WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings To Meet Ice On Friday

Published on November 20, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- The Brandon Wheat Kings close out a 7-game Western Hockey League homestand Friday night at Westman Place, hoping to finish it on a winning note.

The Wheat Kings, who are coming off Tuesday night's 4-1 victory over the defending Memorial Cup Champion Spokane Chiefs, enter the game with a record of 13-9-1, good for 27 points and seventh place in the Eastern Division. Winners of three of six games on this homestand, Brandon is 8-6-0 at Westman Place this season and begin the weekend trailing the sixth place Swift Current Broncos by three points, with two games in hand.

Following Friday's game, the Wheat Kings will travel to Saskatoon to meet the first place Blades on Saturday. Winners of seven of their last ten games, the Blades are currently 17-7-1.

The Kootenay Ice meanwhile enter Friday's game riding a 3-game win streak and are coming off a 4-3 victory in Saskatoon on Wednesday night. The Ice are currently third in the Central Division with a 13-9-2-3 record in 27 games.

Veterans Dustin Sylvester (11-12-23) and Andrew Bailey (7-14-21) currently lead the Ice in scoring and enter weekend play riding 5-game point scoring streaks. Bailey is also the WHL's reigning "Ironman" having played in 243 consecutive games.

As for the Wheat Kings, 19-year old captain Keith Aulie will be suiting up for his 200th career WHL game on Friday. Since joining Brandon four years ago, the former first round bantam draft choice has six goals, 42 points and 233 minutes in penalties.

Aulie is one of three Brandon players that will be off to Swift Current next week to represent the Wheat Kings at the ADT Canada - Russia Challenge. He will be joined by veterans Brayden Schenn and Matt Calvert. While Schenn goes into Friday's game tied with Scott Glennie for second place in team scoring with 23 points, Calvert takes a 7-game pont scoring streak into the game. During that span, the Columbus Blue Jackets' draft choice has four goals and 11 points.

The Wheat Kings welcomed back center Cale Jefferies to the lineup on Tuesday night but don't expect to have defenceman Colby Robak (shoulder) or Jesse Hall (knee) available this weekend. Both are listed as day to day.

Friday's game will also feature a special presentation during the first intermission as organizers of the Marty Murray Golf Tournament in Melita will present $5,000 to the Westman Dreams for Kids Foundation. July's Tournament, that featured Brandon coaches Darren Ritchie and Dwayne Gylywoychuk, Boston Bruins blueliner Shane Hnidy as well as a number of current and former Wheat Kings, raised a total of $15,000, bringing the total to $95,000 that has been generated since the event began six years ago.

A former Wheat King captain, Murray played four seasons in Brandon and finished his WHL career as the seventh highest scoring player in franchise history with 392 points. As well, he was named the League's Player of the Year in 1995. The Lyleton, Manitoba product is currently skating with the American Hockey League's Manchester Monarchs.

Tickets to Friday night's game - Heritage Co-op Team Poster Night - are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 726-3555. In addition to distributing posters to the first 3,000 fans in attendance, representatives of MADD (Brandon Chapter) will be distributing red ribbons to mark the official kick off to this year's Red Ribbon Project. The ribbons have become a familiar symbol of safe and sover driving throughout the country.

Impaired driving remains Canada's number one criminal cause of death. On average, each and every day, four Canadians are killed.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2008


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.

OurSports Central