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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Secure Playoff Spot With Win Over Raiders

March 16, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


With a spot in the 2023-24 post season on the line, the Brandon Wheat Kings rose to the occasion.

Carson Bjarnason stopped 24 of 26 shots he faced, and Jayden Wiens, Dominik Petr, and Nolan Flamand scored as the Wheat Kings downed the Raiders 3-2. The win gives the Wheat Kings the 5-3 win in the season series as well, and secures them a spot in the postseason.

"It feels pretty good," head coach and GM Marty Murray said. "The last little while you could taste it, we were so close but not able to finalize it. It means a lot to us to get it done by ourselves and not rely on anyone else to take care of business for us."

Good cycle work by the Raiders brought about the first goal, as Niall Crocker held off a backchecker and flung the puck back to the point. Justice Christensen walked into a shot and put it bar-down for the early lead.

After drawing back-to-back power plays, however, the Wheat Kings countered at 5-on-3. As he did in Medicine Hat, it was Wiens who stuffed home the goal from the mouth of the crease, netting his 24th.

At even strength, Carter Klippenstein went to the forecheck, and in the chaos he created the Raiders were forced to turn it over. They gave it right to Petr, who stepped in and snapped home his 17th low to the blocker side.

Rylen Roersma practically made the next goal happen by himself. Shielding the puck well, he drove around the net and fed it through the crease to Flamand, who was able to twist his wrists into position to lift it home.

Late in the third, the Raiders fought back as Ryder Ritchie took it around the net and flipped a saucer pass out front to Aiden Oiring. Oiring wasted no time blasting the puck to the top corner to cut the lead in half.

From there, however, the Wheat Kings locked it down. Bjarnason stopped every shot he faced the rest of the way, and the Wheat Kings took the win. Next up is their final home game of the regular season as they host the Moose Jaw Warriors on Thursday, March 21.

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