WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings this Week: Homestand Wraps up with Alberta Opponents

Published on January 16, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


It's a dog-eat-dog world in the Eastern Conference of the WHL at the moment. Teams have to simultaneously keep clear of those clawing up the standings behind them and look ahead to try to catch those in front. The recipe for doing either of those things is the same: win hockey games.

The Brandon Wheat Kings got a regulation win to wrap up their most recent week as they took down the Prince Albert Raiders 6-4 in a Sunday matinee. With no games between now and Saturday, and with plenty of their nearest opponents in the standings in action between now and then, the win was a huge boost going into a few days off.

"Getting the win on Sunday was a big one in the standings," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "It was kind of a weird week, playing on Friday and Sunday, and now we've got an extended week of practice with Saturday and Sunday games, so hopefully the guys will be well rested and ready to go."

As Murray pointed out, the team plays Saturday and Sunday games this week, and even the practice schedule is going to be a little unusual as the team is at J&G Homes Arena this week due to Ag Days. The change of scenery might make for a nice break from routine.

"I like practicing at J&G," Murray said. "It's a lot of noise, the ice is fast there. It just seems like everything is a little crisper. I think it'll be good for us to get away for a couple of days and change it up a little."

In terms of opponents, first up is the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday, January 20. The Wheat Kings haven't seen them since they beat the Hurricanes in Lethbridge on October 11. Since then, the teams have become nearly as close in the standings as that game was. Lethbridge is four points back of the Wheat Kings but could well make up that gap in the two games they play this week before arriving in Brandon.

"They're a heavy team, they work hard, one line after another," Murray said. "They've got a big, heavy back end and good goaltending. Everybody knows where we're at in the standings and they're a team right on our tails. It'll be a big one on Saturday."

Sunday night sees the top team in the Central Division, the Medicine Hat Tigers, make their second and final visit to Westoba Place. The Tigers are the only team in the league the Wheat Kings have seen more than once and not beaten.

"We have to be skating against that team," said Murray. "They're so quick getting up and down the ice. I believe that will be a three-in-three for them too, and the first two games we played them this year we were kind of at a disadvantage schedule-wise, so it's an opportunity for us to turn the page. But again, the key to success will be skating against them."

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2024


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