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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings this Week: Lone Contest Could Push Wheat Kings into Playoffs

March 14, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


After so many busy weekends, the Brandon Wheat Kings get a moment to catch their breath between now and their Saturday evening contest with the Prince Albert Raiders. That rest will come in handy, because the Wheat Kings could have a terrific opportunity on their hands by the time that game rolls around.

On Friday, March 15, one day before the Wheat Kings welcome the Raiders, the Calgary Hitmen will face the Edmonton Oil Kings in Edmonton. If the Hitmen lose that game, the Wheat Kings will be just a single win away from securing a playoff spot, returning to the dance after missing the postseason last year.

Whether the Hitmen win or lose, however, the Wheat Kings know there is a special emphasis on the meeting with the Raiders on Saturday. As of now (with the Raiders still having one game to play against the Regina Pats on Friday) the Wheat Kings have just a two-point advantage over the Raiders in the standings.

The last meeting between the two sides left a sour taste in the Wheat Kings' mouths. With 3:50 to go in the third period, as the teams battled in a scoreless duel, Carter Klippenstein found the back of the net with a bullet of a wrist shot that gave the Wheat Kings a late lead. Not only did they not hold the lead, however, they gave up the game winning goal in regulation and secured no points when they'd been staring down a pair of them.

Those points haunt the Wheat Kings in the standings, with the Raiders holding two games in hand and with the season series now up for grabs when the teams meet on Saturday. A win in that game would've given the Wheat Kings the season series (which is one of the tie-breakers when it comes to playoff seeding).

Still, the Wheat Kings do have an advantage as of now in the standings and have some control over their fate against the Raiders with this final game. From there, they'll take a rest before the last two games of the season against the Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats. Any loss by the Hitmen would put the Wheat Kings one win away from a playoff spot, while two wins will secure their spot regardless of what Calgary does.

Saturday's game against the Raiders is one of two remaining home games on the Wheat Kings' schedule, and will be the final Saturday home game of the season.

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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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