WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Set for Busy 4-Game Trip

Published on February 23, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Lethbridge, Alberta - The Brandon Wheat Kings will be hoping to turn things around on the road Friday night when they kick off a 4-game Western Hockey League road trip in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes.

The Wheat Kings, who visit Medicine Hat on Saturday, Calgary on Sunday and the Raiders in Prince Albert on Tuesday, need to be better if they hope to qualify for post season play in March.

Entering weekend play, the Wheat Kings sit fourth in the WHL's Eastern Division but are just two points up on Saskatoon and eight ahead of the Raiders with less than a month to play.

Only two of the three teams will make the playoffs and Brandon head coach David Anning knows the importance of the Wheat Kings final extended road trip of the year.

"It's a critical time of the year," Brandon head coach David Anning told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun before boarding the bus for Alberta on Thursday. "Every team is building towards the playoffs. We're no different.?We want to start getting results and playing a quality game so that we have a good feeling heading into the playoffs and have some momentum."

The Wheat Kings, who are currently 31-23-3-2 on the season, have lost four of their last five games and haven't won on the road since early December.

Brandon hopes to have two of its regular blueliners back in the lineup tonight. Both Daniel Bukac and Chase Hartje returned to practice this week after missing a combined seven games over the course of the past week with a bad case of the flu.

One player that is not expected to be in the lineup tonight is veteran center Ty Lewis, who was knocked from Monday's game from an illegal hit to head by Moose Jaw defenceman Jett Woo.

Lewis, who signed a National Hockey League Entry Level contract with the Colorado Avalanche last October, currently leads the Wheat Kings in scoring this season with 82 points, including 32 goals in 59 games.

Brandon captain James Shearer says it's important to not look ahead to Tuesdays game against the Raiders. The team needs to be focused on this weekend and expects them to be ready when the puck is dropped tonight.

"I?think we just have to have the mindset that we can win every game," he told the Sun. "I don't see a reason why we can't. We just have to build off these practices we're going to have beforehand and come out with a lot of energy and structure."

Following this road trip, the Wheat Kings will return home to play nine games in March, including five on home ice.

Brandon's next home game is a week from tonight against the Warriors.

Tickets to all of the Wheat Kings remaining games are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com

Next Friday's game is a presentation of Ashley HomeStore.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2018


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