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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Set For Broncos

March 19, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- The Road to the MasterCard Memorial Cup starts Friday night at Westman Place as the Brandon Wheat Kings play host to the Swift Current Broncos in game one of their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

The Wheat Kings are coming off one of the best regular seasons in franchise history, collecting 50 wins while capturing the East division title with a 50-18-1-3 record. Brandon finished strong going 20-2-1-0 in their last 23 games while winning eight straight.

As for the Broncos, they too finished strongly going 6-3-1 down the stretch to end up seventh in the Eastern Conference with a record of 37-30-1-4.

Brandon won the season series 4-2, taking all three games on home ice. Veterans Scott Glennie (3-3-6), Aaron Lewadniuk (2-4-6) and Brayden Schenn (1-5-6) led the Wheats in scoring while Brad Hoban of the Broncos led all scorers during the 6-game season series with four goals and 8 points.

"Some of the teams in that seven, eight, nine, ten area of the conference standings went through real hot stretches and then stretches where they werent as good and I think Swift Current was of those teams," says Brandon coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon. "They were probably more consistent then any of them and I think probably thats in large part why they were able to make the playoffs."

Although the Wheat Kings have a guaranteed spot in the Memorial Cup as hosts for the national junior hockey championship in May, theyre looking to get there through the front door.

"We're not even looking at getting in there any other way then that," said co-captain MattCalvert, who signed with the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets this week. "We want to win this league. We know we can but we got to work real hard for it, we know it doesnt come easy.

Games one and two of the best-of-seven series between Brandon and Swift Current go tonight and tomorrow at Westman Communications Group Place. The series will then shift to the Brandt Centre in Regina for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday with the Credit Union I-Plex in Swift Current hosting the World Womens Curling Championship.

In related news, the Wheat Kings and Manitoba Blue Cross will recognize the Provincial Pee Wee Champion Wheat Kings - March's Performers of the Month - during the first intermission of tonight's game.

The pee wees are 39-2-0 this season and capped off a terrific season that saw them go 28-0-0 during regular season play in the Winnipeg AA League by capturing the Provincial Title in Dauphin last weekend.

Tickets to both weekend games at Westman Place are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca.

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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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