powerplay goal, sparking a flurry of chances by both teams over the course of the final three minutes of the game.

Trailing 2-0 through twenty minutes of play, the Wheat Kings bounced back to grab the lead with three unanswered second period goals and setting the stage for Roy's third period heroics.

Winners of four of their last five games, the Wheat Kings have now moved six points up on the Red Deer Rebels in the battle for the eighth and final playoff berth in the WHL's Eastern Conference. It also moved Brandon to within three points of the seventh place Regina Pats.

Michael Ferland with two and captainMark Stone rounded out the scoring for the Wheat Kings, who were outshot 34-30 on the night. Stone also added an assist, giving him 37 goals and 92 points on the season and sole posession of the WHL scoring lead. It also extended his point scoring streak to nine games.

Brock Montgomery andJon Martin scored Kootenay's first period goals - 54 seconds apart - against Wheat Kings' netminderBrandon Anderson, who was steady between the pipes on this night.

"In the third there, they had some momentum and he made some great stops," assistant coachDarren Ritchie toldCKLQ's Bruce Luebke following the game. "You need him to bear down. He gave up the two goals and, after that, I thought he was real solid."

With the win, Brandon is now 17-15-0 on the road this season and 29-26-1-2 overall. The Wheat Kings, who will close out their 4-game season series against the Ice next Tuesday night at Westman Communications Group Place, are now 2-1-0 against Kootenay in 2011-12 and have compiled a 10-3-0-1 record at the Cranbrook Rec-Plex over the course of the past six years.

After splitting the first two games of this week's 3-game Central Division tour, the Wheat Kings will close it out Wednesday night in Lethbridge, before returning home this weekend for a 2-game series against the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.

Tickets to both weekend games are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca Friday's game isGiant Tiger Player Card Giveaway Night, with the first 2,000 fans in attendance to receive a complete set of Wheat Kings' 2011-12 player cards.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2012


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.

OurSports Central